Product Research

Bite me is a comedy – horror web series on YouTube. The series is about three men in their 20’s that love playing video games. They find themselves in a zombie apocalypse and realize they have to use their gaming techniques in order to survive and rescue their friends and ultimately save the world. The show had more than 2.5 million viewers by the first three episodes.

The web series is a zombie show the budget is much higher than ours but their camera work on the series is very good and we would like to use some of the shots in our zombie film. Such as

In the bite me series there is an overview of the zombie is bite me the inspired us for a scene in our final major project there will be a scene/shot of the zombies in a field and there will be a long shot of all the zombies.

Zombieland also influenced us the film is about a disease called mad cow disease which spread to humans all across the United States and turned everyone into zombies. A student called Columbus is making his way home from college to see if his parents are still alive he finds another survivor who kills the zombies they travel together. The pair meet other survivors which they join forces with Wichita and Little Rock, who have also found unique ways to survive the zombie mayhem, they will have to determine which is worse: relying on each other or succumbing to the zombies.

In the movie there are voice over at the beginning of the film explaining what has happened in the country and what disease has spread and how to survive the zombie apocalypse in our final major project film there is also going to be voice overs explaining the story.

The zombies from Zombieland are also giving us an idea what the zombie make-up should look like. We looked up on youtube how to make zombie faces and how to do zombie make up like from Zombieland, we also researched how to do zombie make-up from other films too such as Warm Bodies

How important is production research and why is it used?  Consider content, viability, placement (within the market), finance and cost, technological resources, personnel and locations.  Give examples from the media and your own ideas for the FMP where relevant How important is production research and why is it used?  Consider content, viability, placement (within the market), finance and cost, technological resources, personnel and locations.  Give examples from the media and your own ideas for the FMP where relevant

Production Meeting (Tuesday 22th April 2014)

Tuesday 22th April 2014

Pre- production

We had small meeting to ask who has completed what over the weekend. The cast recruiters has spoken to all the cast and asked them if they would be part of the  project. They got confirmation straight away and all of them accepted the project.  The script writer also has working through the script over the holiday, but he still didn’t finish the ending, because he didn’t know how to end it. The director and script writer going to talk about the ending. This week’s other action plan is that to get all the contact detail from all the cast members, by contacting them by social network and finding out. Also to start on budget and research what it is the cheapest products to use for the filming. Furthermore, to find make- up artist for the zombie make- up or learn how to do it.  Lastly, do other pre- production, because to finish as soon as possible.

Here is the list of who is doing what for this week:

Owais

• Completing Script Writing

• Getting the contact detail  from the some cast

Killian

• Giving updates information of the project to the cast and getting the contact detail

Alima

• Starting  on codes of practice and regulations

Arzu

• Completing the budget sheet

• Completing the call sheet

• Start and complete on the shooting script

Budget

                                                                         Budget

Description	Total
Camera	£0.00
Tripod	£0.00
Boom mic	£0.00
Boom pole	£0.00
iMac	£0.00
Final Cut Pro	£0.00
Special effect	£0.00
Director	£0.00
Editor	£0.00
Camera operator	£0.00
Props designer	£0.00
Eye shadow	£14.00
brushes	£0.00
Pan Stick (if there only extra money)	£11.99
1 litre liquid latex	£15.99
Fizzy drink glass bottle (for broken glass)	£3.00
Fake blood X2	£11.90
Costumes	£0.00
Wooden sword	£0.00
Tin can	£0.00
Paper balls	£0.00
Swimming googols	£0.00
sfx wax	£3.49
Scarf	£0.00
Headphones	£0.00
Keys	£0.00
Cricket bat	£0.00
Mugs x2	£0.00
Kettle	£0.00
Deodorant can	£2.00
Lighter	£1.00
Location: House	£0.00
Location: street	£0.00
Location: field	£0.00
	Total: £63.37

 

 

Production Meeting (Friday 4th April 2014)

Friday 4th April  2014

Process of the research, pre- production and plan for 2 week holiday 

We have finished the researches and started to plan what we are going to do over the holiday. As a group we have agreed to open a private group page on Facebook, because it will be easier to access the crew and cast there, so that we can update on each other, where we are and what we need to do.  The action of our plan during the holiday to start and continue with pre- production throughout the 2 week  holiday, so that we can start filming early.

Production Meeting (Thursday 27th March 2014)

Thursday 27th March 2014

The process of research and pre- production

Today we discussed the process of the researches, because to see where we are. We all nearly half way through. I have given out the questionnaires and started to make the audience profile. Alima and Owais have been doing product research like short films, to see how they filmed, and writing it. Finally Killian doing production research to see if their competitors and he also have researching the cast to find the right cast, so that the film can be good.

Owais also has started to edit the script, because as a group we want some bits the change like the ending. Are action of the plan is to continue with the researches and the start to edit the script

Production Meeting (Thursday 20 March 2014)

Thursday 20 March 2014

Pre- production plan

Today we have discussed who is going to do what  pre- production, so that we can finish early.

