Analysing film trailers

Mise-en-scene

The Hunger Games

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMGRhAEn6K0

The mise-en-scene is effective within this part of the trailer as it has completely changed compared to the beginning of it. It began in the character's home town which was portrayed to be very green and rural and now is in this new futuristic setting. The colours used here for the setting are silver and blue. These colours portray a strong connotation for technology and sci-fi. This presents to the audience that there is a change in Katniss' (main character) life as not only is she moving away but is also completely different to her comfort zone, this helps to attract the audience as they also want to find out what is going to happen at this new place too. 

Katniss is also portrayed to be powerful in this scene as she stands out from the men walking next to her as they are in contrasting colours, the black may be suggesting she is not afraid to be different and also could represent her strong will in this film. Her head is also held high as she walks towards the camera again suggesting she is powerful and a strong person. This attracts the audience as you can already tell that she is the main character and the 'hero' of the film, therefore, the viewers are intrigued to see what happens,

The characters in this shot are all very serious as they are standing extremely still and tall. This may also engage the audience as they can see that something is about to happen and would want to know what this is, making the trailer successful.

Camera movement/shots

I Am Legend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtKMEAXyPkg

There are many establishing shots used within the I Am Legend trailer. This is due to the fact the film is based on the disruption of New York city. Therefore establishing shots show the iconic city of New York and what is happening to it in the film. This intrigues the audience as the shots are very clear of what is happening and they would want to know what is happening to New York and why.

Low angle shots are also used in the trailer to connotate and highlight the superiority of the main character. Low shots suggest that the character is strong and powerful which would engage the audience as they can recognize he is the hero through this shot and the role that he is playing in the film.

Sound

The Conjuring

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgTUALaTvv0

At the beginning of the trailer, a happy family moving into a new home are presented to the audience. The sound at this point is non-diegetic music which is quite happy and upbeat. This suggests to the audience that at this point in the film there is an equilibrium and everything is normal to the characters, However, shortly after this changes. 

Shortly after, the sound changes to an eerie and spooky type of music. This is where the trailer presents genre clues as the common conventions of horror films is scary music and sounds such as floor boards creaking. This trailer is successful as the sound and music you would expect from a horror film is presented which engages the target audience. After seeing this trailer, horror film fans will be engaged and want to watch this film as the sound is a very key feature of a trailer and it is effective.

Lighting

If I Stay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtezcxOAnzw

In the If I Stay trailer, the lighting used is very effective as their is a clear contrast between it. The trailer shows that the film is split between reality and the main character being outside of her own body. The lighting shows this as the lighting to begin with is quite low key, natural and realistic of everyday life. However, when the character is out of her body, the lighting portrays the scene to be rather mystical and heavenly. This is effective as the audience are engaged by this as it portrays a change in the girls life creating enigma for the viewer as they want to find out which path she takes. Does she stay in reality, or leave the world to be with her family in this heavenly life? The audience would want to watch the film due to this trailer making it effective.

Film trailer research continued

What makes a good trailer?

There are many codes and conventions used within film trailers to help advertise the film.
To begin with, a typical code/convention of film trailers is how the genre is portrayed to the audience through out the trailer, this is a key convention due to the fact the viewers of the film depends on the genre and what target market it is aiming at. 
As well as this, an additional convention of film trailers is how the main characters are presented and how the famous actors are shown so that the audience are attracted to the film as they are a fan of that actor, therefore are a fan of the upcoming film.
Another convention is the title given to the film which is usually shown at the end of the trailer so people get a glimpse of the film and have a moment to think about it themselves before they know the full plot it includes, another reason for the title being at the end is because it then stays in the audiences heads and they are likely to remember it as it is the last thing they saw. 
Finally, as well as this another code and convention of a film trailer is the typography used, sometimes sub headings and on screen text can be used to help the audience understand what the film is about and also help them be attracted to it.

Film trailer research

Trailers are a very important feature of film making as they are what promotes the film to a wide audience in an attempt to lure them into watching. There are often large budgets for trailers as they are one of the most major ways of creating immediate interest before a film is actually released.

Three types of trailer

• Teaser trailer - The shortened version of a trailer, shown in advance to the release date. It's purpose is to tease the audience and to interest them into the film.

EXAMPLE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJNaTZAjyR4

• Theatrical trailer - These are usually shown in the cinema a few weeks before the release date.

EXAMPLE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FovFG3N_RSU

• DVD trailer - These are shown  on television and on the internet in advance of the DVD release date to intrigue the audience into actually buying the DVD copy of the film.

