Trailer conventions for each genre

Analysis of Paranormal Activity 2 teaser (Horror)

This trailer above is a teaser, as it is shorter than usual trailers but also contains a lot less information about the film, for example it cannot be made clear what exactly the storyline is, but it just contains the scariest and most shocking parts of a film which is what a teaser trailer always consists of - the best parts so that the audience sees the film as exciting.
By having included parts of the film where everything is settled (meaning nothing is happening) and then having something shocking happen and jump out, this gives the effect that the film will have overall in cinemas, meaning the viewer will be more attracted to wanting to watch this film.
Also, like teasers have, this has short clips made up into one trailer to create a fast pace, meaning the film seems exciting. A trailer would be different as it would have longer shots, explaining what the story line of the film is, instead of just having the scariest moments.
There are intertitles included to show that the film does appeal to many ('In 2009 you demanded it'), and also by including quick shots of an audience watching Paranormal Activity, it shows many watched this, meaning they will watch this also. These quick shots of an audience also capture the fear when they were watching, showing that this film will be exciting.

Analysis of Zoolander (Comedy)

Analysis of Zoolander

View more presentations from hogsofwar94

I produced this Power Point Presentation to display the elements of trailers, specificially looking at Zoolander. By looking at a comedy (as well as other genres of films) this will help me in choosing which genre I want to produce for my trailer.
By producing this using the software 'Slideshare' this displays a different way of evaluating a film. I like this way of presenting evaluation as it's all in one place, neat and easy to access.

The Tourist trailer analysis (Action/ Romance)

• The genre of this film is action/ romance. The romance aspect of this film is shown in the trailer by a couple meeting on a train and then emphasised by the kiss. The action part is shown by there being guns included in the trailer and chase scenes.
  
• The narrative is that a couple meet on a train, then their romantic travel is interrupted by spies.
  
• The unique selling points of this film vary. The fact that two well know actors are in this, Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie, makes the film appeal to more people. Also that the film is a mix of genres (romance and action) makes the film unique, as usually it's one or the other. Another aspect of the film which is unique is that the female is the lead in action. Johnny Depp's character is always seen as lost and confused whilst action is going on around him, Angelina Jolie's character is involved in it, which is shown in the dialogue "How are you involved?"
• The target audience could be men or women because of the fact that it's action (for men) and romance (for women), therefore the film appeals to more people.
• The music at the start is mysterious and quite tense, not giving away what's going to happen. This is accompanied by a voiceover by Depp's character "It all started when I met a woman on the train", leaving the audience wanting to know more, not knowing what exactly started after this. Long shots are used breifly showing where they are (on the train) and where they're heading towards (Venice), though they are very quick shots meaning the viewer just has a breif idea of where they're going.
• An intertitle "This December" is used. The font (same on all the intertitles) is thin, white with some orange and a grey background. This doesn't give away to the audience what the target audience is. For example if it was men something bold and metalic could be used to show the masculinity. If it was for women a curly pink font could be used to show the femininity clearly.
• Following this a series of quick shots are used to show the setting. At first an establishing, over head shot is used to show the city of Venice. Then long shots of boats and gondolas are used to ensure the viewer this is set in Venice. Setting a film in Venice works well for this genre. Venice is a typically romantic city, but also Italy is stereotypically somewhere with gangs with guns, showing the action aspect.
• The dialogue "You're ravenous" "Do you mean ravishing?" is used to show Depp's character, Frank, as being clumsy and aware that Jolie's character is more sophisticated than him, he's shown as nervous by stumbling on his words. A lot of medium shots are used to show these two characters emotions when interacting.
• This is followed by Depp and Jolie's characters kissing, which is photographed by someone. This adds to the romance aspect of this film, but then develops into the action as the dialogue "Alright, grab him" is said by an unknown character, and then Depp begins to be chased by men with guns. These two scenes being next to each other is significant, as it shows what happens to Depp from then on is something to do with Jolie's character. "There are two men with guns trying to break in" is used as a sound bridge other a close up shot of posters of Depp's character being handed out. For the audience this creates a mysterious feeling, not knowing why Depp is being chased therefore wanting to watch on. Also a close up of gun shots through a door and Depp running creates tension, as it seems as if Depp's character is innocent so the audience is not sure what's happening.
• Following this the music then changes to something faster paced and tense. This shows the transition from the romance aspect of the film to the action. A montage of quick shots of men with guns and Depp running is shown very quickly, making the audience feel more tense. The dialogue "...stole big money from a gangster, they think you are him." finally shows to the audience why Depp's character is being chased. A medium shot is followed of Depp's face, showing the emotion as he doesn't know what to do.
• The dialogue said to Jolie "Why are you involved?" leaves the audience wondering, as it is unanswered in this trailer, so it gives them reason to watch the film.
• A montage of shots of the couple together, but also the gangster who is attempting to kill Depp and Depp being shot as shows the variation of what happens in this film, its never souly focused on action or romance in any part. A close up shot of a gun is prominant, lasting longer than any of these quick shots.
• The music then stops for the short shot with dialogue "I don't regret it you know, kissing you." shows even after all the action happening, Depp still likes Jolie in a romantic way. The music then begins again when the title "The Tourist" comes on screen, and carries on through the "Coming Soon" and then the credits.
• I think this trailer works well because it has many montages of quick shots, showing the audience the film will be exciting. Also the mix of genres as it will appeal to more people and the music because it shows this film is tense, therefore exciting once again.

Analysis of Notthing Hill trailer (Romantic Comedy)

By analysing this trailer I will show how romantic cliche's are shown in romantic comedy films, and even the trailers.

