Discuss the client considerations for the creation of the product from the pitch (D1)
Organisation: The BFI
Organisation details: The British Film Institute provides funding for film and TV development and production, which includes international co-productions and completion funding.
Website: www.bfi.org.uk
Overview of Brief: The BFI is searching for the following outstanding British Horror Film. To qualify, you must plan your film, prepare a pitch and ensure that the BFI’s cultural criteria are met (https://www.bfi.org.uk/apply-british-certification-tax-relief/cultural-test-film). As part of the pitch, you must schedule a short that maintains your feature film's general plot and tone. The sub-genre of horror is your choice.
Length of short: Between 4-10 minutes
Age rating of short and feature films: 15
Documentation required:
•Initial ideas
•A proposal/treatment
•Character designs/costuming
•Location shots
•Storyboard/shooting script
•Evidence of how you will meet the BFI cultural criteria
The typical target demographic for a horror movie is between the ages of 15 and 25. Young adults and teenagers appreciate thrills, which is the most frequent explanation. Younger audiences are more likely to be excited by these thrills than older ones.
Three primary elements are responsible for horror's appeal as a genre: Tension: creating a feeling of mystery, dread, shock, or fear. Relevance: forging a cultural or personal bond, triggering an innate anxiety, such as a fear of dying.
Both Gen Z and millennials are significant audiences for horror movies. Generation Z likes horror and thriller content, and 70% say they want scary movies (variety).
Additionally, millennials were found to watch movies most frequently, with ages 25 to 39 making up 32% of all US movie attendance (MPAA). Both generations are heavily influenced by online content and social media, which can affect their movie choices. Horror films dealing with current cultural and social horrors, such as pandemics and social injustice, may appeal more to these generations.
According to BFI’s cultural standards, the horror genre is frequently considered a mirror of societal fears and concerns. The villain looking for additional victims and the empty, abandoned house in the storyboard can be interpreted as a statement on problems like urban deterioration and crime. This storyboard captures some of those qualities as well. Horror films also have cultural value in cinema history, with several classics that have inspired the genre.
Overall, the provided storyboard fits the bill for a horror film and complies with the BFI's cultural standards by telling gripping and scary tales and making meaningful social commentary.
Why did you choose a spooky forest or an abandoned house? Isn’t this a cliché?
Intention: The intention of keeping it an abandoned house or forest is to follow the theme of genuine horror for the audience with our twist. It’s not a cliché as the short film is a new experience for horror audiences with keeping some originality.
Why did you call the short film vanished in the shadows?
Intention: The name is aimed to fit around the story as people are vanishing into the shadows and cannot be found, so the word is desired to display the script and plot of the story.
How will you market the short film to the target audience?
Intention: The short film will be distributed and advertised in many ways.
Advertising – The film will be advertised on social media, such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
Since the film is only a short film, it is released on a media platform like YouTube films, and then it can also be promoted quickly.
They will have to pay to watch it on YouTube or release it for free but add adverts to the film at the start and the end.
If a media distribution company wants to buy it, they can purchase the rights for the set price and release it how they want.
In conclusion, I have satisfactorily responded to the client's queries and met the short criteria. I have created an intriguing idea for a British horror movie that complies with the BFI's cultural standards. The chosen horror subgenre enables me to appeal to the target audience of young adults and teenagers who adore horror and thrills.
