Focus Group Responses (Audience Research)

As part of my research into film openings, I conducted focus group style research to look at people's opinions on openings of the action genre and if they differed upon watching the clips I chose for viewing (Jack Reacher and Mad Max: Fury Road). I issued sheets to other students with which they filled out expectations of a typical film opening for films in general and actions films specifically, before watching the openings for the films and writing about what conventions they fulfilled.

Here are the responses so far:

Response #1

·         What do you think makes a great opening for any film?

An opening that doesn’t give a lot of the story away and about the whole film but perceives and unexpected or unpredictable

·         What do you think makes a great opening for a film of the action genre?

When it isn’t predictable unless that gives an overall feel to the movie

·         What conventions/features would you expect from these kinds of films?

I expect there to be levels of violence and suspense. Some that are high levelled and some low.

·         What do you consider to be typical plot lines?

Protagonist

Antagonist

Problem

That involves the world and citizens of the world.

·         For an opening, what are your expectations regarding elements e.g. surprise, tension/intensity etc.?

All of the above plus

Sadness

Happiness

A sudden change in tempo/intensity/ tone

Humour is advised

We don’t want a serious ass atmosphere.

Mad Max: Fury Road https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IJ8_Jf891k

·         Did the clip feature typical action genre conventions? If so, what were they? If not, how were they challenged?

Kind of

Intensity of the music and the cinematography was contrasted by the day and night views but it was very clear like most modern films and that further made the intensity higher. It made me want to further watch the film due to the presence the boy that is unknown to viewer. The beginning was uneventful but slightly graphic; it later progressed, peaking our attention.

·         What elements did you find in the clip?

A sudden change in tempo/ intensity/ tone

·         Did it meet your overall expectations of an action genre opening?

Yes

Jack Reacher https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xPm2I6M97E

·         Did the clip feature typical action genre conventions? If so, what were they? If not, how were they challenged?

It’s very typical of an action movie however during the killing the whole suspense and atmosphere was built up slowly.

·         What elements did you find in the clip?

Suspense and danger

·         Did it meet your overall expectations of an action genre opening?

Yes but also no because it was slow throughout which we don’t see as typical.

Response #2

What do you think makes a great opening for any film?

Something that draws your audience in e.g introduction to a key character or creating tension

·         What do you think makes a great opening for a film of the action genre?

Creating Suspense, either to introduce a protagonist or leading into a initial fight scene.  

·         What conventions/features would you expect from these kind of films?

Fight sequences, mystery story plot

·         What do you consider to be typical plot lines?

An important object, person or information is stolen and the attempt to get it back

·         For an opening, what are your expectations regarding elements e.g. surprise, tension/intensity etc.?

To see tension and building up into an action sequence

Mad Max: Fury Road https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IJ8_Jf891k

·         Did the clip feature typical action genre conventions? If so, what were they? If not, how were they challenged?

Created tension straight away by showing a montage of different shots of the action taking place. Before changing to an introduction of a character and a dramatic car chase scene

What elements did you find in the clip?

Voice over. To tell the audience what the setting is and what the film is based around.

·         Did it meet your overall expectations of an action genre opening?

Yes, it set the atmosphere for the rest of the film

Jack Reacher https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xPm2I6M97E

·         Did the clip feature typical action genre conventions? If so, what were they? If not, how were they challenged?

Establish shots of the setting, I think that long shots are common in the genre as they are a way to establish settings quickly. You also saw some characters however there identity were concealed which is also common.

·         What elements did you find in the clip?

The non-diegetic music really helped to build up the suspense in shots that otherwise could have been ordinary activity someone might do (e.g. driving)

·         Did it meet your overall expectations of an action genre opening?

Yes, it featured a building of suspense and long shots, which are common in the action genre.

These findings show that mystery is an expected convention of action films, along with violence and a problem that forms the basis of the story; respondent #2 specifically mentioned the disappearance of an item or person and an attempt to find them. Both respondents agreed that the two openings they watched (Mad Max: Fury Road and Jack Reacher) featured expected conventions of the action genre e.g. building of suspense, however the first one felt that the opening of JR was slow and therefore didn't consider it to be a typical genre convention. This research will be effective in helping me create my film opening.