All of these trailers are from uk.filmtrailer.com unless stated otherwise.
American Beauty 1999 Sam Mendes http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6912264818605898886#
Serif writing, describing plot. Juxtapose as white on black.
Birds eye view of street. Denote typical American street with large houses and housewife in garden.
Music becomes faster which shows some humour. Contrast to initial music which was slow.
Binary opposition between two girls, one pretty confident blond, and other shy less pretty brunette.
Shaky cam so denote its a hand cam.
"what the hell" can tell by the woman's tone of voice she is angry and not happy with his actions.
Sequence of shots from different aspects of his life such as work, his child, neighbours.
Repeated close up on blond girls face, connote there is something going on between them and she is important aspect of the film.
"Americas weirdest family" other people see them as weird but contradictory as he's being weird by filming them.
"Yes sir" denote army.
"this fall" denote American film.
"I love shooting this gun" lots of built up anger to husband sets up the ending of husbands death.
Roses signify love but the amount used makes it seem weird or fantasy.
2 main characters established immediately with a 2 shot.
Ashton Kutcher famous actor.
Black and white clip denote its a flashback..
The use of blackouts, repeated shots of centre protagonist but over different periods of time.
Slow pan over graveyard emphasises death within the film.
Verisimilutide, sci-fi film expect technology that doesn't exist yet.
Elliptical editing, cutting out time.
The last Vampire Chris Nohan 2009
Shot of feet running through woods then high angle shot off the woods which connotes vunrability.
Shot of feet running through woods then high angle shot off the woods which connotes vunrability.
Flashes of a close up of a face screaming. Music building to create tension.
Final destination David R. Ellis 2009
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,120/2482/Final+Destination+4+3D+film+trailer.html
Close up of things going wrong with structure of building eg. screws coming lose, ceiling cracking. Signifies somethings going wrong.
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,120/2482/Final+Destination+4+3D+film+trailer.html
Close up of things going wrong with structure of building eg. screws coming lose, ceiling cracking. Signifies somethings going wrong.
As a car crashes the image on the screen flashes on and off quickly which draws the audiences attention and makes it harder for them to look away.
Images of fire burning and people running and screaming signifies horror.
Friday the 13th Marcus Nispel 2009
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,120/1596/Friday+the+13th.html
Long shot of a lake and underwater shots. Emphasizing the size of the lake.
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,120/1596/Friday+the+13th.html
Long shot of a lake and underwater shots. Emphasizing the size of the lake.
Voice over of a woman saying "didn't a boy die here, and today is his birthday" which makes the audience scared and expects bad things to repeat itself in the lake. Common code and convention for something bad to happen on the anniversary of things e.g in Halloween.
Blonde attractive girl windsurfing topless, the male gaze theory.
My Bloody Valentine Patrick Lussier 2009
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,210/1541/My+Bloody+Valentine+3-D.html
A group of men caving which connotes a claustrophobic setting as its underground and only a certain amount of exits.
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,210/1541/My+Bloody+Valentine+3-D.html
A group of men caving which connotes a claustrophobic setting as its underground and only a certain amount of exits.
Set on valentines day. Voice over of a news reader saying "its been called the valentines day massacre" which connotes there will be a number of deaths.
Repetitive use of red writing which symbolizes love and death.
Obsessed Steve Shill 2009
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,240/2098/Obsessed.html
Variety of shots of a large sunny city, it makes the audience think of Los Angeles as its a familiar setting used in films.
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,240/2098/Obsessed.html
Variety of shots of a large sunny city, it makes the audience think of Los Angeles as its a familiar setting used in films.
Shot of someone looking up the central protagonist on the internet connotes to the audience they are interested in that person and want to know more about them.
Point Break Kathryn Bigelow 1991
http://www.spike.com/video/point-break-trailer/3058153
American voice over, deep male.
http://www.spike.com/video/point-break-trailer/3058153
American voice over, deep male.
Bold letters with 2 names highlighting famous actors.
Similarites to baywatch, pan across a beach.
Male friendly genre however 2 main protagonists draw in woman.