EXAMPLE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzWXyV_kygM

Short film research continued

Post-it Love

Mise-en-scene:

• The film is set in a stereotypical office environment filled with photocopiers, printers, desks, filing cabinets etc...
• There are a few lightly coloured walls such as green and purple portraying a slight twist to the working environment which could lead the audience to think there is a twist in the film too.
• Both the male and female characters are wearing stereotypical work wear presenting them as smart and hard working people - also showing them to be similar in clothes linking to their similarity in personality.
• The props include the frequently displayed work facilities however the main used props are the post-it notes.

Sound:

• The sound throughout the film is non-diegetic music
• The music is upbeat and jolly portraying the love that is about to blossom as it is a happy time for both the male and female characters
• There is no dialogue therefore the focus is not on what the characters are saying but in fact the actions in which they are doing - creating pictures for each other.

Lighting:

• The lighting is quite high key throughout the film and does not dim at any point.
• The bright lighting emphasises the happy theme being shown and how both of the characters are happy with each  other.

Camera shots:

• The camera shots vary a lot in this short film.
• There are many medium close ups showing the expressions of the characters throughout the film so the audience can see how they are feeling at each stage.
• There is also a long shot of both of the characters at either side however the screen is split - this shows the similarity between the characters and how they act in the same way.
• There is also an extreme close up of the females eyes when she finds one of the post-it note pictures - this is effective as it shows the happiness in her eyes at what she is looking at before the audience can even see the picture.

Narrative:

• The narrative is very straight forward in a sense that there is no disruption in the middle, or anything messing up the narrative flow.
• The small post-it note pictures all lead to a big image of both the characters at the end which is effective as the audience can sense the build up at each image but do not know what will happen at the end.

 Link: http://www.filmsshort.com/best-short-films/Best-UK-Films-1.html#.VCHcavldW2U

The Black Hole

Mise-en-scene:

• The male character is wearing a stereotypical shirt and tie to his work suggesting his working life to be like many others at this time.
• The film is set in an ordinary dull looking office filled with many office supplies such as printers, photocopiers and filing cabinets.
• The male character seems to be rather worn out as his uniform is beginning to look quite shabby as if he is coming to the end of a long working week

Sound:

• There seems to be no non-diegetic or music or sound in the film suggesting that the film may be quite realistic despite the plot.
• There is also no dialogue so that the audience is able to fully focus on what the character is doing not saying.
• We only hear diegetic sounds such as a printer constantly printing work which seems to add tension throughout the film which emphasises the environment that he is in.

Lighting:

• Straight away the audience can see the low key and dim lighting representing the boring and un-thrilling lifestyle that working in an office may entail.
• The lighting stays the same in the whole of the film suggesting nothing changes in the office and most days are the same.

Camera Shots:

• The camera shots are rather simple in this film as it is set in an office which is portrayed to be a quite simple place.
• The shots are mainly medium close ups showing the man and his reaction to everything that goes on.
• This allows the audience to understand how the character is feeling at each stage in the film by looking at his face and the expression he is pulling.

Narrative:

• The narrative is quite simple to begin with as a simple man is shown going about his daily work.
• He then comes across this black whole on a piece of paper which turns out to be an actual hole and he ends up getting stuck in a safe whilst trying to steal money out of it through the hole.
• The narrative is effective as it involves an unexpected twist keeping the audience interested.

Link: http://www.filmsshort.com/best-short-films/Best-UK-Films-1.html#.VCHcavldW2U

(3rd one down)

Key terms and theories

Todorov's Narrative Theory

Todorov's Narrative Theory applies to many films and to how they are structured. It states that at the beginning of the film or programme everything is normal, known as the equilibrium. Then, half way through, there is an issue (disequilibrium) which disrupts the calm environment, for example, a kidnapping. The rest of the film or programme is then spent trying to solve this issue therefore it ends where everything is good again and this is known as restored equilibrium.

Mode of Address

The mode of address states how the audience is being addressed by the film or programme. Examples include direct address in dialogue (meaning a character is speaking out to the audience involving them in the media piece), a voice over which is sound over what is going on on screen which could address the view and written dialogue which could be on the screen aiming at the viewer.

Key Terms

Enigma- A narrative device that teases the audience by presenting a puzzle to be solved.

E.g. - In a horror when someone/thing is in the house, the long space of time time between realising and finding them.

Action Code- A narrative device by which a resolution is produced through action.

E.g. - A fight breaking out between two characters to solve an issue.

Linear Narrative- A plot that moves forward in a straight line without flashbacks or digression.

