MULTI-GENRE TEASER TRAILER RESEARCH
CASE 39 (Horror)
Released in August 2009, Case 39 is an American film directed by Christian Alvert, and follows the horror based plot of a social worker who falls into the trap of a demon disguised as an innocent, abused young girl.
The trailer for this film both intrigues and excites audiences, whom are mainly fans of the horror/ thriller genre, whilst simultaneously showing a range of mise-en-scene, cinematography, sound and editing which have been effectively used in this 6.2/10 rated film's teaser trailer (IMDB).
Mise-en-scene
Throughout the trailer, mise-en-scene plays an important role as the location, props, costumes, lighting and performance of the characters sets the tone of a horror/thriller genre film.
As the trailer progresses I noticed the lighting of the atmosphere frequently switched from dark in the beginning to light, dull, grey and dark colours to light more rosy colours, and continues like this back and forth. This could be a technique used to show the different aspects of mood that occurs within the actual film.
An example of this is when the teaser begins, revealing a dimly lit location of a bar, and the characters wearing fancy clothing such as the suit and dress and then switching to the woman wearing her work clothes of a dull colour and plain taste. There is also an example of this 'switch' from light to dark atmosphere during the scene of the care worker and the girl walking along a pinkly lit beach, and then fading to a view of the dreary, scary-looking house. This could be done to represent that within all the 'darkness' there is a theme of tenderness and love existing within the plot of the film too.
Cinematography
Alvert has managed to slightly reveal the main plot of the film without showing all important aspects through this teaser trailer, which proves his success in presenting a vital part of the exhibition of Case 39, to it's anticipating audiences.
In the beginning of the clip, we see a conversational exchange between a man and a woman who appear to have an intimate relationship, and this is shown through the shot reverse shot of the conversation, a clear location of a bar and the performance of the actors placed closely to one another. This creates a sense of a calm, romantic commencing, a common technique of teaser trailers which tend to gradually become more chaotic and fast paced as the they goes on.
We are shown various shots throughout the teaser trailer such as the long shot of the two protagonists walking along a beach, accompanied by trailer captions such as 'a dark warning' in bold, white writing with a black background. There is a clear juxtapositioning between these shots as audience are switched from feeling a calm and caring impression given by the characters to a creepy feeling as they are expecting more horror scenes to show up. The cinematography of the film has participated well in the delivery of a horrifying yet exciting experience for teaser trailer viewers. There were also shots such as an eyeline match of the main character looking at the demented house and a match on action of the woman running down a dark street dressed in pyjamas. These all contribute to giving the audience only so much to see, in order to encourage viewers to buy tickets and watch the film.
Sound
We are introduced to the thriller contribution to the film in the next part of the trailer, where the music slightly becomes more orchestral and sudden, as a close up shot of a picture of a young girl is slammed on the table and an old-looking, dark house appears. The background music exaggerates the fact that the atmosphere of the teaser trailer has changed, and the audience are now well aware of an eerie atmosphere occurring in the film.
In terms of dialogue, there is a rather large amount of voiceover and speaking within the teaser trailer. I believe this serves its purpose as revealing some but not all of the plot, character personalities, the narrative whilst usually leaving a 'cliffhanger' at the end.
Editing
The editing of the trailer also plays an important role in persuading the viewers to go and watch the film. In order for a teaser trailer to be successful in keeping the audiences interested, the editing generally starts as slow paced and quickens as the teaser begins to reveal more of the plot. This technique was ultimately the best thing about the Case 39 trailer, as it followed that pattern and kept me interested as to what happens afterwards.
The first point I noticed when analysing the editing for this teaser was the order of the shots, as the director had clearly chosen mild scenes from the film which increased in horror throughout.
Additionally, the transition from one shot to the next were quick and sharp towards the end, with longer duration shots at the beginning. The special effects that were used in the film only briefly appeared in the teaser trailer as they were one of the main aspects of the film and if shown too much, they would defeat the purpose of a teaser trailer which is to 'tease' it's audiences.
Also, the credits and intertitles appear in a sudden, dark background accompanied by flashing images of a forest. This conforms to the horror genre that the film is based on and therefore attract its target audience which is ultimately horror-film fans.
Overall, this horror/ thriller teaser trailer has been successfully created to fit it's purpose of exciting audiences by revealing a minority of the plot, famous actors such as Renee Zellweger and Bradley Cooper whom already have a set fan-base and have a reputation in participating in good films. Also the mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing and sound have also proved to be able to create a well-made teaser trailer.
The trailer for this film both intrigues and excites audiences, whom are mainly fans of the horror/ thriller genre, whilst simultaneously showing a range of mise-en-scene, cinematography, sound and editing which have been effectively used in this 6.2/10 rated film's teaser trailer (IMDB).
Mise-en-scene
Throughout the trailer, mise-en-scene plays an important role as the location, props, costumes, lighting and performance of the characters sets the tone of a horror/thriller genre film.
As the trailer progresses I noticed the lighting of the atmosphere frequently switched from dark in the beginning to light, dull, grey and dark colours to light more rosy colours, and continues like this back and forth. This could be a technique used to show the different aspects of mood that occurs within the actual film.
An example of this is when the teaser begins, revealing a dimly lit location of a bar, and the characters wearing fancy clothing such as the suit and dress and then switching to the woman wearing her work clothes of a dull colour and plain taste. There is also an example of this 'switch' from light to dark atmosphere during the scene of the care worker and the girl walking along a pinkly lit beach, and then fading to a view of the dreary, scary-looking house. This could be done to represent that within all the 'darkness' there is a theme of tenderness and love existing within the plot of the film too.
Cinematography
Alvert has managed to slightly reveal the main plot of the film without showing all important aspects through this teaser trailer, which proves his success in presenting a vital part of the exhibition of Case 39, to it's anticipating audiences.
In the beginning of the clip, we see a conversational exchange between a man and a woman who appear to have an intimate relationship, and this is shown through the shot reverse shot of the conversation, a clear location of a bar and the performance of the actors placed closely to one another. This creates a sense of a calm, romantic commencing, a common technique of teaser trailers which tend to gradually become more chaotic and fast paced as the they goes on.
We are shown various shots throughout the teaser trailer such as the long shot of the two protagonists walking along a beach, accompanied by trailer captions such as 'a dark warning' in bold, white writing with a black background. There is a clear juxtapositioning between these shots as audience are switched from feeling a calm and caring impression given by the characters to a creepy feeling as they are expecting more horror scenes to show up. The cinematography of the film has participated well in the delivery of a horrifying yet exciting experience for teaser trailer viewers. There were also shots such as an eyeline match of the main character looking at the demented house and a match on action of the woman running down a dark street dressed in pyjamas. These all contribute to giving the audience only so much to see, in order to encourage viewers to buy tickets and watch the film.
Sound
We are introduced to the thriller contribution to the film in the next part of the trailer, where the music slightly becomes more orchestral and sudden, as a close up shot of a picture of a young girl is slammed on the table and an old-looking, dark house appears. The background music exaggerates the fact that the atmosphere of the teaser trailer has changed, and the audience are now well aware of an eerie atmosphere occurring in the film.