Donnie Darko Richard Kelly 2001
http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/donnie-darko/trailer
Signifiers of special effects and sci-fi genre.
http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/donnie-darko/trailer
Signifiers of special effects and sci-fi genre.
Exaggerated diegetic sounds, wooshing sound from an axe.
Use of dull, dark lights.
Central protagonist is established early on.
School setting so emphasises target audience.
Cheap indie producers.
Fish Tank Andrea Arnold 2009
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,120/2967/Fish+Tank+film+trailer.html
Quick shots of teenage girls applying make-up and drinking.
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,120/2967/Fish+Tank+film+trailer.html
Quick shots of teenage girls applying make-up and drinking.
Dressed in 'chavy' clothes with large gold earrings and tracksuits.
Arguing in the park connotes to the audience that the protagonist is angry.
Anything for her Fred Cavaye 2009
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,30/2087/Anything+for+Her+film+trailer.html
Slow piano music signifies love or builds tension for something to happen.
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,30/2087/Anything+for+Her+film+trailer.html
Slow piano music signifies love or builds tension for something to happen.
Police come through the door and arrest the protagonist, shots of the baby crying which appeals to the audiences maternal side and feel sorry for the woman and her baby.
Close ups of a man in a darkly lit room with bruises and blood on his face connotes violence.
Music gets louder and faster as more action on the screen, a police car chase.
Bangkok Dangerous Oxide Pang Chun 2008
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,30/1045/Bangkok+Dangerous.html
irst shot of protagonist who is a famous actor, Nicholas Cage, which gets the audiences attention immediately.
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,30/1045/Bangkok+Dangerous.html
irst shot of protagonist who is a famous actor, Nicholas Cage, which gets the audiences attention immediately.
Protagonist on top of a building with a gun watching people, connote he is a snipper.
Sound of a gun being shot and voice over of protagonist saying "this is what i do".
Target audience would be boys and men and the action from the trailer reflects this and would interest them.
Triangle Christopher Smith 2009
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all30,420/2740/Triangle+film+trailer.html
Slow opening shot of a long corridor with slow music denotes a sense of 'creepiness' about the deserted corridor.
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all30,420/2740/Triangle+film+trailer.html
Slow opening shot of a long corridor with slow music denotes a sense of 'creepiness' about the deserted corridor.
Followed by quick shots of a girl looking over her shoulder then blood on her eyes.
Shots of the a group on the sea then the shots go back to the corridor. This connotes to the audience that bad things will happen in that corridor.
Girl feels she is having deju-vu about the boat then starts screaming, this confirms to the audience that something is wrong.
The fact that it is on a boat in the middle of the sea adds to tension as the characters cant get away like they would have been able to on land. The characters seem alone and like nobody can help them.
The Cove Louie Psihoyos 2009
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,330/3075/The+Cove+film+trailer.html
Immediately hear sounds of an police car which draws in audiences attention and links there minds to danger and bad things happening.
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,330/3075/The+Cove+film+trailer.html
Immediately hear sounds of an police car which draws in audiences attention and links there minds to danger and bad things happening.
Voice over sounds like documentary style.
Music is gradually becoming faster and louder.
Angry raised voices show tension between the characters.
Saw 6 Kevin Gruetert 2009
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,270/2940/SAW+VI+film+trailer.html
Less anchorage in plot as its a sequal people understand the storyline.
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,270/2940/SAW+VI+film+trailer.html
Less anchorage in plot as its a sequal people understand the storyline.
Repetitive use of 6 such as "6 chances 6 lives"
Set in a unused factory which will have lots of old machinary could signifes one of the deaths.
88 Minutes Jon Avnent 2007
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5669653921718751964#
Weather is raining and dull which is linked to unhappy snappy people
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5669653921718751964#
Weather is raining and dull which is linked to unhappy snappy people
Central protagonist is established immediatly who is a famous actor Al Pacino.
Called a serial murder then quick flashbacks of a knife and a woman screaming.
Information on who is the killer is not given away during the trailer.
Repeated shots of watch as its a fight against time.
Donkey Punch Oliver Blackburn 2008
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809931854/trailer
Fast shots of teenage girls drinking and getting ready and getting exited for the night ahead.
