main task- Target Audience research

I conducted a survey consisting of a few questions to find out what age certificate my film should be and what I should include in it to make it a legitimate and interesting thriller.

Of a sample of 20 people, the majority said it should be age certificate 15. The general feed back was that because of the shooting and potential 'gore' it should be a fifteen. Only one person rated it 18.

I could not conduct an exact chart as such for my target audience research on the conventions so asked people individually for their own thoughts before highlighting certain words that continued to arise in conversation.

What are the conventions of a thriller in your opinion?

Owen- "I expect to see action and tension, I should always be kept on the edge of my seat. There would typically be blood and gore and sometimes murders."
Ruth- "A thriller is a chain of exciting events which keep the audience in suspense as the element of the 'unknown' is displayed. There is usually fast paced music."
Emily- "I expect to see relatable characters and an exciting storyline."
Tom- "I expect high octane tension with a complex yet understandable narrative, fitting soundtrack and interesting cinematography"

As my target audience is late teens and adults, I asked some of the 17/18 year olds in  my class what they would like and expect to see. After speaking to other media students, I recorded their opinions and highlighted the conventions which I thought could be 'doable' within my thriller.