In terms of dialogue, there is a rather large amount of voiceover and speaking within the teaser trailer. I believe this serves its purpose as revealing some but not all of the plot, character personalities, the narrative whilst usually leaving a 'cliffhanger' at the end.
Editing
The editing of the trailer also plays an important role in persuading the viewers to go and watch the film. In order for a teaser trailer to be successful in keeping the audiences interested, the editing generally starts as slow paced and quickens as the teaser begins to reveal more of the plot. This technique was ultimately the best thing about the Case 39 trailer, as it followed that pattern and kept me interested as to what happens afterwards.
The first point I noticed when analysing the editing for this teaser was the order of the shots, as the director had clearly chosen mild scenes from the film which increased in horror throughout.
Additionally, the transition from one shot to the next were quick and sharp towards the end, with longer duration shots at the beginning. The special effects that were used in the film only briefly appeared in the teaser trailer as they were one of the main aspects of the film and if shown too much, they would defeat the purpose of a teaser trailer which is to 'tease' it's audiences.
Also, the credits and intertitles appear in a sudden, dark background accompanied by flashing images of a forest. This conforms to the horror genre that the film is based on and therefore attract its target audience which is ultimately horror-film fans.
Overall, this horror/ thriller teaser trailer has been successfully created to fit it's purpose of exciting audiences by revealing a minority of the plot, famous actors such as Renee Zellweger and Bradley Cooper whom already have a set fan-base and have a reputation in participating in good films. Also the mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing and sound have also proved to be able to create a well-made teaser trailer.
The Departed (Crime)
Directed by Martin Scorsese, this crime film reveals the story of an undercover police officer and a mole in the police attempting to identify one another while invading an Irish Gang in the South of Boston, New York.
Released in 2006, this film is ranked in IMDB's top 250 movies of all time. Not only does it feature one of the most respected and renowned actors in film history (Dicaprio, Damon, Nicholson and Wahlberg) , and its also directed by one of the most influential directors in Hollywood (Scorsese), who has previously directed box-office successful films.
Mise-en-scene
In this teaser trailer mise-en-scene is presented well, as audiences are notified of a part of if not most of the plot and narrative of the film through this method. An example of this is through the locations that have been revealed here. There is clearly a prison, along with a police station, detective center and a secret police organisation clearly relating to the 'mole' hidden within the police department.
Additionally, costumes such as suits and prison uniform shows a clear distinction between those with a higher leveled occupation and the rest. Lighting is slightly dim and light up frequently aswell which could show the different presentations of themes in the film that could be both light-hearted humourous/ sarcastic, and violent with a deep meaning behind it.
Cinematography
Cinematography is one of the main aspects of revealing information to the audiences. The genre is depicted well in the teaser trailer and makes it evident that the film is of a Crime/ Action genre. Through this, the crime based narrative becomes apparent when the pan shots of prisoners exercising and conversating is shown. Audiences are now aware of a prison or police involvement in the plot. Through fast-paced shots, jump-cuts, close-ups, voice-overs and other cinematography techniques, this teaser trailer has delivered the exciting, action-packed film that The Departed is.
Sound
As soon as the teaser trailer begins, a voiceover of one of the main characters (Nicholson) speaking or rather, giving advice to someone, is inserted along with rapid, flashing scenes of him smoking a cigar, a loaded gun and prisoners dressed in blue uniform. The sound of gunshots are also inserted as the scenes switch to and from this character, revealing a fast paced and exciting atmosphere, almost foreshadowing the rest of the film or even the teaser.
A guitar tune plays in the background which indicates a rather witty or dark-humoured impression, as the dialogue of the person proves to be of a rather laid back yet violent manner as he speaks of a memory of when he was younger. Already, through sound audiences are entertained with the sarcastic performance of the man and future scenes of the film, and informed of who is superior and who is inferior.
Towards the middle of the teaser, the music playing in the background changes to a more monotone and orchestral based music which could indicate a sense of seriousness and conflict occurring towards the end of the film as well.
Editing
The credits and inter titles inserted in the teaser trailer all contain one theme that is similar to the font and colour of the title of the film. They appear in bold, blue and black writing and fit the expectations of the audience well as they suit the crime genre theme well.
As for the actual content of the film in this teaser, there are editing techniques which Scorsese has used and is evident in his other works. This indicates a continuation of a pattern in which he uses a certain style of editing. This can be seen in other films he directed such as Goodfellas, Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. An example of this is in the beginning of the teaser trailer when he introduces a character from the film along with a voiceover. A 2 second length pause occurs and a sudden shot appears straight after it. This could be used to imply the fact that there are many surprises awaiting the audience and so it ultimately teases the viewers, therefore attracting them to watch the film.
Released in 2006, this film is ranked in IMDB's top 250 movies of all time. Not only does it feature one of the most respected and renowned actors in film history (Dicaprio, Damon, Nicholson and Wahlberg) , and its also directed by one of the most influential directors in Hollywood (Scorsese), who has previously directed box-office successful films.
Mise-en-scene
In this teaser trailer mise-en-scene is presented well, as audiences are notified of a part of if not most of the plot and narrative of the film through this method. An example of this is through the locations that have been revealed here. There is clearly a prison, along with a police station, detective center and a secret police organisation clearly relating to the 'mole' hidden within the police department.
Additionally, costumes such as suits and prison uniform shows a clear distinction between those with a higher leveled occupation and the rest. Lighting is slightly dim and light up frequently aswell which could show the different presentations of themes in the film that could be both light-hearted humourous/ sarcastic, and violent with a deep meaning behind it.
Cinematography
Cinematography is one of the main aspects of revealing information to the audiences. The genre is depicted well in the teaser trailer and makes it evident that the film is of a Crime/ Action genre. Through this, the crime based narrative becomes apparent when the pan shots of prisoners exercising and conversating is shown. Audiences are now aware of a prison or police involvement in the plot. Through fast-paced shots, jump-cuts, close-ups, voice-overs and other cinematography techniques, this teaser trailer has delivered the exciting, action-packed film that The Departed is.
Sound
As soon as the teaser trailer begins, a voiceover of one of the main characters (Nicholson) speaking or rather, giving advice to someone, is inserted along with rapid, flashing scenes of him smoking a cigar, a loaded gun and prisoners dressed in blue uniform. The sound of gunshots are also inserted as the scenes switch to and from this character, revealing a fast paced and exciting atmosphere, almost foreshadowing the rest of the film or even the teaser.
A guitar tune plays in the background which indicates a rather witty or dark-humoured impression, as the dialogue of the person proves to be of a rather laid back yet violent manner as he speaks of a memory of when he was younger. Already, through sound audiences are entertained with the sarcastic performance of the man and future scenes of the film, and informed of who is superior and who is inferior.
Towards the middle of the teaser, the music playing in the background changes to a more monotone and orchestral based music which could indicate a sense of seriousness and conflict occurring towards the end of the film as well.
Editing
The credits and inter titles inserted in the teaser trailer all contain one theme that is similar to the font and colour of the title of the film. They appear in bold, blue and black writing and fit the expectations of the audience well as they suit the crime genre theme well.