Fast shots of teenage girls drinking and getting ready and getting exited for the night ahead.
Mid shots of the girls being introduced to a group of boys and carry on drinking with the boys.
The boys and girls have coupled off and are flirting, shots of caressing hands.
Set on a boat so isolated. Sex is a key factor in the film which appeals to the male audience.
Drag me to Hell Sam Raimi 2009Trailer
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all30,90/1948/Drag+Me+to+Hell.html
Binary oppositions with slim, young blonde and old unattractive lady.
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all30,90/1948/Drag+Me+to+Hell.html
Binary oppositions with slim, young blonde and old unattractive lady.
old woman attacks young woman which comes as a shock to the audience. Use of high shots and low shots to emphasis the strength and weakness between the two characters.
Repeated reviews from newspaper critics.
Eden lake James Watkins 2008
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,90/1288/Eden+Lake.html
Opening shots connote romance as slow shots of couple and tracking shots of the car driving on a sunny day.
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,90/1288/Eden+Lake.html
Opening shots connote romance as slow shots of couple and tracking shots of the car driving on a sunny day.
Can Hear SatNav saying "turn around" emphasises they are lost and in unknown territory and nobody knows where they are.
Twilight Catherine Hardwicke 2008
Teaser trailer
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,420/1119/Twilight.html
Less description of characters as film is based on a well known book.
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,420/1119/Twilight.html
Less description of characters as film is based on a well known book.
Aspect of verisimilitude with a boy stopping a car and couple stood on top of a tree.
Romance between the characters as kissing each other, appeals to female audience as good looking boy and females like successful romances.
Stephen Kings The Mist Frank Darabont 2007
Group of people stuck in a supermarket, less scary factor than members alone as they can help and consolidate each other.
Comic factor as scared of the mist from outside.
The men group together to think of a plan emphasizes their masculinity as woman are ignored.
White Out Dominic Sena 2009
teaser trailer
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,420/2636/Whiteout+film+trailer.html
Writing comes up on the screen giving anchorage of the setting, "Antarctica" which is followed by " the most isolated landmass on the planet" this signifies vunrability and loneliness.
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,420/2636/Whiteout+film+trailer.html
Writing comes up on the screen giving anchorage of the setting, "Antarctica" which is followed by " the most isolated landmass on the planet" this signifies vunrability and loneliness.
Repeated pans of the scenery emphasizing the size of Antarctica.
First minute is action, quick shots of people falling, working and struggling in the snow. Second minute setting the scene, giving anchorage to the characters. Opposite way round to typical trailers.
The Unborn David S. Goyer 2009
teaser trailer
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,390/1383/The+Unborn+.html
Opening shot of a girl baby-sitting, fits the babysitter stereotype as attractive brunette. Baby-sitting is often used in films as the protagonist is alone in an unknown house left to fend for themselves. Repeated shots of a boy in black and white signifies its a flashback.
http://uk.filmtrailer.com/cinema/all-30,390/1383/The+Unborn+.html
Opening shot of a girl baby-sitting, fits the babysitter stereotype as attractive brunette. Baby-sitting is often used in films as the protagonist is alone in an unknown house left to fend for themselves. Repeated shots of a boy in black and white signifies its a flashback.
Conversation with a doctor, audience believes what the doctor is saying as he is of legitimate authority.
Silence of the lambs Johnathan Demme 1991
Repeated close ups of the protagonist. Reporters voice over shouting about what the killer does to his victims with an exaggerated diegetic door slamming sound in between each one. This creates tension. Close ups again of the same fire but this time surrounding by fire this makes connections in the audiences house to the devil.
Hell Night Tom DeSimone 1981
Teaser trailer
Location is a party with lots of teenagers drinking and dancing represents target audience and makes it easy to associate with characters.
Red writing enters the screen signifying blood and death.
Fancy dress signifies halloween which again is a night that the audience can associate too.
Blonde female wearing red, revealing dress signifes that she is sexually available and the red could also signify her death.
