Thriller Evaluation: Question 5 - How did you attract/address your audience?

 After my film was finished, I was required to take survey data from Year 13 viewers and my course teachers for feedback. When asked which parts of the film were prevelant, the unanimous descision was that the flashback/transition of the repeating door slamming was what they liked the most, and that the titles were adequate but not a primary part of the atmosphere. It was also commented that the music fits the theme of the film well, and that the forest sequence was good, my teachers commenting especially on the birdsongs in the background and light coming through the trees. Out the the films that the survey audience had been shown, mine was said to be less 'cheesy' than some others and was somewhat gritty, but the relevance of a shot of Jason reading the Bible was questionable, so was cut before exporting the film.

Blind Faith begins with a close up shot of Jason (Steven Webb) staring menacingly into the bathroom mirror. The audience is given no hint on Jason’s intentions, but he appears menacing, so a sense of mystery and interest is established surrounding the antagonist. Caesar and Helen then walk up the drive and establish themselves to the teenage demographic. The repetitive nature of the bathroom scenes creates a formula that the audience can easily follow. The gradual reveal of the blood on Jason’s hands is intended to give the audience a taste of what may be to come, as well as to keep them on the edge of their seat in the opening sequence, lure them in to watch the rest of the film and create the impression that the entire sequence is a flashback of Jason’s attack on Caesar; whether or not Caesar has survived this attack has not been revealed, as unanswered questions presented in opening sequences help to stop the audience from losing interest. The music, as mentioned previously, heightens the tension. Caesar’s scream on the last few seconds was sampled directly from the raw footage, lengthened, and placed back into the shot; the resulting scream is blood-curdling, which may encourage further viewing. The film is appealing because the crime occurs in a neighbourhood not dissimilar to where some of us may be living. The concept of attempted murder happening just outside of your door is an extremely powerful tool for creating fear. The question of wether Jason is contemplating the murder or has already attacked Caesar keeps the audience glued to the screen.