As for the actual content of the film in this teaser, there are editing techniques which Scorsese has used and is evident in his other works. This indicates a continuation of a pattern in which he uses a certain style of editing. This can be seen in other films he directed such as Goodfellas, Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. An example of this is in the beginning of the teaser trailer when he introduces a character from the film along with a voiceover. A 2 second length pause occurs and a sudden shot appears straight after it. This could be used to imply the fact that there are many surprises awaiting the audience and so it ultimately teases the viewers, therefore attracting them to watch the film.
Siver Linings Playbook (Romance)
Mise-en-scene
In the beginning of the trailer, the location that is clearly depicted in the establishing shot of the house captures a stereotypical American family home that will automatically notify viewers of the trailer that the plot of the story will be somewhat be based around this kind of family dynamic. This creates a more appealing image to audiences as it places the context of the narrative on relatable terms with the majority of the people watching this teaser.
Additionally, something I noticed within the mise-en-scene analysis of this trailer was the performance and costume of the protagonist which gave away his current state of mind which was unstable at the beggining of the trailer. This was indicated through the fact that he was wearing a tracksuit when discussing a matter rather passionately with his doctor. His attire clearly reflected an image of inappropriateness and inconsideration to his age in which he should, as expected by audiences, to wear something a little more age-acceptable.
Moreover, in terms of lighting, particularly the scene when the protagonist entered his parent's room at 4 o'clock in the morning, was of low-key lighting, which created black silhouette's of his figure and this results in dark connotations which suggest that Pat is rather influenced by his illness. Another matter I noticed with the other character, Tiffany, was her costumes which were mainly of dark colours, especially in the first meeting of her character at the beginning of the teaser. This helps audience realize that she may be of a mournful, depressed and emotionally dark personality. However, towards the end of the trailer we view her to be wearing glittery, white clothes and Pat wearing a white blazer which connote a positive ending for both herself and Pat during the shots they showed of the dance show at the end of the actual film. This indicates that matters such as lighting, colour and costume reveal a lot about a character's behaviour and story within the plot.
Cinematography
The teaser trailer for this film opens with an establishing shot of a house that appears to belong to a regular working-class family. This is followed by a mid-shot of the protagonists father which zooms out before capturing several other characters in the frame within another mid-shot. This is an indication of the main character's return home although it is communicated that his return is perhaps an unexpected one. This is shown through the other character's surprised reactions which are emphasised through the use of a hand-held camera position which presents an awkward and unsettling atmosphere visually for audiences to realize.
Furthermore, shots such as over the shoulder, close-up shots between the main character's parents lying in bed further enforce the tense atmosphere in the scene and may reflect most of the film despite being so early into the teaser. It is clear that the protagonist clearly has some sort of mental difficulty and that the film is based along the lines of his journey to fit in society or even his close community. This can also be seen later on in the trailer when he sits with a doctor, possibly his therapist or a psychiatrist. Having a mid-shot of him flicking the book out of his window along with wide, low-angle shots of the book falling to the ground implies that this character still has a long way to go on his journey.
Throughout the trailer, we see a development of the protagonist and Tiffany, a mutual friend whom he meets at a family dinner. This character also seems to have some sort of mental issue similarly to Pat. Birds-eye-view and close up shots of the protagonist's face reveal his sense of self-reflection which in turn shows a level of personal growth, a matter in which the audience would prefer to see occur in the film; this reassures the viewers of the teaser trailer for this film as we are notified of some sort of positivity within the film's narrative. This proves that most aspects of cinematography have been used well to fit the purpose of both teasing and exciting audiences and making them look forward to watching it on the screen.
Sound
Within the teaser, both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds were presented in order to represent some of the narrative.
The first set of diegetic sounds that I noticed were the dialogue which were spoken by the protagonist's parent's in the beginning of the trailer during their discussion about something relating to their son and his health problem which addresses to the audience their concerns. Also, audience are first aware of the relation between Pat and Tiffany due to their dialogue about different medicines.
As for music, the narrative of the film is driven when a non-diegetic sounds of the background music which set the tone of a light-hearted and darkly humoured film. This song is 'Lost in My Mind' by The Head and the Heart which begins with a soft-instrumental part of this song, which helps in creating romantic impression which is also shown by Pat and Tiffany's performance. This music then begins to pick up a fast-pace and volume which in turn lifts the mood and increases the energetic feel in the mood of the teaser.
Finally, to end the trailer with a feel-good vibe, the director uses a piece of dialogue from the beginning of the film which says: 'If you stay positive, you have a shot at a silver lining.' This ends the teaser on a positive note which intrigues audiences to go and watch it in the cinema.
Editing
As for the editing of the teaser trailer for Silver Lining's playbook, the editor has used a sound bridge between both the establishing shot and the mid-shot of the father by inserting the sound of a door opening. This notifies the audience of the idea of someone coming home in the location of the house that will appear in the following scene.
Also, the editor has cut the shots in a general way including an appropriate time length for all dialogue to be able to fit into the shots comfortably.
Production credits and non-diegetic music begin to crop up approximately 16 seconds into the trailer which indicate a difference in the style of cutting shots. However, one thing I noticed throughout the trailer was that there were no intertitles, which may show the fact that there does not need to be any due to its inevitable success despite.
The narrative of the teaser trailer is also evident to progress when the cuts switch to a mid-shot of the protagonist in the doctor's seat. This shows a different location and time setting to the previous scene, hence audience are able to follow on to a development in the narrative, another aspect which is vital for a teaser trailer to appeal to the potential audiences of this film, Silver Linings Playbook.
In the beginning of the trailer, the location that is clearly depicted in the establishing shot of the house captures a stereotypical American family home that will automatically notify viewers of the trailer that the plot of the story will be somewhat be based around this kind of family dynamic. This creates a more appealing image to audiences as it places the context of the narrative on relatable terms with the majority of the people watching this teaser.
Additionally, something I noticed within the mise-en-scene analysis of this trailer was the performance and costume of the protagonist which gave away his current state of mind which was unstable at the beggining of the trailer. This was indicated through the fact that he was wearing a tracksuit when discussing a matter rather passionately with his doctor. His attire clearly reflected an image of inappropriateness and inconsideration to his age in which he should, as expected by audiences, to wear something a little more age-acceptable.
Moreover, in terms of lighting, particularly the scene when the protagonist entered his parent's room at 4 o'clock in the morning, was of low-key lighting, which created black silhouette's of his figure and this results in dark connotations which suggest that Pat is rather influenced by his illness. Another matter I noticed with the other character, Tiffany, was her costumes which were mainly of dark colours, especially in the first meeting of her character at the beginning of the teaser. This helps audience realize that she may be of a mournful, depressed and emotionally dark personality. However, towards the end of the trailer we view her to be wearing glittery, white clothes and Pat wearing a white blazer which connote a positive ending for both herself and Pat during the shots they showed of the dance show at the end of the actual film. This indicates that matters such as lighting, colour and costume reveal a lot about a character's behaviour and story within the plot.