E.g. - A fairy tale such as Goldie Locks, there is a straight forward start, middle and end plot.

Parallel Action- A narrative device in which two scenes are observed as happening at the same time by cutting between them.

E.g.- A phone scene between two people with cuts in between the two places where the characters are.

Anti-narrative- Describes a text which seems to deliberately disrupt narrative flow in order to achieve a particular effect.

E.g.- Repetition of images or disruption of a chronological sequence of events with a flash back.

Short film research

The Ride

Mise-en-scene: 

• Clothing on characters are casual portraying may be within lower or middle class.
• Set in an every day place, very minimalistic set with only the set and a few shops putting all focus on the characters.
• Set also seems very realistic to viewer,
  

Sound:

• No non-diegetic music throughout the film until end when car disappears into distance.
• Allows audience to focus on dialogue between characters other than music

Lighting:

• Quite dim lighting portraying a musky area at day time.

Camera shots:

• A lot of conversation in film so medium close ups and two-shots are used to clearly show both characters and the tension between them.
• Reaction shots also used to capture emotions of the two people when they are speaking to each other.

Narrative:

• Film begins slowly in terms of action building up sense of enigma for audience as you can tell something is about to happen as the male character is clicking his pen in nerves.
• Slow beginning leads to fast twist at end which is unexpected from the audience then suddenly ends.
• The twist makes it an interesting and effective short film as it is not expected.

Link: http://vimeo.com/78229114

Room 8

Mise-en-scene:

• Set in a prison with very few props such as bed and desk representing simplicity of a prison cell.
• Costume is a dull uniform, both characters are wearing the same as the same uniform is worn throughout the prison,
• Men seem unclean showing nature of where they are.

Sound:

• Foreign language heard at beginning followed by eerie diegetic sound suggesting the emptiness of prison and how the male character is not familiar with his surroundings.
• Non-diegetic music comes in building up as characters emotion builds and it continues to grow as the man tries to escape out of the prison cell.
• Music builds and is at it's peak when the man gets caught and put into the match box.
• Stops when he is then caught and put into the draw as if it was a natural occurrence.

Lighting:

• Low key dark lighting representing the gloom and being trapped in the room.
• Contrasts with bright light outside the room emphasising the freedom at his reach and the hope to escape.

Camera shots:

• Medium close ups used showing characters expressions in the dialogue and emphasising how uncomfortable they feel around each other as they are unfamiliar with each  other.
• Close up on males face emphasising his expression and temptation to leave the room.
• Establishing shots of the room are used to add to the plot when the lid of the box is open.

Narrative:

• Men are captured in prison cell, the idea of being trapped is a configuring concept.
• This draws the audience in as you think he is going to escape when in fact a twist occurs as he gets put in a match box like lots of other men as if it is normal.

Link: http://www.filmsshort.com/short-film-pages/room-8-james-w-griffiths.html#.VBRJTICwJje

Film trailer research

The Conjuring - 2013

I chose to present the 'The Conjuring' trailer as I feel that I may focus my coursework on creating my own horror trailer. I think this as I find trailers about horror films have the biggest effect on an audience due to the fact they are a only a few minutes long yet they still make the audience frightened and intrigue them into watching.
   I like the 'The Conjuring' trailer as it begins with upbeat music, however, it suddenly changes to eerie non-diegetic sound combined with diegetic sounds to add to the atmosphere such as creaking floor boards. I feel that this is effective as music and sound is one of the most important parts of a trailer in order to draw the audience in and I think this trailer used the sound well as it contributes to the theme of horror in.
   I also liked how the same theme of the children's 'claps' game was used throughout with a twist to make it scary. I thought this was intriguing as you can't see who the intruder in the house actually is apart from the hands which creates a sense of enigma for the audience.
   As well as this, towards the beginning of the trailer as subtitle shows saying "based on a true story". I think this is a clever mechanism to use within a trailer, especially in horror, as I feel that by saying the story is true, more people will want to watch to find out what the film is actually about.
   Finally, the trailer consists of many iconic codes and conventions such as dim and dull lighting, dark and gloomy colours and faded lighting. As an audience member you expect to see these kind of features within a horror film as they all connotate as frightening. 
   Therefore, I enjoy watching this trailer and think it intrigues the audience which is what a successful trailer should do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHV0qgjcWAU

Introduction to Task

The task I have been given for my advanced portfolio is to create a promotion package for a new film. I have to include a trailer with two of either a website home page for the film, a magazine front cover featuring the film or a poster for the film.