Film Pitch - Pre and Post Focus Group

Focus Group Feedback

The focus group involved us producing a detailed film pitch for the complete 30-minute film and presenting it to the class for feedback. We had to outline all the key details about our film from the title to the narrative structure. In order to do this we used the MEST 2 Film Pitch template and provided answers to all the titles listed. This can be found in the above power point where I provided the film pitch information prior to the focus group. This is accompanied by the appropriate changes after the focus group and some basic information on Schizophrenia, which is the mental illness that we will be portraying. 

Key quotes from pitch (WWW's & EBI's)

• "Positioning of the three minute extract within a 30 minute film may be a little bit confusing as it is all about montages and flashbacks" 
• "Seems as though we are positioning or extract at the start of the final act the Denouement"

Starts off with all these enigma codes and then our extract comes in at the start of the denouement and unravels all those mysteries provides the answers to the audience. 

• "Extract will have a lot of emotional power and intensity"
• "How are we going to present Schizophrenia in our extract?"
• " Do some research into films with dream sequences"
• “A lot of editing tricks that can be used to produce a really powerful sequence i.e. jump cuts, voice over’s etc."
• "Is there a danger with the idea that we could be reinforcing those negative stereotypes about mental illness?"
• " We could raise awareness about the mental illness but trend a careful path about schizophrenia"
• "Think about who we are going to cast and how we are going to cast them"
• "Speak to Mr Artus, to find out the best ways to portray mental illness"

Overall, the concept good for the art house audience, which will definitely appeal to them as it, is deals with very deep emotional issues. 

What I learnt from the discussion?

From the discussion with the class, I learnt a number of things like how to ensure that we do not reinforce the negative stereotypes about mental illness. Taking the comment on board I think that it will allow us to make sure that we portray it in the right way possibly through a dream sequence. In addition, through a combination of both the preliminary production and the class discussion I have learned how to balance the lighting in the filming better. I also learnt how to use the emotional intensity aspect of the extract to its full potential in order to engage the typical art house audience and keep them guessing at the same time. 

Full target audience breakdown

Age: 15-26 years

Middle/working class 

AB 

Psycho graphic groups: Strugglers, Succeeders, Explorers

Male/Female split: 60% - Female, 40% Male

Interests: Psychological/psychology - how the mind works, drama and bookworms  

Documentary Narrative - Revolves around the central theme of mental illness specifically schizophrenia.