Cinematography
The teaser trailer for this film opens with an establishing shot of a house that appears to belong to a regular working-class family. This is followed by a mid-shot of the protagonists father which zooms out before capturing several other characters in the frame within another mid-shot. This is an indication of the main character's return home although it is communicated that his return is perhaps an unexpected one. This is shown through the other character's surprised reactions which are emphasised through the use of a hand-held camera position which presents an awkward and unsettling atmosphere visually for audiences to realize.
Furthermore, shots such as over the shoulder, close-up shots between the main character's parents lying in bed further enforce the tense atmosphere in the scene and may reflect most of the film despite being so early into the teaser. It is clear that the protagonist clearly has some sort of mental difficulty and that the film is based along the lines of his journey to fit in society or even his close community. This can also be seen later on in the trailer when he sits with a doctor, possibly his therapist or a psychiatrist. Having a mid-shot of him flicking the book out of his window along with wide, low-angle shots of the book falling to the ground implies that this character still has a long way to go on his journey.
Throughout the trailer, we see a development of the protagonist and Tiffany, a mutual friend whom he meets at a family dinner. This character also seems to have some sort of mental issue similarly to Pat. Birds-eye-view and close up shots of the protagonist's face reveal his sense of self-reflection which in turn shows a level of personal growth, a matter in which the audience would prefer to see occur in the film; this reassures the viewers of the teaser trailer for this film as we are notified of some sort of positivity within the film's narrative. This proves that most aspects of cinematography have been used well to fit the purpose of both teasing and exciting audiences and making them look forward to watching it on the screen.
Sound
Within the teaser, both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds were presented in order to represent some of the narrative.
The first set of diegetic sounds that I noticed were the dialogue which were spoken by the protagonist's parent's in the beginning of the trailer during their discussion about something relating to their son and his health problem which addresses to the audience their concerns. Also, audience are first aware of the relation between Pat and Tiffany due to their dialogue about different medicines.
As for music, the narrative of the film is driven when a non-diegetic sounds of the background music which set the tone of a light-hearted and darkly humoured film. This song is 'Lost in My Mind' by The Head and the Heart which begins with a soft-instrumental part of this song, which helps in creating romantic impression which is also shown by Pat and Tiffany's performance. This music then begins to pick up a fast-pace and volume which in turn lifts the mood and increases the energetic feel in the mood of the teaser.
Finally, to end the trailer with a feel-good vibe, the director uses a piece of dialogue from the beginning of the film which says: 'If you stay positive, you have a shot at a silver lining.' This ends the teaser on a positive note which intrigues audiences to go and watch it in the cinema.
Editing
As for the editing of the teaser trailer for Silver Lining's playbook, the editor has used a sound bridge between both the establishing shot and the mid-shot of the father by inserting the sound of a door opening. This notifies the audience of the idea of someone coming home in the location of the house that will appear in the following scene.
Also, the editor has cut the shots in a general way including an appropriate time length for all dialogue to be able to fit into the shots comfortably.
Production credits and non-diegetic music begin to crop up approximately 16 seconds into the trailer which indicate a difference in the style of cutting shots. However, one thing I noticed throughout the trailer was that there were no intertitles, which may show the fact that there does not need to be any due to its inevitable success despite.
The narrative of the teaser trailer is also evident to progress when the cuts switch to a mid-shot of the protagonist in the doctor's seat. This shows a different location and time setting to the previous scene, hence audience are able to follow on to a development in the narrative, another aspect which is vital for a teaser trailer to appeal to the potential audiences of this film, Silver Linings Playbook.
AUDIENCE RESEARCH
Audience are the most important aspect in the film industry, and are always considered when producing every single piece of the text that is being created. Audience can vary from ages, gender, country, society, wealth and more which is why they are the main priority for directors as the film must appeal to their specific preferences.
The certain audience of a film depends on the genre, the actors and actresses participating in the film, the location in which they are set and most importantly the narrative/ plot of the overall films.
Girls are most suitably attracted to chick-flicks and romance, and young boys to superhero and action films, and this is a stereotypical generalisation that the film industry must make when aiming to appeal to a certain type of audience. Below I will explain what audiences are generally attracted to what kind of genre the film is and why the preferences of most audiences are constantly changing throughout the years.
Audiences for Thriller
The thriller genre is a popular genre mainly within young adults aged between 18 to 25. This is due to the intense storylines and graphic action that are commonly used in these types of films, which appeal to audiences within that age band as they enjoy experiencing thrilling narratives visually. However, there are many sub-genres included within the thriller genre, such as action-thriller which is mainly of a male-dominated audience aged from 15 to 30. This is also due to them being drawn into the action and fast-paced cinematography and editing that would generally be used in those kind of films.
More female dominated, young audiences would be attracted to romantic thrillers such as Twilight Saga, which they feel they may be able to relate to or envision themselves within the position of the protagonist which is a teenage girl, approximately the same age as the audience themselves.
As for young maleadults they may be drawn into conventional male leaded films such as American Psycho and Silence of the Lambs, where they can also be able to relate to both the protagonist and the antagonists of the films. A thriller film is deemed to success if it manages to achieve being able to thrill audiences and leave them on edge throughout the film. This is why target audiences for thriller films vary mainly with gender and age, which is why it is one of the most widely viewed genres of the film industry.
Audiences for Crime
Crime films are aimed towards a varied audience, in terms of age, however it is a genre that is known to have male dominated audiences between the ages of 17 to late thirties. This is due to the action packed, lively performances and plot of most of the films that go under the crime genre title.
Additionally, the role of women in a crime driven film would most definitely appeal to the majority of the male audiences as their portrayal and image within these films are considered to be enjoyed. Films such as Sin City are based on the action and crime occurring within a certain narrative, additionally, it may contain mild scenes that present women in a certain way that would appeal to the male viewers.
Another crime film that had a male-dominated audience was Public Enemies (2009), which was based around the depression-era in the U.S and reveals the lives of gangsters during those times. This is also expectant to have mainly male viewers as the protagonist and surrounding characters to be male, therefore appealing to audiences of the same gender.
As any other genre existing, there is no set audience containing exactly the same age group and gender, however there are generalisations that are evident and expected, with the Crime genre being one of them.
The certain audience of a film depends on the genre, the actors and actresses participating in the film, the location in which they are set and most importantly the narrative/ plot of the overall films.
Girls are most suitably attracted to chick-flicks and romance, and young boys to superhero and action films, and this is a stereotypical generalisation that the film industry must make when aiming to appeal to a certain type of audience. Below I will explain what audiences are generally attracted to what kind of genre the film is and why the preferences of most audiences are constantly changing throughout the years.
Audiences for Thriller
The thriller genre is a popular genre mainly within young adults aged between 18 to 25. This is due to the intense storylines and graphic action that are commonly used in these types of films, which appeal to audiences within that age band as they enjoy experiencing thrilling narratives visually. However, there are many sub-genres included within the thriller genre, such as action-thriller which is mainly of a male-dominated audience aged from 15 to 30. This is also due to them being drawn into the action and fast-paced cinematography and editing that would generally be used in those kind of films.
More female dominated, young audiences would be attracted to romantic thrillers such as Twilight Saga, which they feel they may be able to relate to or envision themselves within the position of the protagonist which is a teenage girl, approximately the same age as the audience themselves.