This is the list of who is going to do what:

Arzu

• ·         Use regular team meetings and action planning to plan

1. ·         Call sheets

• ·         Two projected budgets
• 
  

Alima

•      List production roles and jobs
•        Codes of practice and regulations

Killian

• ·         Production schedule with contingencies (plan B in case things goes wrong)
• ·         Risk assessment
• ·         Recce
• ·         Release forms and record of correspondence

Owais

• ·         Script
• ·         Storyboard and or a list and detail of shots and ideas
• ·         Release forms and record of correspondence

However, before we all start doing the pre- production, we all agreed on finishing on our researches for the film by Friday the 4^th. This is because we want to make sure the film will come out good and to make sure we are aiming at the right  audience, so that there could be a good amount of viewers watching this video, since we are going to post  it online. Another reason is that we want to make sure we got the right products and right cast for the film. This is because we want to make sure that we have the right mise-en- scene.

Audience Research

For our film, we thought about the target audience, because we wanted to make sure the film appeals to certain audience, so that there can be more viewers. However, I then designed a questionnaire to give out to people, because to see if we planned for right target audience and to see who will watch our film. I have gave out questionnaires to 15 people, because there wasn't enough time to give out to lot of people and analyse each one.  After I gave out 15 questionnaires, I went through each one, to find our target audience, so that we have accurate information, who is our target audience.

Questionnaire that was given out:

Age

Firstly, we thought that film will be targeted to age 15 to 40, because usually the zombie horror films is 15+, because it involves supernatural horror. However, I then did primary research. I found out that older generation likes zombie horror films; the age group between 18 and 32 likes it. This is because the younger audience either finds zombie horror films scary or not interested in it. I have also did secondary research, because to make sure the primary research is accurate. In my secondary research, I have found out that people who like horror genre is 15 to 24 age group, which it is slightly different result than I got. There is different result, because the person might have asked to more people.  However, I think the results are similar, because the age group is similar, because the horror genre is aimed at older teenagers and adults. The most of the zombie horror films also rated as 15+, because in those zombie horror, there is comedy element or not that violent, which we are planning to put comedy element and we are going to make it less violent scenes, so that it can appeal to young audience.

http://www.slideshare.net/mattmosey1/my-target-audiance

Gender

We also thought about what  is our gender target audience for this film. This is because we want it to appeal to the right audience, so that we could have more viewers. It  will be for mainly males  target audience. This is because there are mainly going to be mainly male characters, like the two main characters are male.   The other reason we thought males tend to like horror films more, because they like the suspense and action scenes. As I also researched  primary and secondary, I found out that male audience tends to like zombie horror films more than female audience. This is because the male audience finds the horror films suspense, while the female audience mainly find it scary and they don’t like that.

http://www.slideshare.net/mattmosey1/my-target-audiance

Ethnicities

Additionally, we are aiming at all ethnicities, because we want a large audience for our film, so that it can watched by the large audience. As I researched primarily, there is a wide range of different ethnicities that likes zombie horror genres, because it depends on their cultural experience I also researched online, there were no information that gives information about certain ethnicity likes zombie horror. This is because most of the research was depended on age, gender and cultural experience. 

Social Group

Furthermore, we targeted at part time, full time students, and who don’t study, because we want large audience for the short film and we thought liking a zombie horror film doesn't depend on social cultural. But, to make sure, I gave out the questionnaires. This is because we want to make sure the film is being watched by the right audience. From the questionnaires I have found out that people who likes zombie horror movies are either studies or don’t studies. This is because it depends on what genre they like. For example, like in Resident Evil film, it is aimed at 15+. The film appeal at people who studies and who don’t studies, because the production company wanted the film  watched by the large audience.

Moreover, I asked what people studying, because to see if there are certain type of audience likes scary zombie films. As I did the primary research I found out that type of people liking certain genres doesn't link with the social group. This is because from the primary research the people studying the same subject doesn't have the same cultural interest. For example, I have asked same people who studies media and one of them likes zombie horror and the other one doesn't like the zombie horror genre. This is because it is based on their gender, age  and their cultural interest.  I also researched online, but there was no source that gives information about if there is a certain social group like zombie horror, because what people like doesn’t link to their social group

Additionally, we aim the film at unemployed, part time and full time audience, because we wanted the audience to wide as possible as it can be. As I researched primarily, the people who likes zombie horror are unemployed, part and full time. This is because they like zombie horror as part of their cultural interest, which it doesn't link to the social group.

Location

Furthermore, I did primary research of which borough do they live to see if liking zombie horror depends on the borough. However, as I thought it doesn't depend on the borough, because most filled questionnaires were given to people who live in Waltham Forest borough and some of the people live there like zombie horror and other people live there don’t like zombie horror. This is because it depends on their age, gender and cultural interest. I also did secondary research, but there was information that proves there is a certain location that people like zombie horrors films, because what people like does not link with the area they live in.