• A voice over is used through out the whole of this trailer to illustrate the storyline of the film itself. Small clips of the film are used to create a montage of the couples relationship, how it develops through the film
  
• There are also clips of characters to show who they are in the film, what typical part they play. For example, Anna Scott is displayed being photographed at a film premier which shows her role in the film - the more sucessful part of the relationship. Also many close up/ medium shots are used of this character to clearly show her beauty, showing she is typically out of the other character Will's league. By having this aspect in the film, it creates the ideology that the unlikely will happen, that the average guy can get a girl who's sucessful and seen as out of his league.
  
• Where as Will is shown as less sucessful. This is shown through the way his house is represented - small and not well decorated, which contrasts with the places Anna Scott is seen, in well decorated hotels for the rich.


• Another character shown in this trailer is the less attractive friend, but in this case the room mate. Spike is shown as someone who is lonely, constantly looking for a relationship, but also a slob as he is never working and always lazing around, even in the trailer. All romantic comedy films have a less attractive/ slob friend of one of the people who are the main characters. This is so that the comedy aspect can easily be added to the romantic storyline, but also so that at some point of the film this character can give romantic advice, which is usually useless, again adding to the comedy aspect.
  
• A red bus is shown in this trailer which is typical to London, meaning this is the setting of the whole film. Having the film set in a city it creates the ideology that anyone can find love, no matter how unlikely, and also that you will become sucessful. The sucess is shown by having The Ritz in a shot, some where which is known for being very expensive (so if you stay there it is typically seen as that you are sucessful). Love and success is something everyone aspires to have, so most romantic comedies have the ideology that by living in a city you will get this.
  
• As this is a trailer, longer shots are not used. Shots are kept quick to keep the viewer interested in what's happening. Fade in's are occasionally used between shots to show they're connecting, but to also create a smooth transistion between shots.

Avatar teaser & trailer comparison

Teaser trailers and trailers are produced at different times to show different aspects of the film. Teaser trailers can be released a long time before, sometimes even a year, to show a basic idea of what the film will be about, leaving a feeling of mystery to it as they do not properly know the storyline. The trailer is released when the film is due to be released in cinemas. Usually the trailer is slightly longer, but also gives away a lot more of the storyline so people are more likely to want to see it.


TRAILER


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA8SG4Yea7s

• Typically trailers are fast paced, showing lots of clips of the film, which this trailer of Avatar does. Trailers are created this way to make the film seem very exciting, making people want to go see it.
• It's important in a trailer to show to the audience what genre this film is, as otherwise they may watch it and then be unimpressed.
• Establishing shots are used to show where this is set.
• Also voiceovers are effective as they outline the narrative of the film, meaning the audience may listen to that and then be interested.
• The music at the beginning could be described as epic, it goes well with showing the beauty of Pandora. But then the music changes, becoming more tense. This shows the film has different genres, such as action as well as fantasy (as Pandora is a computer generated world).
• Close up shots of the Avatars/ Na'vi characters work well in showing they clearly aren't human, so therefore adding to the fantasy genre.
• Many long shots of army vehicles are included, showing this film also includes action.

TEASER TRAILER
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S85utgCmG_I


Teaser trailers are typically more mysterious, which this teaser is. In this teaser for Avatar not a lot of information is given away (such as what the basic storyline of this film is). From this trailer the idea given is that this film is about the future and high technology.

• At 0:38 there is a clip of one of the Navi characters, so to the viewer it's very unclear what this film is about, but at the same time they want to see it to find out more.
• At 0:48 there is an over the shoulder shot of a person looking at the Navi character in a tank, showing the facination with this, wondering what it is, creating empathy with the viewer as they are feeling the same.

AS coursework reflection

How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

• The use of a digital camera, adobe premiere, a computer, youtube, blogger and a microphone (use for the voiceover evaluation activities)

How did you use media forms to come up with something new and original?

• Using different aspects and ideas from other films to create our own original opening. Not using a monster type character like most horror films and instead using a person (like in The Grudge) which is something unusual in a horror film. 

How effective was the research & planning that you undertook in helping you construct your media product? 

• The research and planning was affective as we looked at many different films to get an idea of what to base the media product on, looking at the different aspects of horror films (characters, times of day etc.)
• This also helped with looking at different types of music and where it was placed. We decided to add it in when we wanted to show the tension starting to build up.
• Looking at different films helped with choosing a text - the font and colourings to clearly show this film is of the horror genre.
• Research and planning also helped with choosing what characters to include. For example, we did not want to include a 'monster' type character, as we thought we could not create this affectively. Instead we went for a more realistic approach, having a person as the 'horror' character. This can be compared to The Grudge, where the main horror character use to be human, and the same with Friday The 13th.
• We chose to include a father and daughter character. The father character shows the feeling of safety, and that the daughter is safe there, but when she leaves the home she is not.
• Time of day was also considered in our research. Most horror films are set at night, as this is a time humans are seen as more vunerable as not a lot can be seen. We decided to stick with this stereotypical idea of a horror film, as we saw this worked well.

What have you learnt from your feedback?

• Hearing other people's opinions helped seeing the positives and negatives of our work.

• The negatives showed people's opinions of having silent scenes between music and dialogue, questioning wether this works well or not. Also having no music over the opening titles was questionable if this works well, or if music should be there also.
• The positives were the use of dialogue and music, which we shall keep in mind for our A2 piece, as it was highlighted that this worked very well. Also the use of close ups/ zoom in's on significant objects (e.g the cat poster) which we will also be using in our A2. Another positive was the use of different camera angles, highlighting emotions and scenery to help the viewer with the storyline.

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

• The use of dialogue and music, which is used in all films. It also includes the technique of close ups on significant objects for the storyline.
• By having a father character this challenges conventions of a real horror film, as it suggests the female character may be able to be saved (as men are stereotypically heros/ stronger)

AS blog title

http://www.sammybakermedia.blogspot.com/