As for young maleadults they may be drawn into conventional male leaded films such as American Psycho and Silence of the Lambs, where they can also be able to relate to both the protagonist and the antagonists of the films. A thriller film is deemed to success if it manages to achieve being able to thrill audiences and leave them on edge throughout the film. This is why target audiences for thriller films vary mainly with gender and age, which is why it is one of the most widely viewed genres of the film industry.
Audiences for Crime
Crime films are aimed towards a varied audience, in terms of age, however it is a genre that is known to have male dominated audiences between the ages of 17 to late thirties. This is due to the action packed, lively performances and plot of most of the films that go under the crime genre title.
Additionally, the role of women in a crime driven film would most definitely appeal to the majority of the male audiences as their portrayal and image within these films are considered to be enjoyed. Films such as Sin City are based on the action and crime occurring within a certain narrative, additionally, it may contain mild scenes that present women in a certain way that would appeal to the male viewers.
Another crime film that had a male-dominated audience was Public Enemies (2009), which was based around the depression-era in the U.S and reveals the lives of gangsters during those times. This is also expectant to have mainly male viewers as the protagonist and surrounding characters to be male, therefore appealing to audiences of the same gender.
As any other genre existing, there is no set audience containing exactly the same age group and gender, however there are generalisations that are evident and expected, with the Crime genre being one of them.
SUB-GENRE RESEARCH
PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER
BLACK SWAN (2010)
Directed by Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan is an American psychological thriller/ Horror film that follows the plot of a ballerina who competes to play an innocent White Swan as well as a dark sensual Black Swan, then finds herself losing grip of reality due to the pressure and competition, and descends into a 'living nightmare'.
I have chosen this sub-genre as some of its aspects exist within the teaser trailer my group and I will create this year. Some of the main aspects of a psychological thriller/ horror are the emphasis of the psychology of the plot's characters and their unstable emotional states of mind.
Additionally, it contains Gothic themes and elements of mystery, action, drama and horror. This is especially evident in Black Swan and the sub-genre of this film has definitely has inspired us to create a teaser trailer that will reveal a plot based along those lines. For example, the fact that our protagonist eventually loses his mind relates to the theme of emphasising the characters psychological state.
Also, elements of the thriller genre are shown within our work as the plot bases itself around a person who has committed murder and is overwhelmed by his actions, therefore making him lose sense of reality, slightly similarly to Black Swan, which is why I have chosen this film's teaser trailer particularly for my sub-genre research.
This trailer ultimately reveals the plot within the first few seconds of the begnning with a voiceover talking about the character having a dream. However due to the fascinating ballet dance and intricate movements of the ballerina's feet we are more focused on the picture than the voice.
This is a major convention of the psychological thriller/ horror film trailers as they tend to trick audiences or reveal important aspects of the narrative to cause a sense of mystery impressed on the audiences.
The lighting of the teaser trailer is dim and dull and based on a stage, which gives audience an insight into what the mood of the film is, which is essentially deep and dark, and also where it would mainly be set: a performing theatre.
Furthermore, the music increases in volume and the dialogue picks up pace as the trailer progresses, hence revealing the more action-packed and lively side of the narrative that the film will show.
We decided to employ aspects of this in our trailer, in which we would increase the darker elements of the plot as the trailer develops towards the end. And this is one of the main techniques Director's use in psychological thriller/ horror film trailers such as Black Swan.
Directed by Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan is an American psychological thriller/ Horror film that follows the plot of a ballerina who competes to play an innocent White Swan as well as a dark sensual Black Swan, then finds herself losing grip of reality due to the pressure and competition, and descends into a 'living nightmare'.
I have chosen this sub-genre as some of its aspects exist within the teaser trailer my group and I will create this year. Some of the main aspects of a psychological thriller/ horror are the emphasis of the psychology of the plot's characters and their unstable emotional states of mind.
Additionally, it contains Gothic themes and elements of mystery, action, drama and horror. This is especially evident in Black Swan and the sub-genre of this film has definitely has inspired us to create a teaser trailer that will reveal a plot based along those lines. For example, the fact that our protagonist eventually loses his mind relates to the theme of emphasising the characters psychological state.
Also, elements of the thriller genre are shown within our work as the plot bases itself around a person who has committed murder and is overwhelmed by his actions, therefore making him lose sense of reality, slightly similarly to Black Swan, which is why I have chosen this film's teaser trailer particularly for my sub-genre research.
This trailer ultimately reveals the plot within the first few seconds of the begnning with a voiceover talking about the character having a dream. However due to the fascinating ballet dance and intricate movements of the ballerina's feet we are more focused on the picture than the voice.
This is a major convention of the psychological thriller/ horror film trailers as they tend to trick audiences or reveal important aspects of the narrative to cause a sense of mystery impressed on the audiences.
The lighting of the teaser trailer is dim and dull and based on a stage, which gives audience an insight into what the mood of the film is, which is essentially deep and dark, and also where it would mainly be set: a performing theatre.
Furthermore, the music increases in volume and the dialogue picks up pace as the trailer progresses, hence revealing the more action-packed and lively side of the narrative that the film will show.
We decided to employ aspects of this in our trailer, in which we would increase the darker elements of the plot as the trailer develops towards the end. And this is one of the main techniques Director's use in psychological thriller/ horror film trailers such as Black Swan.
CRIME/ THRILLER
SHERLOCK HOLMES (2009)
The construction of this trailer is set out so as to make the composition of the shots almost mirror the pace of the film itself. The genre of the film is evident right from the start of the teaser trailer, and audience are aware of some of the plot within the first half minute of the trailer, as it reveals various aspects of the film such as location, characters, costumes and even the cinematography that the Director, Guy Ritchie himself is known for such as extreme close-up shots and extreme long shots. We are also aware of the time era that the film is set in due to costumes and props that are shown within the mise-en-scene.
The non-diegetic music being played and the voiceover in the background adds a theme of eeriness and emphasises an unsettling atmosphere, hence conforming to its sub-genre which is essentially a mix of Crime/ Thriller and also Mystery. The lighting being used is dim and creepy, also portraying the miserable connotations that the 19-20th century had.
Composition of flash shots appearing at fast-pace excites audiences and makes them feel the action that Sherlock Holmes is filled with.
Also, as the teaser trailer progresses, more comical scenes are revealed, so as to match the light-hearted and sarcastic mood that both renowned actors: Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are well-know for.
As with every other film involving action and murder-mystery, there is an occasional revealing of a love scene, hinting that the film is suitable for both genders and can be enjoyed by both therefore not limiting its target audience. The intertitles and production company titles crop up often and familiar actor names and critic responses of the film appear towards the end of the trailer which intrigue audiences and enlarges its viewer demographic as these actors have an existing fanbase whom would definitely pay to watch the film on the screens.
This sub-genre has inspired my group and I to use some of the elements given to impress its audiences and also as the sub-genre relates to our film's plot we have used this film as a use of research to give us an insight into what we could employ aspects of when creating our teaser trailer.
