Rough Cut Questionnaire & Response

This is the questionnaire that we presented to the group, so that upon viewing our production, they could give their thoughts and also some condtructive criticism in order for us to appropriately edit our sequence.

1. What connotations does the title of the film 'Forty Two' convey?

It seemed unanimous among the group that the title conveyed a sense of danger at the house number 42. However one person suggested that it would be the age of the first victim and a key theme of age would run throughout the film.

2. What codes and conventions of the thriller are conveyed through the opening sequence?

Many here said blood, fear, murder and mystery in response to this question.

3. What narrative features are present?

Again, among the group, the majority said that there was a sense of mystery, unexpectancy and murder, three things typically found in the thriller genre.

4. How effective do the camera angles and movements help create meaning?

1 2 3 4 (4 being the most successful)

Throughout the group, everyone suggested that the camera angles and movements well represented the meanings of the movie. Therefore many people voted this be rated a 3 out of 4.

Most of the people who were involved in our questionnaire believed that the best shots of the intro were the ones 

shot in the alley way.

The most effective piece of criticism gained from this section is from the person who said that we should shoot the house number 42 so that it is more central in the screen.

5. How effectively does the sound create meaning?

1 2 3 4 (4 being the most successful)

Throughout the group, most people would agree that the sound (bearing in mind it is unfinished as yet) fits to a score of 2 or 3 due to the diegetic sound gathered so far.

Again, the majority of the groups said that the most effective sound in the sequence so far was the emphasised wind during the chase scene.

Unanimous again was the decision of the groups that the sound that should be improved the most was the one where the male character was sitting in the living room, and the lack of sound in the opening title sequence.

6. How effectively does the mise-en-scene create meaning?

1 2 3 4 (4 being the most successful)

The majority here went down the middle and marked the mise-en-scene with a score of 2 or 3, meaning that there are still improvements that can be made, and will be made. For example, we can make a point about emphasising the most effective aspect to make the feel more obvious as it may appear at the moment.

The groups were torn between the either the knife that went missing or the costume of the killer being the most effective aspect of mise-en-scene. The fact that the knife went missing may need to be emphasised as only half of the class group seemed to have noticed it at all. One person, contrary to the others, suggested that the close up of the mug was the best aspect, perhaps due to the word 'shy' upon it which may suggest something about the initial persona's character. 

The groups agreed that we need to improve the lighting aspect of the sequence because the while the male is stirring his drink, it is clearly dark outside, whereas when he is in the living room with the same cup of tea, it appears to be daytime outside the window which happens to be in the frame. This will need to be improved soon in order to decrease the confusion upon the audience.

7. How effectively does the editing create meaning?

1 2 3 4 (4 being the most successful)

Most people gave the editing a score of 2, as it is as yet, unfinished, however most people said that the most effective aspect, if any from what we have shot and collected, was the quick cut between the clam living room where the male was unaware of the killer near him, and the chaotic chase scene between them.

It seems that most groups thought very similarly about the production and the good parts, and most helpfully, the work yet needed in order to make it a good success. Because of this, almost all groups said that the transition editing between the living room and the chase scene should be added, in order to add or remove smoothness depending on what feel is needed.

All in all, I take all of these criticisms on board, and will work hard on making these adjustments. This will altogether make the sequence more fluent and more successful. So I thank all the people who helped me by giving some advise and constructive criticism for their help and to let them know that their word shall not go unheeded.