A2 Media Studies Evaluation

Brett Moore

What have you learned from your audience feedback?

The target audience for my music video would be relatively diverse due to the semiotic features
included within the video that tackles depression and indeed perceptions of the illness as well as
providing an insight into the heavy metal genre. Therefore my video would not only appeal to heavy
metal fans but also to fans of Robin Williams to who the song was inspired by and thus my
representation of what depression was like for the iconic actor.

Audience feedback therefore, particularly with a video that appeals to such an extensive demographic,
is vital in determining as to whether I have achieved the targets I had aimed to when constructing my
video. The best way to obtain effective data relative to the targets set is to use qualitative forms of
data collection and so this includes interviewing. This allows me to prompt my participants and direct
questions relative to my own media products targets such as; Do you feel that the video addresses
depression in a respectful but eye opening way? and What ways do you feel the video can be
improved to make it look more professional?. Due to the aforementioned extensive target audience it
was important and therefore pertinent to note my intentions to use a blend of heavy metal fans, nonheavy metal fans and also film fans as I felt this would not only provide a diverse portfolio of
feedback but will also be tailored to the biggest concerns I currently have with my own video and that
is indeed the blend of the genre and the notion of depression, to which in a genre where often the
more negative sides of life are prominent is notoriously difficult. I also found it was necessary to
conduct a questionnaire using survey monkey quantitative data - because it would help with
accessing audience views with regards to the representation of depression within the video and as to
whether my video tackled the issue respectively but effectively. This was done using two main
questions;
1. Do you think Tears of a Clown expressed a clear message regarding the struggles of living
with depression?
If so how did it do so?
2. Does the video approach depression with respect and is it done appropriately? If so/not
why/how?

A2 Media Studies Evaluation

Brett Moore

As a result audience members expressed that the video dealt with depression very well with one
person station; although it was very shocking in the end, it was also very eye opening and made me as
a viewer much more aware of the seriousness of depression another like the use of the clown; Using
a clown distanced it from reality and so wasnt disturbing as much as it was insightful, I think if it was
just a normal person it would have been much more abrupt and potentially too much for a music
video.

As a result one participant a heavy metal fan - expressed that it was very metal but did however
feel that the performer felt distant to them and suggested making the relationship between the
performer and the audience much more personal and suggested using Reckless Loves 2016 release
Monster as an example. Additionally the non-heavy metal participant liked the stylistic elements of
the video such as the isolation of the colour red and cited that it could have multiple connotations
and was a very metaphorical decision, however also suggested that the performance aspects needed
cleaning up and sharpening as they felt this would aid the professionalism of the video.
Furthermore it was suggested that the video felt a little too old school and cold use more editing
styles. Finally the film fan though that the video was very well shot and edited and the whole clown
style was an eye catching addition and makes the video more memorable than if the video had been
solely performance based. Despite this however they did suggest that there needed to be more shots
and more varieties of shots as there seemed to be a lot of repetition throughout and therefore by
including new and different shots it would improve the flow of the video.

Considering the audience feedback I felt it necessary to re-film the performer aspects using the LED
lighting as opposed to the 3 point lighting because this provided a much clearer and cleaner image that
thus improves the professionalism of the video. This was inspired by Reckless Loves Monster video
as suggested by one of my participants. Additionally I have decided to include more shots of different
things rather than just the performers and have experimented with using different types of cameras
such as the go-pro as this has made the video much more dynamic and has allowed me to extend the

A2 Media Studies Evaluation

Brett Moore

limitations of shooting allowing such shots as under-water shots. On the other hand however I felt that
the suggestion to include more editing styles that would include such things as overlays and multiple
layering would not suit the ethos and feel of the video and therefore to older more raw edit is
much more effective.

Resultantly therefore by ensuring a blend of qualitative and quantitative data I have been able to
achieve effective and useful audience feedback to which can be used to improve my music video with
regards to my most questioned aspects and indeed my own targets of the outcome of the video.