The construction of this trailer is set out so as to make the composition of the shots almost mirror the pace of the film itself. The genre of the film is evident right from the start of the teaser trailer, and audience are aware of some of the plot within the first half minute of the trailer, as it reveals various aspects of the film such as location, characters, costumes and even the cinematography that the Director, Guy Ritchie himself is known for such as extreme close-up shots and extreme long shots. We are also aware of the time era that the film is set in due to costumes and props that are shown within the mise-en-scene.
The non-diegetic music being played and the voiceover in the background adds a theme of eeriness and emphasises an unsettling atmosphere, hence conforming to its sub-genre which is essentially a mix of Crime/ Thriller and also Mystery. The lighting being used is dim and creepy, also portraying the miserable connotations that the 19-20th century had.
Composition of flash shots appearing at fast-pace excites audiences and makes them feel the action that Sherlock Holmes is filled with.
Also, as the teaser trailer progresses, more comical scenes are revealed, so as to match the light-hearted and sarcastic mood that both renowned actors: Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are well-know for.
As with every other film involving action and murder-mystery, there is an occasional revealing of a love scene, hinting that the film is suitable for both genders and can be enjoyed by both therefore not limiting its target audience. The intertitles and production company titles crop up often and familiar actor names and critic responses of the film appear towards the end of the trailer which intrigue audiences and enlarges its viewer demographic as these actors have an existing fanbase whom would definitely pay to watch the film on the screens.
This sub-genre has inspired my group and I to use some of the elements given to impress its audiences and also as the sub-genre relates to our film's plot we have used this film as a use of research to give us an insight into what we could employ aspects of when creating our teaser trailer.
SPY/ THRILLER
SALT (2010)
The trailer for this Crime/ Thriller/ Action film starring Angelina Jolie is straightforward and clear in terms of what the genre is and narrative within the first few shots that are shown. We are introduced to the main character of the film, Angelina Jolie, as she is being escorted by police, amongst what looks like press swarming them with photographs. This indicates to the audience that the character may be of an important role in the movie, also that she may be well-known/ famous.
As the trailer progresses, viewers are notified of the plot more as more shots are shown such as the location which is shown within an establishing shot of New York city landscape's bridge and river. Many significant cinematography shots such as close-up shots, long shots, pan zooms and more are shown within this trailer, which indicates a good sense of camera angles, showing the full potential of the film.
We are driven straight into the anticipating action side of the film as the protagonist violently hits the police officers who appear to have just escorted her and causes a crash. This scene is significant as audience are taken aback mainly because this is a woman who managed to knock 3 men unconscious, which proves that the director has inserted a successful shock factor and this is an important aspect when trying to intrigue viewers. We have also decided to adapt this to our teaser trailer, by revealing a scene that will surprise audiences, therefore making them more interested in watching the remaining parts of the trailer.
Another feature that stood out in this trailer was the reversal effect that they inserted as the car crashed, which made it appear as though time was reversing. This implies the fact that the plot of the film may reverse somehow or that the narrative may not appear in a consistent chronological order. By doing this, viewers may be interested as not many films' composition is done this way, and having a different theme is considered exciting for many critics.
Due to the trailer having begun straight away into the scenes of the film, the intertitles of the production and distribution companies appear during the middle of the trailer, hence keeping a consecutive style for both the trailer and film and creating the same effect of setting out the trailer differently from other usually set out trailers, where the production companies and distribution companies are shown first.
Also, the titles of actor names and statements added go along with the theme of the film which is police-like font: bold and white, and appear in a fast-paced manner.
Overall, this trailer has been created to excite audiences, and it proves to have done so well with its box-office success and including of Angelina Jolie, a renowned and well respected actress who has also participated in other successful action films also shows the fact that this film also has a potential in being just as successful.
The trailer for this Crime/ Thriller/ Action film starring Angelina Jolie is straightforward and clear in terms of what the genre is and narrative within the first few shots that are shown. We are introduced to the main character of the film, Angelina Jolie, as she is being escorted by police, amongst what looks like press swarming them with photographs. This indicates to the audience that the character may be of an important role in the movie, also that she may be well-known/ famous.
As the trailer progresses, viewers are notified of the plot more as more shots are shown such as the location which is shown within an establishing shot of New York city landscape's bridge and river. Many significant cinematography shots such as close-up shots, long shots, pan zooms and more are shown within this trailer, which indicates a good sense of camera angles, showing the full potential of the film.
We are driven straight into the anticipating action side of the film as the protagonist violently hits the police officers who appear to have just escorted her and causes a crash. This scene is significant as audience are taken aback mainly because this is a woman who managed to knock 3 men unconscious, which proves that the director has inserted a successful shock factor and this is an important aspect when trying to intrigue viewers. We have also decided to adapt this to our teaser trailer, by revealing a scene that will surprise audiences, therefore making them more interested in watching the remaining parts of the trailer.
Another feature that stood out in this trailer was the reversal effect that they inserted as the car crashed, which made it appear as though time was reversing. This implies the fact that the plot of the film may reverse somehow or that the narrative may not appear in a consistent chronological order. By doing this, viewers may be interested as not many films' composition is done this way, and having a different theme is considered exciting for many critics.
Due to the trailer having begun straight away into the scenes of the film, the intertitles of the production and distribution companies appear during the middle of the trailer, hence keeping a consecutive style for both the trailer and film and creating the same effect of setting out the trailer differently from other usually set out trailers, where the production companies and distribution companies are shown first.
Also, the titles of actor names and statements added go along with the theme of the film which is police-like font: bold and white, and appear in a fast-paced manner.
Overall, this trailer has been created to excite audiences, and it proves to have done so well with its box-office success and including of Angelina Jolie, a renowned and well respected actress who has also participated in other successful action films also shows the fact that this film also has a potential in being just as successful.
MYSTERY/ THRILLER
Identity (2003)
The plot of this film follows the story of ten strangers who are stranded on an island and become acquainted with each other after they realize they're being killed one by one. The trailer in this case, reveals a lot about the narrative in it's fast-paced mode of switching from shot to shot and brief, simply written font intertitles. Also, the editing techniques used, including the way in which they cut the clips and made some shots overlap each other, possibly to indicate the passing of time, were rather simple and didn't appear to be too complicated.
However, the director was able to receive excitement from the audiences due to the trailer's well constructed pattern which showed off the films wild and twisted story. A white flashing screen appeared when the titles were inserted in the middle of the shots,
One consistent pattern I followed throughout this trailer was that they would reveal calm, slow-paced scenes and quickly switch to fast-paced, action scenes that would represent the violent, more mysterious aspects of the film, hence conforming to its Mystery/ Thriller sub-genre.
The main shots that frequently were used within the cinematography of this trailer were the medium shots and long shots. This was to capture the many jump-scare scenes that would almost shock audiences as it shows innocent people being attacked and killed with no clear reason.
The dialogue from the characters were frequently used, especially the protagonist, whom audience are aware of his important role throughout the trailer as he has the most screen time. A recurrent use of dialogue was used here to simplify delivering the plot to the audience and avoid confusion, however, too much dialogue may give away too much of the plot, which is something my group and I will try to avoid when creating our teaser trailer.
