Audience feedback is an important aspect when creating any type of product as without any audience, there is no product, therefore the feedback given by the audience is significantly crucial in order to give them what they want. Audience response is an interaction associated with the use of audience response systems which creates an interaction between a business and its audience.
There are various reasons for the use of audience response systems; primarily one of them being a tendency to answer any questions that businesses or people associated with the product want to know.
Having constantly referred back to the comments given by the audience, it enabled us as a group to create an sense of understanding with the audience.
Having established our findings from the questionnaires, as a group we had to clarify our target audience as this would reflect on our scheduling times. Initially, episodes would broadcast at round 18.30 due to other popular soaps such as Eastenders and Coronation Street would be aired after. However, due to further planning when producing storyboards and track shots, we decided to add story lines which included drugs, therefore we have to consider a later time, maybe around 21.00. Without handing out questionnaires, as a group we would not have been able to establish these findings. Producing these questionnaires as the first part of our research was helpful as we first had identify what our audiences wanted. Having done this, we then went on to our focus group questionnaires which again allowed us to gather further research into our soap. With the focus group, we had a deeper understanding with what our audience wanted as they would answer questions directly related to our soap which we were creating or any other existing soap. The idea of creating a focus group is get thoughts and opinions from people outside the group to get a non bias view on our given assignment. Each of the questions, helped us a group to analyse and evaluate our soap and produce it to the best of our ability.
Having completed the assignment, as a group we have experimented with a variety of different audience feedback methods which have allowed us a group to develop our use of analytical and evaluative skills. Looking back at the feedback given initially by our audience, comparing to the feedback given now after finishing our product, it is evident that we have continued to develop our soap with the comments given to us.
As a group, we have established a number of ways to carry out audience research as well as learn from the feedback given.
Below is an interview that was recorded with Louise at the very beginning of our production process, having acted up some of the comments given by Louise herself. The style of the program, various storylines, use of innovative angles such as the 360 degree and the targeted age that our trailer would appeal to is evidently shown to entertain an audience like Louise who has enabled us a group to establish our own audience who would watch our soap.
From the feedback given by both Helena and Andrew who have also seen the first draft of the soap, they have been able to see the progression we have accomplished as a group. As seen on the video, the storylines are a lot clearer; in particular, at the very beginning when a text message is received relating to the shot of the pregnancy test before, therefore there is more of a purpose to that characters role.
Having been able to refer to our audience feedback, it has enabled us as a group to continuously make our soap bigger and better.
Below is an annotated version of our soap which underlines the key aspects.
