3. The focus group feedback for our psychological horror
trailer Cold Blood helped my group to improve the trailer through
the use of positive comments, as well as constructive criticism. A
lot of people said that the use of loud music is suitable for our
type of trailer, and it is also conventional due to the use of
breakbeat style music in the popular Evil Dead (2013) trailer. We
also used a variety of shots throughout the trailer which was
highlighted by many in the class feedback session. Another positive
comment was about how the trailer didnt give too much of the
overall narrative away, but it gives the audience enough to
understand the plot and become intrigued as to how the film is
going to end.
4. Our trailer also received some criticism, some of the
audience members didnt like how frequent the black- outs are
throughout the trailer. Another common comment was about how the
use of inter-titles would explain the overall narrative of the
story better to the audience. During our focus group, the audience
also said that the ending needs to be more dramatic, and that the
use of a jump scare could create this.
5. I agreed with some of the comments after the initial focus
group screening. We saw how inter-titles would help to explain the
narrative more clearly to the audience. I also agreed with how the
use of a jump scare at the end would build a lot of tension and
make our trailer fit more into the genre of horror, rather than
thriller. I disagree with the comment about how the black- outs are
too frequent. Our group has focused on matching the pacing of the
music with the editing, this would therefore build a tense
atmosphere; therefore I think that the black-outs are not too
frequent, I think that they help to build tension throughout the
trailer. Although I disagreed with the comment my group opted to
remove some of the black-outs to see whether or not it improved the
overall atmosphere of the trailer.
6. Our average score was 8 out of 10. I was happy with this
score as this was our first rough cut, and after the focus group
screening we set about to re-edit our trailer to increase the score
even further. We first decided to add inter-titles throughout the
trailer so that the narrative was explained better. We made sure
that the inter-titles were strategically placed throughout the
trailer so that it still fitted with the music and built tension
throughout. We also added a jump scare at the end, where the new
Lizard-Man jumps towards the camera. We also moved some of the
footage at the start, and the middle about so that the trailer
built a more tense atmosphere in preparation for the final jump
scare. We thought that this would have an emotional effect on the
audience and persuade them to watch the final film. We also decided
to add in some more footage of Jason in the chair after he has been
captured and tied up. These additional shots meant we could remove
some of the black-outs and made the trailer more conventional and
enticing.
7. Cold Blood subsequently received a range of praise as well
as constructive criticism during the evaluation screening. There
were a lot of comments on how well the jump scare at the end of the
trailer works, and how the range of shot distances, as well as
different highs and angles gave out trailer an edge. The audience
also liked how well the editing fits with the music, and how the
editing as well as the music helps to build tension in preparation
for the jump scare at the end. The inter-titles also helped the
audience to understand the plot more clearly than before. The use
of darker shots in the second half of the trailer are also
effective when bringing the audience into the second half of the
trailers narrative. This contrast in the mise-en-scene allows the
audience to get a sense of how the second half of the trailer is
more darker and more intense than the first half.
8. We still received a few criticisms. Some of the audience
members thought that some of the inter-titles were too short, and
that they didnt have enough time to read them when they were on
screen. A few people said that there are too many blackouts during
the trailer, and that this made the trailer lose effect. One person
said that we should try adding dialogue to the trailer too.
9. When reviewing some of the criticisms that Cold Blood
received I understood why some of the criticisms were made, but I
couldnt see how we could resolve some of them without putting the
trailer and the music out of sync. The comments about how some of
the inter-titles were too short is unfixable unless we want the
footage and music to be out of sync, and if that happens then the
trailer will lose the tense effect that it builds throughout. Also,
the blackouts are in time with the music, so if we got rid of a few
of them then it wouldnt build as much suspense. We have decided as
a group that we are going to try and add some dialogue into the
trailer, but we are not going to keep it in if it doesnt fit with
the overall mood of the trailer.
10. Throughout the editing of our trailer, we have posted
webisodes onto our blog. In the majority of them there is dialogue,
therefore this introduces the characters and their character roles.
Stake Land (2011) also uses this technique as a strategy campaign
for the advertisement of their film.
11. Cold Blood received mostly nines out of ten. I am very
happy with this score as I think that Cold Blood has many good
points within the trailer, and it follows typical horror trailer
conventions. The jump scare now adds drama to the end of the
trailer, while the fast-paced editing throughout managed to
maintain interest with the rest of the students in our group.