During the first stage of research as a group, we were asked to look at past students websites and trailers to get a general idea of what the websites include. We were asked to analyse the research and planning pages and give them a rating out of 10 on their research for thoroughness. We also had to watch their trailers several times and give them a rating out of 10 for Genre Control, Audience Match and the level the poster/magazine links with their trailer.
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After this stage of our reserach we then started to look at professional trailers for movies that are either already released, just been released and about to be relased. The movies we chose for this were of our own choice. While watching the trailers we analysed them, this meant we chose a section of the clip to look at, this could have been from a list of things such as editing, sound, lighting or Mise-En-Scene. For the research, as a group the movies we chose were 'The Dark Knight Rises', 'Prometheus' and 'Quantum of Solace'.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)In the trailer for 'The Dark Knight Rises' sound is used to portray a very mysterious and 'dark' setting. This is shown when at the start of the trailer there is a loud, deep, 'evil' sound. These kind of sounds are what can sometimes easily be associated with an Action/Crime/Drama genre. Using this sound at the beginning of the trailer can be used to get a point across to the audience that there is something 'dark' and 'evil' more than likely to happen in the movie. Throughout the trailer the non-diegetic background music sticks with the typical mysterious and deep genre, but stays fast paced to also link with the conventions of the Action genre. The music throughout the trailer is used to keep the audience interested and sceptical as to what may happen in the movie.
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PrometheusThe lighting in the trailer for Prometheus throughout is very low key and dark, this fits with the typical conventions of the Horror genre. The dark lighting in the trailer shows that there is something evil and mysterious about the movie and that there may be something terrible about to happen. When it gets to the end of the trailer the lighting starts to get a big higher key, this is done because the characters are effectively ‘running for their lives’ when they have a villain chasing them. The reason the lighting becomes a bit higher key is to show the shadows over the top the characters; this is done to show the inferiority of the characters to the enemy.
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Quantum of SolaceIn the trailer for the movie James Bond Quantum of Solace, the genre of action is shown through the camera shots. The camera shots use at the beginning of the trailer are close ups and extreme closeups, these are used to show the emotion on the characters faces. Another sean why is because of in the trailer the faces of the characters are cut and dirty. This makes the audience wonder what may have happened to them. During the end of the trailer the camera shots change to medium and long shots the shows the power of the character and also where they are to set the scene.
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About Teaser Trailers...
What Makes A Good Teaser Trailer?
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Picking a Genre
This was the next stage of our reseach, this included thinking about what genre teaser trailer we wanted to create. We then decided that the best way to do this was to do a brainstorm of every genre we could think of. On this brainstorm we also came up with different movies that were part of the genre, we then came up with the pros and the cons of each of the genres.
After creating this brainstorm we then spoke as a group as to what genre each of us wanted to do and which one would be the best for us to do in terms of the audience pleasure because their the main people we have to entertain. |
This is the brainstorm, we have included a key code. In blue we have written examples of films of the genre, we then followed on too discuss the pros and cons of the particular genre. We then coloured coded these too - red for cons and green for pros.
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Survey and Feedback
After making the brainstorm we decided as a group that making a survey would be a good idea. So we went onto Surveymonkey.co.uk and created a survey with questions that we thought would help us decide on our genre.
After creating the survey we then put it up on each of our Facebook accounts because we thought most of our target audience would have access to it. We also printed some out and gave them to some 'older' people to see what they thought.
After creating the survey we then put it up on each of our Facebook accounts because we thought most of our target audience would have access to it. We also printed some out and gave them to some 'older' people to see what they thought.
From these results we realised that a vast majority of the people we asked often go to the cinema.
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This certain result was very interesting for us. As you can see the highest amount of votes were in four for Comedy and the second highest was for Action. This has helped us to understand that including a bit of comedy may benefit us.
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FINAL DECISION ON GENRE
As a group, after getting the results from our survey, we wanted to make a teaser trailer with the genre of action. We thought this would be good because a lot of our target audience preferred the action genre and we all had some good ideas that we could incorporate into our own teaser trailer.
As we had decided to use this genre for our teaser trailer, we then thought it would be a good idea to look at professional teaser trailers of the same genre, we done this because we thought it would give us an idea as to what sort of footage, editing and sound that should be included in our trailer. We looked at the trailers for 'Gun' and 'Faster' we used these because we thought they would fit the type of trailer we were thinking of and they might have helped us develop our thoughts even more.