The Last house on the left Wes Craven 2009
http://www.trailerspy.com/trailer/1740/The-Last-House-on-the-Left-Trailer
The first few shots are of location so gives the audience a feel of the setting.
http://www.trailerspy.com/trailer/1740/The-Last-House-on-the-Left-Trailer
The first few shots are of location so gives the audience a feel of the setting.
Protagonist says "last house for miles" which signfies loneliness.
As the girls are going out theres a close up of the protagonists necklace which is significant later on in the film. Throughout the trailer there is alot of sexual references with a girl swimming in her underwear in the lake and a woman having a bath. This has a polysemic meaning as it could signify that it is a sexual film or it could have been used to keep the intrest of the male audience.
My genre research has shown me that there has been an increase in hybrid genres as they reach a wider target audience as there offering more variety, therefore increasing the cross-over appeal to America. Examples of Hybrid genre films are The Unborn a horror/supernatural genre (David S. Goyer 2009) and Scream 3 (Roman Bridger 2000) which is a horror/mystery genre. Although our production is a horror/ slasher genre it would be difficult to target a wide audience as we are working with a low/no budget and most low budget films target a youth audience. British films with a cross- over appeal typically use actors living in the south of England therefore have a southern accent so an American audience may not be able to understand a northern accent.(for example Hugh Grant is used in majority of British films). Our production is a horror/slasher as this keeps up to date with many modern horrors being released as the majority of them have a slasher sub genre.
My genre research has shown me that there has been an increase in hybrid genres as they reach a wider target audience as there offering more variety, therefore increasing the cross-over appeal to America. Examples of Hybrid genre films are The Unborn a horror/supernatural genre (David S. Goyer 2009) and Scream 3 (Roman Bridger 2000) which is a horror/mystery genre. Although our production is a horror/ slasher genre it would be difficult to target a wide audience as we are working with a low/no budget and most low budget films target a youth audience. British films with a cross- over appeal typically use actors living in the south of England therefore have a southern accent so an American audience may not be able to understand a northern accent.(for example Hugh Grant is used in majority of British films). Our production is a horror/slasher as this keeps up to date with many modern horrors being released as the majority of them have a slasher sub genre.
Genre Research - Books
Adam Rockoff - Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film
"Although the term 'slasher' may be used as a generic term for any horror movie involving graphic acts of murder, the slasher as a genre has its own set of characteristics which set it apart from related genres. As long as you have a killer who murders people with sharp objects, and a few thematic and/or stylistic conventions that have become staples of the genre– the final girl or the killer’s POV, etc.– you’ve got yourself a slasher film"
Jim Harper - Legacy of Blood
Section The killer:
"The aspects of a film that stick in the audience's mind are invariably the weapons and equipment used by the relevant psychopath"
"Motivation is very important, Revenge is the main motivation but its not always directed against those who were responsible for the incidence"
"A large number of slasher films feature a strong family background for the killer, and example of this is 'Halloween' where the film is based around Michael Myers and the Strode family"
From our genre research it has led us to conclude that the majority of killers are male. However, we have decided to go agianst this code and convention as we believe if a female killer is used successfully than the production can be equally as effective and scary than if a male killer was used. We also noticed that POV shots are used alot as this makes the audience feel they are actually at the scene, we have decided to encorporate this into our film. From reading the book 'legacy of blood' it highlighted the importance of motivation for the killings which in our production the motivation for the killings is revenge. I believe revenge is a good motivation to use as signifiers can be provided to the audience throughout the film which keeps them interested.
The Encyclopedia of Horror by Richard Davis
He describes horror films as having developed 'new and rather disquieting trends'. He argues that the plots of modern horror films are largely centered around countless killings and sexual references as the genre has developed to meet the consumers needs.
Transitions
While editing our trailer we started to think about what transitions we were going to use, such as writing on the screen or just a black screen. We decided to watch the trailer for Donkey Punch again, focusing on transitions this time (http://www.maxim.co.uk/video/trailers/12486/donkey_punch.html) and in this order the transitions were:
Production logo
When you party hard
Be careful
How far you go
(All flashed up one after the other)
This Summer
Get ready
To fight
For your life
(All flashed up one after the other)
Donkey punch
We noticed that they had quick shots with writing on giving exposition to the narrative.