In terms of gender representation, we see only one woman amongst many other men. Also, her fear and panic is shown through her performance when she screams and shouts, and this may suggest she is more vulnerable than the rest, and that she is weak or a Damsel in Distress, a stereotypical image for a female character. The protagonist who is a man appears to be of a dominant leading character, also a stereotypical representation of a grown, male character who faces trials when stuck on an island.
A positive aspect in terms of the actors who participate in this film, such as John Cusack, who is well-known for delivering a brave, respected character in his films, fits this part well.
Overall, Identity was a box-office successful film, earning $90m in profit after its release, and this trailer participates in its large earnings by attracting an audience through its well constructed trailer.
The plot of this film follows the story of ten strangers who are stranded on an island and become acquainted with each other after they realize they're being killed one by one. The trailer in this case, reveals a lot about the narrative in it's fast-paced mode of switching from shot to shot and brief, simply written font intertitles. Also, the editing techniques used, including the way in which they cut the clips and made some shots overlap each other, possibly to indicate the passing of time, were rather simple and didn't appear to be too complicated.
However, the director was able to receive excitement from the audiences due to the trailer's well constructed pattern which showed off the films wild and twisted story. A white flashing screen appeared when the titles were inserted in the middle of the shots,
One consistent pattern I followed throughout this trailer was that they would reveal calm, slow-paced scenes and quickly switch to fast-paced, action scenes that would represent the violent, more mysterious aspects of the film, hence conforming to its Mystery/ Thriller sub-genre.
The main shots that frequently were used within the cinematography of this trailer were the medium shots and long shots. This was to capture the many jump-scare scenes that would almost shock audiences as it shows innocent people being attacked and killed with no clear reason.
The dialogue from the characters were frequently used, especially the protagonist, whom audience are aware of his important role throughout the trailer as he has the most screen time. A recurrent use of dialogue was used here to simplify delivering the plot to the audience and avoid confusion, however, too much dialogue may give away too much of the plot, which is something my group and I will try to avoid when creating our teaser trailer.
In terms of gender representation, we see only one woman amongst many other men. Also, her fear and panic is shown through her performance when she screams and shouts, and this may suggest she is more vulnerable than the rest, and that she is weak or a Damsel in Distress, a stereotypical image for a female character. The protagonist who is a man appears to be of a dominant leading character, also a stereotypical representation of a grown, male character who faces trials when stuck on an island.
A positive aspect in terms of the actors who participate in this film, such as John Cusack, who is well-known for delivering a brave, respected character in his films, fits this part well.
Overall, Identity was a box-office successful film, earning $90m in profit after its release, and this trailer participates in its large earnings by attracting an audience through its well constructed trailer.
AUTEUR RESEARCH
MARTIN SCORSESE
Martin Scorsese is one of the most renowned directors, producers and screenwriters of Hollywood film industry. Having directed many box-office successful films, his influential filmmaking earned much praise and awards through out the years.
Scorsese is known to depict violence and liberal use of profanity through his widely genred films such as vigilante-drama, crime-comedy and many more. He collaborated on and included two actors Robert De Niro and Leonardo Di Caprio in at least five of his directed films, making him known to be a part of both of these actors films.
He is the most nominated living Director and won the Academy Award for Best Director for his film: The Departed (2006), also one of the films I have used their trailers for my research.
Martin Scorsese is known for his use of popular music within his movies and in terms of cinematography, many slow motion shots and tracking shots are used, which is evident in the trailers for Wolf Of Wall Street (2013).
Another recurring feature that Martin Scorsese is known for is the costumes the female actresses wear, as it is a consistent pattern in almost every one of his films, which they seem to be wearing white for their first appearance in the movie. Continuous shots are also used in the cinematography of Scorsese's films as he includes a scene with many occurences and is able to fit them into one. Having set himself a renowned and respected position in the directing industry, it is fair to say that Scorsese's creative, playful style of films will remain as inspiring and important as they are genius long after the ending of his career.
Martin Scorsese is one of the most renowned directors, producers and screenwriters of Hollywood film industry. Having directed many box-office successful films, his influential filmmaking earned much praise and awards through out the years.
Scorsese is known to depict violence and liberal use of profanity through his widely genred films such as vigilante-drama, crime-comedy and many more. He collaborated on and included two actors Robert De Niro and Leonardo Di Caprio in at least five of his directed films, making him known to be a part of both of these actors films.
He is the most nominated living Director and won the Academy Award for Best Director for his film: The Departed (2006), also one of the films I have used their trailers for my research.
Martin Scorsese is known for his use of popular music within his movies and in terms of cinematography, many slow motion shots and tracking shots are used, which is evident in the trailers for Wolf Of Wall Street (2013).
Another recurring feature that Martin Scorsese is known for is the costumes the female actresses wear, as it is a consistent pattern in almost every one of his films, which they seem to be wearing white for their first appearance in the movie. Continuous shots are also used in the cinematography of Scorsese's films as he includes a scene with many occurences and is able to fit them into one. Having set himself a renowned and respected position in the directing industry, it is fair to say that Scorsese's creative, playful style of films will remain as inspiring and important as they are genius long after the ending of his career.
QUENTIN TARANTINO
Many have said that Tarantino is one of the most gifted technical filmmakers of the Hollywood industry, due to his creative use of camera shots; in which he considers the audiences perspective deeply and uses this as a method to which he directs the cinematography of his filming. A consistent style that this Director is known for is his 'Trunk Shot', an angle in which the camera is positioned inside the boot of the car and viewing actors from a low-angle shot. He has used this for many of his films which include Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Death Proof and many more.
This is effective and has been notified by many critics as it gives the impression that the viewers are of an inferior position and the ones they are facing (the actors) are dominant or are of higher status and level. This communicates well to the audiences whom is of more importance and who is not.
Having earned himself 2 Oscars, and a nomination for another two on Best Writing and Best Achievement in Directing, Tarantino should be and is considered one of the most successful filmmakers, screenwriters and Directors of his generation.
Many have said that Tarantino is one of the most gifted technical filmmakers of the Hollywood industry, due to his creative use of camera shots; in which he considers the audiences perspective deeply and uses this as a method to which he directs the cinematography of his filming. A consistent style that this Director is known for is his 'Trunk Shot', an angle in which the camera is positioned inside the boot of the car and viewing actors from a low-angle shot. He has used this for many of his films which include Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Death Proof and many more.
This is effective and has been notified by many critics as it gives the impression that the viewers are of an inferior position and the ones they are facing (the actors) are dominant or are of higher status and level. This communicates well to the audiences whom is of more importance and who is not.
Having earned himself 2 Oscars, and a nomination for another two on Best Writing and Best Achievement in Directing, Tarantino should be and is considered one of the most successful filmmakers, screenwriters and Directors of his generation.
SOUNDTRACK RESEARCH
The many purposes of background music in a trailer include both representing and emphasising the genre of the film whilst setting the main mood and atmosphere to influence the audience that should either be impressed by it to go and watch the movie or oppositely.
Many of the sources of film soundtracks used in trailers are not from its own production, but rather from other sources. This is due to the trailer being composed after the creation of the film. There are both negative and positive outcomes due to this. Positive: Audience would be able to recognise which will give a sense of familiarity which is rooted from enjoyment. Negative: a sense of originality is not present, however, soundtrack for most films would most preferably be from outside sources, mainly due to the impression that should be given to audiences.
