Research and Planning (2)

Film Trailer Analysis

At what point in the trailer are we told the name of the film? Why is this?

Why are we told who is starring in the film?

How is this information given to us? Why?

What type of action from the film do we see?

What clues does the music give us as to what type of film the trailer is advertising?

Does the trailer come with a voice over and if so, what can you tell about the voice being used?

Why do you think this voice was chosen? What effect does it have?

How does the speed of what we see compare to watching a clip from a film? Why is this?

Does the speed alter through the trailer or does it stay the same?

What information are we given about the film?

At what point in the trailer is this information given?

What type of audience is the trailer aimed at? How can you tell?

Film Trailer Analysis: One Missed Call http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1F7hJNsi5M

• We are told the name of the film towards the end of the trailer, this is so that the audience view the important information of the film. For example what the film is about and the story line as this creates suspense.
• We are told who is starring in the film towards the end as this might make the audience want to watch it. However the actors/actresses are not that well known and therefore this is why their names are stated right at the end as the audience wouldn’t need to pay as much attention to it. Whereas if an actor like Brad Pitt was starring in the film, he’s name would be mentioned right at the beginning of the trailer as this will attract more people to see it and be interested in the film.
• We see enough action to make us want to watch the film and see what it leads to. For example, at the beginning we see Leann and Beth receive a missed call which has Leann screaming and both friends assume it is a future event of Leanne’s death. We then see Leann hallucinating strange faces late at night and then appearing to get killed in front of Beth but it’s too late for Beth to save her. Then throughout the rest of the trailer we just see quick shots of Beth trying to solve what is causing the missed calls and deaths. The fact that it’s only quick glimpses of the scene is a good thing as it leaves the important bits to the audiences imagination and plays on their mind.
• The music is a giveaway to what type of genre the film is as the music at the beginning is slow and soft but creeps on the audience. Towards the end of the trailer during the quick shots the music gets louder and faster and creates a jumpy effect.
• The trailer does not have a voice over, however at the beginning of the trailer they use text to communicate with the audience and show clips in between. For example “Everyday 2 billion cellphones ring...”. The font of the text is the sort of font you use to text with on a cellphone which is relating to the main object of the film. Also, the way the text appears is letter by letter instead of the whole sentence appearing at the same time.
• The text immediately suggests to the viewer what the film is going to be about and draws their attention as i think the text stands out more than a voiceover. This is because there are other sounds in the trailer and a voiceover would blend in and not catch the audiences attention as much.
• The speed of what we see in the trailer is a lot faster than what we would see in a clip from the film. This is so that we see the important parts of the film that are going to draw the audiences attention and make them wants to find out more. Therefore, the speed needs to be faster to enable the important parts to fit in the time limit.
• The speed alters throughout the trailer. At the beginning it’s slow enough for the audience to view a conversation between the characters, however towards the end it becomes faster and faster and we only see 2-3 seconds from the clips.
• We are given information about the film such as the name, followed by the date it’s released and then the company, production team, director, actors, name of the novel it’s based on
• This information is all given towards the end of the trailer as it is not as important as the action going on in the trailer which attracts the audience more.
• You can tell that the trailer is aimed towards an older audience and would not be suitable for anyone below the age of 13. This is because it appears to have intense sequences of violence and terror, and frightening images. The film is aimed towards people who enjoy horrors, mysteries and thrillers, as the trailer alone would leave the audience in suspense. Also the film would be aimed towards people that read the novel it is based on and want to see it in action.

Film Trailer analysis: Scream http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdyugHTKPuc

• The name of the actual film is not shown until the very end of the trailer which keeps the viewer in suspense and wanting to know the title.
• The names of the actors/ actresses are not shown throughout the trailer as these were very early films of the most famous people who star in the film such as Drew Barrymore and Courtney Cox.
• The trailer shows the scariest parts of the film and the parts which have the most suspense. The age group of the characters is established at the beginning as we see a young typical teenage girl on the phone to the unknown killer. Soon after the girl is seen on the phone the killer is shown in the famous “scream” mask. From that point we can see the main characters and clips from the scenes of their deaths.
• The sound is diegetic at the beginning as the girl talks on the phone but as the killer says that he is looking at her, the non diegetic sounds start and the music increases in dynamics and becomes scary and full of suspense.
• There is use of a male voiceover which is used to say phrases which scare the audience and make it seem as though the trailer is rhetorical and talking to the individual viewer.
• The voice itself is quite low and it keeps you on edge in order to grab the attention of the viewer and keep you on edge.
• The speed is quick and captures the most frightening scenes from the film itself which are also the most interesting. These short shots are much more effective than using long shots from the film as they will hold the interest of the viewer and make them want to see the whole scenes by going to see the film.
• The speed is slow at the beginning but the pace increases continuously throughout the trailer.
• We are told the name of the film company and the name of the director.
• The production company is given at the very beginning and the name of the director is shown at the end.
• This trailer is aimed at young adults and teenagers. I would say this as this is the age of the characters involved in the film therefore they would see a connection between themselves and the characters.

Film Trailer analysis: Drag me to Hell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUZTybLlWKI

-The last thing shown in this trailer is the title of the film. The content of the trailer is very powerful and it builds up to revealing the name of the film which builds suspense throughout the trailer.

-This particular trailer does not reveal the name of the people starring in the film during the trailer. This is a way of making people want to go and see it and see who is in the film.

-The main character is shown in the opening scenes of the trailer. We see her at her job and how she comes to meet the woman who later puts a curse on her and the reason for this is also revealed. From that point onwards the trailer shows short scenes from the film which make you jump and keep you on edge to entice people to see the film.

-The music throughout the trailer is non diegetic. The opening scenes are quite slow paced but eerie sounding which give a sense of discomfort. The faster paced and more violent scenes are shown along to louder, opera like music that sound powerful and make the trailer very dramatic.

-There is no use of a voice over and instead the words are shown in individual slides as the action takes place. This is very effective as it does not allow the viewer to become distracted from what is being shown.

-Speed gradually increases throughout the trailer which holds the attention of the audience and makes the film itself much more appealing. The camera shots jump extremely quickly from one to another during the end of the trailer which makes it end fast and causing the audience to want to see the actual picture itself.

-There is a great amount of information given throughout the trailer. The production and distribution companies are shown at the start and then the director and previous work of his are also named throughout.

- This is aimed at adults of all ages as this is the age of people that feature throughout the trailer. The content is enjoyable for people of these ages.