Cultural Experience

I have also did cultural experience research, because I think it is important to see what people like and what they don’t like. In the questionnaire I have asked which film genres do they like. I found out that there is not large audience of horror, because most of people either not interested or find it scary. However, in the film there is also going to be action and comedy elements, which in the research I found out that most of them like comedy and action. This is maybe because people like to have a fun time and comedy and action contained as entertaining for the people. There are movies that horror, comedy, and action like Zombie land. As I researched online, there is a wide audience for zombie land. This is because the whole film is not too suspense and most of the times, there are funny scenes. For example, there is a scene where Tallahassee (staring Woody Harrelson) kills a zombie and he killed the zombie in the funny way. This is because to make the film light horror and so that it can appeal to their target audience.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1156398/

Moreover, I have asked if they watched horror films, because the genre of our film is mainly going to be genre of horror. I found out that most of the people watched horror movies. This is because some of them like to watch, other people just watched it with their friends, to enjoy the film together. I have also researched online to see population of people watch horror films. However, I couldn't find any source of information, because maybe the population of people watching horror films always can change.  

I have also asked do they like horror films and I found out there are less people like horror. This is because some people find horror scary. However there is high population of people like comedy films and there is going to be comedy elements in the short film, so there is highly possible that our target audience will watch our film.  I have also researched online what is the population of people who like to watch horror films. According to the scientific study, only 37% of people like horror films, which it is less than 50% like mine research. This might because people are scared of watching horrifying films and they more like to watch a film that makes them relaxing.

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/10/31/why-some-people-love-horror-movies-while-others-hate-them/

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percentage_of_people_likes_watching_horror_movies#slide=2&article=What_percentage_of_people_likes_watching_horror_movies

Additionally, I have asked why people watch horror or don’t watch horror films, because to see whether if there’s specific reason they watch or don’t watch horrors films. Firstly, some of them said they don’t like it, because they either find it boring or scary. Secondly, some people like it, because they like to predict who is going to live and who is going to die, which they find that entertaining and funny. Thirdly, the other reason they like it, because they find suspense good and they like to feel tense moment. I have also researched online to see why else do they like horror films or not. The reason they don’t like horror films is because people find it scary and after they watched it, they keep thinking about it for days.  However, it also says, if the person watched it with enjoyment or with friends and likes it, then the person tend to go back and watch it again to have fun, to feel the same emotions.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_percentage_of_people_likes_watching_horror_movies#slide=1&article=What_percentage_of_people_likes_watching_horror_movies

I have also asked people if they watched zombie films and I found that not lot of people watch zombie films. This might because there’s not too much of zombie films and that’s why it appeals the less people for this type of film. For example, there are only like ten zombie films made for the past 14 years, which it doesn’t give enough choice for the audience to watch zombie films. I have also researched online, but there is no a source that gives information what is the population of people watching zombie films. This is because time to time the results can change and the population can change. For example, this month the population can be low and the next month, the population can be high. This is because people can choose or not choose to
watch it.

I have also asked people if they liked zombie films, I have found that there are less people like to watch zombie film. I have also asked why people like to or not like the zombie films. This is because find out the views of our target audience. Firstly, the reason they don’t watch it, because they don’t find it interesting or they find it boring, because they find it unrealistic. Secondly, the people who like to watch it because they find it funny, they find it scary, and like the creation and the storyline of it. I have also researched online the reasons as well. Firstly, I have found that some people find it disgusting, because the image and the actions they  don’t it appealing. However, according to a YouTube video the man explains why people like zombie films. Firstly, some people like to watch zombie films, because it symbolises something or someone in there real lives. For example, if something happen in our real lives, then it appears in the zombie films and the audience love seeing that. Secondly, according to this film, we also like zombie films, because in the zombie films the heroes can’t stop zombies, which it relates the politic issues, terrorist attacks and economics. This is because people can’t stop these too and it again relates to people. This is because people have to live in this type of world, that people under the attack. For this video, there are also comments whether they agree or not. Most of people agree with this video, because they think it relates to their own life and their own issues. For example, someone loves zombies, because “it can represent ANYTHING, economic collapse, riots, raids, other country take overs”, which this shows people like it, because it can relate themselves.

http://www.danbirlew.com/why-are-zombies-so-popular/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSoIDJCY3r8

In conclusion, I have found out that are target audience is slight different. Firstly, are target audience is age 15 to 32, because this is the age group likes the zombie horror films. Secondly, the film aims at male audience, but it also appeals a bit to females. This is because males mainly like to zombie horror, but there are also small female audience also likes to watch zombie horror. Thirdly, it is aimed at all ethnicities, because any person likes zombie horror can watch this film. Additionally, it is aimed all social group, who are unemployed, works full time or works part time, who goes to study full or part. This is because this film is only for entertainment and so that people can have good time, which this film doesn’t link to social group. Lastly, it is aims at people who like to watch films and who likes to watch zombie horror. This is because this film is going to be in these genres and if people like to watch films, then they more likely to watch this short film.