Soundtrack depends on the theme or the mood that the Director wants to give away within the first few seconds of the trailer. Horror/ Mystery/ Thriller films following a horror sub-genre tend to use slow, orchestral and usually high-pitched instruments, whereas films following a lighter genre such as romance, comedy, drama etc tend to use a more upbeat and possibly fast paced soundtrack in the trailers.
Many of the sources of film soundtracks used in trailers are not from its own production, but rather from other sources. This is due to the trailer being composed after the creation of the film. There are both negative and positive outcomes due to this. Positive: Audience would be able to recognise which will give a sense of familiarity which is rooted from enjoyment. Negative: a sense of originality is not present, however, soundtrack for most films would most preferably be from outside sources, mainly due to the impression that should be given to audiences.
Soundtrack depends on the theme or the mood that the Director wants to give away within the first few seconds of the trailer. Horror/ Mystery/ Thriller films following a horror sub-genre tend to use slow, orchestral and usually high-pitched instruments, whereas films following a lighter genre such as romance, comedy, drama etc tend to use a more upbeat and possibly fast paced soundtrack in the trailers.
PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY RESEARCH
LIONSGATE ENTERTAINMENT
Lionsgate Entertainment Corporation is a Canadian-American entertainment company, founded in 1997. It is one of the most successful major film and television distribution company in North America and one of the most profitable movie studios to exist. Having distributed hundreds of the most successful box office films such as The Hunger Games Saga, The Divergent Series and many more, its no wonder Lionsgate is one of the most well-known and profitable film companies of its kind. The reason I have chosen this company is because my group and I want to include its name within our starter intertitles for our teaser trailer. Additionally, it suits the sub-genre that our plot is based upon, as it too has distributed many films along the lines of thriller and mystery and crime such as The Expendables, The Lincoln Lawyer and Kick-Ass. |
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NEW LINE CINEMA
New Line Cinema is a unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment in March 2008 (Time Warner Company) and was founded in 1967. The company upholds separate development, production, marketing, distribution and business affairs operations, but organizes those roles with Warner Bros. to increase film performance as much as they can. Having produced the Oscar Award-winning film trilogy, Lord Of The Rings, New Line Cinema created a combined worldwide box office of almost $3 bn in profits. This was followed by a trilogy of films based on The Hobbit, which is currently closing in on the $3 billion mark in global receipts as of 2015. The reason I have chosen this production company for research was not only are my group and I familiar with it due to including it in our work for last year, but I personally enjoy watching its films and believe that it is a good means of using within my coursework. |
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PARAMOUNT PICTURES
Not only is Paramount Pictures Corporation one of the most successful and richest film studios of America's film industry, but it is also one of the oldest surviving film studios to exist, having been founded in 1912. Paramount Pictures Corporation is both a television production company and a motion picture distributor, it's films and other texts participating in box-office success greatly, including Star Trek, Transformers Series, Mission Impossible Series, Forrest Gump, The Godfather and many more. Paramount Pictures is a subsidiary of the U.S media conglomorate: Viacom. It is also a member of the Motion Picture Association of America (The MPAA). In 2014, Paramount Pictures had become the first major American Hollywood studio to distribute all of its films in digital form only, in comparison with other production and distribution companies who have a mixture of both digital and film copies of their works. The reason I have chosen this entertainment company is due to its success and many well-known films that it has produced and distributed, which is why I believe it fits well in Production and Distribution Company Research. |
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RESEARCH SUMMARY
Upon completion of my research, many aspects of sub-genres, production and distribution, mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing and sound involved in the creation of a teaser trailer have come to my attention that I didn't grasp previously. These include the different techniques of how to make a teaser trailer successful and fit its purpose of 'teasing' an audience.
Additionally, researching other trailers gives us an insight into the minds of other directors, and how they position themselves in both the seats of the critics and the audiences, whom are both the sole importance and only target when creating films and trailers.
After looking at the Auteurs and their 'styles' of directing films whether it be upon the elements of cinematography, editing sound or mise en scene, it is important to analyse what they do and why they do it.
Also, the difference between a genre and a sub-genre are significant, and it is useful and convenient to have researched them both separately, that way looking for the different elements that each present along the way.
Another important aspect to look upon is also the audience, whom are the main targets to analyse when creating a media text. What they prefer, what groups your demographic belong to, whether or not they will be able to understand the plot and narrative of your trailer and how you can impress them and draw them into the story that you must portray within one and a half minute. This is why I payed most attention to the research of audience and how they differ according to each genre that you base your narrative upon.
Soundtrack research was also another important piece of research that was set due to the strong impression and effects it has on the viewers of your trailer or, the potential audiences of your actual film. There is such a wide field as to which soundtrack may be most suitable for our teaser trailer, it is also other techniques such as juxtaposing your work by adding something to one thing that completely portray an opposite feeling or vibe.
As for my last research which was to search for and analyse different production and distribution companies this also was significant as we are to choose what company is inserted into what intertitle for our teaser trailers.
Last year, we did create our own but we also added a legit entertainment company which is why it is best to look over other possible companies to insert into our trailers.
Also, they must suit the style and genre that we want to portray our story with and this is why using them for research is significant. Researching various aspects of the teaser trailer part of the creation of a film has helped give a pre-overlook into what we were going to create when working on both our teaser trailer and the ancillary texts for our A2 coursework.
Additionally, researching other trailers gives us an insight into the minds of other directors, and how they position themselves in both the seats of the critics and the audiences, whom are both the sole importance and only target when creating films and trailers.
After looking at the Auteurs and their 'styles' of directing films whether it be upon the elements of cinematography, editing sound or mise en scene, it is important to analyse what they do and why they do it.
Also, the difference between a genre and a sub-genre are significant, and it is useful and convenient to have researched them both separately, that way looking for the different elements that each present along the way.
Another important aspect to look upon is also the audience, whom are the main targets to analyse when creating a media text. What they prefer, what groups your demographic belong to, whether or not they will be able to understand the plot and narrative of your trailer and how you can impress them and draw them into the story that you must portray within one and a half minute. This is why I payed most attention to the research of audience and how they differ according to each genre that you base your narrative upon.
Soundtrack research was also another important piece of research that was set due to the strong impression and effects it has on the viewers of your trailer or, the potential audiences of your actual film. There is such a wide field as to which soundtrack may be most suitable for our teaser trailer, it is also other techniques such as juxtaposing your work by adding something to one thing that completely portray an opposite feeling or vibe.
As for my last research which was to search for and analyse different production and distribution companies this also was significant as we are to choose what company is inserted into what intertitle for our teaser trailers.
Last year, we did create our own but we also added a legit entertainment company which is why it is best to look over other possible companies to insert into our trailers.
Also, they must suit the style and genre that we want to portray our story with and this is why using them for research is significant. Researching various aspects of the teaser trailer part of the creation of a film has helped give a pre-overlook into what we were going to create when working on both our teaser trailer and the ancillary texts for our A2 coursework.