Audience feedback

After handing out several questionnaires with my first edit of Gracie out to many members of my opening sequence I have received some really great feedback which will really help me to improve my opening sequence.

The first question I asked was:

'After watching the opening sequence what did you think the storyline was?'

I asked this to find out whether or not I had made it clear enough as to what and how the story would progress if I were to make the rest of the film. 

Everyone I asked said that they felt the storyline was clear, and that they thought that the young girl was caring for someone with a disability which is absolutely correct. 

One comment that stuck out a lot to me because it told me what made it clear for them and what they liked.

'The story line is very clear, I think that the young girl in the opening sequence is caring for someone who is clearly disabled? The newsletter/newspaper article you show makes this clear which I liked because otherwise I think it would have been unclear as to what the young girl was doing.' Hannah Jones, 38.

Secondly I wanted to find out whether they felt the story was given away too much or not enough and so I asked:

'Do you feel there is enough information in the first 2 minutes of the film but not too much to give away the story?'

Nearly everyone said that they felt just enough was given away to keep them interested however a couple also said that too much was given away and that they would rather be left guessing. Although I have had mixed opinions for this I think I am going to leave it as it is purely because the majority felt happy with this. 

My third question asked my audience this:

'What kind of music do you think I should add to my opening sequence? I have played on the idea of using a piano piece, what do you feel would fit appropriately?' 

Again, the majority agreed that it would be nice but also very emotional if I used a piano piece and so this is what I will do, I just need to find the right piece! A few people thought it might be nice to find a slow, emotional piece that had lyrics to fit the opening sequence. I do agree that this would be effective however I think it will be very difficult to find a piece that is perfect with lyrics and I also feel that I should go with the majority again.

'Do you think I need anymore dialogue throughout the opening sequence? e.g. A voiceover.' This was my next question which I asked because originally I had felt it may be nice for a voiceover to be explaining how the young girl feels and how her life is panning out however decided against it because I didn't want to risk my opening sequence looking like a trailer. 

The feedback I received was very mixed. Many felt that the opening sequence didn't need a voiceover because I have showed very clearly what is happening and how the story may unfold. However a few did feel that maybe having the young girl herself speak throughout telling the audience how she feels as they felt that this would be very emotional. I am still deciding what I will do regarding whether or not to use a voiceover.

The next question I asked was to do find out how my target audience felt about my opening titles:

'How do you feel about the titles? The order of them? The font and size? etc.'

This question I felt was really important because I was feeling really unsure of my titles. I felt that they may have lasted too long and many of my target audience agree. Many felt that the titles lasted too long and that the order was slightly confused. Someone even said that they felt they didn't quite flow properly. I have decided that I am going to remove some of the titles and also do a bit more research into the order of many titles in the opening sequence of other social realist films. I will also add some transitions which will hopefully make them flow slightly more. 


The final question I asked my audience was more general:
'Any other general comments/feedback?'
A few people said that they really liked the title of my opening sequence and the motion it used. Many people didn't fill in this last question which really isn't helpful but the majority of those that did said the main thing I need to focus on is my music and sound and of course it is at the top of my list!