As we had decided to use this genre for our teaser trailer, we then thought it would be a good idea to look at professional teaser trailers of the same genre, we done this because we thought it would give us an idea as to what sort of footage, editing and sound that should be included in our trailer. We looked at the trailers for 'Gun' and 'Faster' we used these because we thought they would fit the type of trailer we were thinking of and they might have helped us develop our thoughts even more.
Screen Shots from Trailers of similar genres
Gun
Faster
Analysis of Teaser Trailers
The Transporter Trailer
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Music:
In the beginning of this trailer there was no use of music, only dialog to grab the audience’s attention, this made the trailer standout and set a quick scene. As the character finished talking, the rock music dropped and the pace of the changing scenes increased, a lot of bass was used and the sound of the cars were enhanced, this created tension between the audience and the trailer story line. Lighting: The use of lighting started off quite bright while the character in the first scene was talking, however the use of lighting was on and off to show the exciting scenes first, this shows the audience would be more interested at the storyline. Camera angles: The change in the camera angles constantly changes throughout and increases at the same time, this effect give the audience by presenting a quick scene of every exciting scenes of the movie. Editing: The editing uses lots of jump cuts, transitions and effects, these sync with the sound and camera angles to help the flow of the movie better, for example the car exposing effect was used to increase the anticipation within the audience. This makes the film more attractive to watch. Conclusion: Overall the techniques used in this trailer that were used to develop a variety of different types of elements to grab the audience’s attention were mainly consistent and fast paced, the music and changing camera angles were used together very well, the editing went well with the lighting and had contrast with the lighting, all the four elements were well planned out and worked together well. |
The Bank Job Movie Trailer
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Sound:
The music throughout the trailer has a light drubbing beat to contrast with the pace of the trailer, the different scenes such as an action has a fast beat and heavier bass sound to it, and the romance part to the trailer has a slow jazz track, the music is decreased when the dialog enters, the pace of the music flows with the words spoken in the dialog, this impacts the audience in several ways, building tension with fast music and dialog, the dialogue used was used to draw the audiences, the dialogue used was ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ and ‘we’re going to do a bank robbery’ these quotes get straight to the point, so we can already tell that the film is fast paced. Lighting: The light used in the trailer was in contrast with different scenes, for example the action part of the scene contained a lot of flashes that brightened the setting and built suspense, and for the tension filled parts of the trailer, the lighting was used at a low level contrast, so the highlights of the characters faces show tension being built, the lighting represents action with flashes and low contrast, so parts of the scenes are low key. Camera angles: The start of the trailer has a close up showing each characters profile and life style, this give the audience noticeable identities. Also, there were lots of mid-shots of when characters spoke to each other and this worked well because it also represented the importance of the story line. Editing: Here we see lots of jump shots as the characters converse with each other and this outlines the importance of the situation. Also, the time between each scene was very short, this is to attract the audience because it gets straight to the point. Conclusion Overall, these elements used were very strong together but we believe that the techniques that took the lead were the sound and editing because together it created lots of loud and visual effects. For example in the 4th scene there was a jump shot as soon as there was a loud explosion (sound). The transitions for in contrast with the camera angles at freeze frames, this builds temptation within the audience. |
Kidulthood |
Music:
Throughout the trailer for Kidulthood the music used is mostly always mysterious and tension building, this type of music works with the trailer as there is always something happening and throughout all of the action things seem to get worse. While this is happening the music pace increases catching the audience’s attention and building suspense. Lighting: Throughout the trailer for Kidulthood we see two different types of lighting, these are dark and light, and this can be used by the producers to show the two different sides of the movie, this could show the sides of good and bad. This is seen when the camera focuses on the “evil” characters the lighting is dark and when the camera focuses on what to be the “good” characters the lighting is brighter. Camera Angles: Throughout the trailer there a lot different camera angles used, but the most commonly used camera angle is a close up, this is done to show the audience the actors facial expressions, this also means that the audience can understand more of what’s happening. Editing: The editing in the trailer for Kidulthood is very fast paced, there are a lot of jump cuts to keep up the fast pace that the camera angles and music create. The only transitions used throughout the trailer are cuts; this shows the audience that the genre of the trailer is action. Conclusion: From everything used to create the trailer for Kidulthood, it’s all used to show and portray to the audience the storyline and help them understand. Also throughout the trailer we see a lot of codes and conventions that can help the audience know what the genre is. The trailer also works well to address the target audience of the movie. |