Film Trailer Conventions

By Becky and Elizabeth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transcript

Titles – the titles are a common convention of trailers; they convey aspects of the plot developing it further. They are also used to show the famous directors and actors to encourage fans to watch the movie. They often appear in bold capital letters to reinforce what is being shown. There is movement, which mirrors the action on screen. The backgrounds depend on the genre, for example a horror movie may have a blood-splattered background in the titles. Titles include:

 

•  The Release date which is shown last, often after a cliff hanger to hook the audience

• Disclaimer and production titles and BBFC age certification titles indicate the authenticity of the film and the recommended age of viewer

• Famous Actors, director and producer names make fans want to watch

• Social media allows viewers to spread the trailer to others in the same target audience and puts the trailer on different platforms.

 

Trailer Length - teaser trailers are of a shorter duration than full trailers. Teaser trailers are around 1 minute 30 seconds in length where as normal trailers are around 2 minutes. A teaser trailer is made to promote the movie early on in the editing stage building anticipation, sometimes 6 months before release, whereas a normal trailer gives more of the plot away and is released later in production.

 

Sound – Non-Diegetic sound can be used for tension and sets the tone and pace in the trailer. The type of music varies depending on the genre of film, for example in horror trailers the music is usually in the minor key and uses drums, bass and synthesisers to create a rumbling effect as scenes climax. The music also makes use of silence at the end of a scene where someone may have died or the climax was reached.

 

Enhanced sound is used often for jump scares in horror films and in general films it emphasises a sound, for example an eerie door creaking or rolling thunder. It can also be used to build up tension due to the sound being exemplified exacerbating the pace of scene.

 

Diegetic sound such as dialogue is used to show the scene progressing through the use of the characters interacting with each other and expressing their ideas or solution to a problem they are facing. It is a form of narrative, which reveals the storyline.

 

Other diegetic sounds used in the scene increase authenticity, for example the wind howling or heavy breathing convinces the audience the scene is really taking place and creates realism within the trailer.

 

Editing – Nonlinear editing is used to build suspense, beginning with the basic plot then adding in the most interesting cuts. In horror movies editing favours scenes when a person is in immediate danger and short clips cut between different shots to show the pace at which the scene is going. This is evident in Iron Man 3 where quick cuts tend to be transitioned in a fade in fade out effect to help it flow.

 

A fade is a convention of film trailers to indicate calmer moments and to make the trailer run smoothly. It may also set the mood in a slower paced part of the trailer. A cut is the other transition convention of film trailers. It is the most common transition.

 

Near the end of a trailer the editing pace picks up and fast flashes show horrifying shots in quick succession.

 

Camera - Camera high or low angles are most common in horror trailers and the shift the power of a person. A low angle of the character can make tthe audience feel inferior. The most common camera angle in trailers however is eye level. 

 

Close ups are common to convey emotion of a character or to focus on an object. This can enhance the emotion the audience feels for the victim or point out and dramatise a plain ordinary object increasing tension.

 

Eye line matches can make the audience see what a character sees, in a horror movie this can be very effective to see what a victim is just before they die.

 

Mise en scene – horror movie settings often include the forest, cabins and abandoned places like houses.

Lightning is often dull and dark which elicits fear from the audience