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, non-heavy 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?

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 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.