A2 Trailer analysis
Using YouTube analyse a Horror film trailer
1. What is the purpose of a film trailer?
The purpose of a film trailer is to show the audience small clips of the film that’s being released. It’s to engage the audience into what’s going on so that they will want to see the film.
2. In what ways is the story established?
The film narrative is established in part by using a narrator to explain in small detail what’s going on in the film as well as using small talking clips. They shows certain clips from start to finish to show the story line in basic
3. What enigmas are raised for the narrative to deal with?
The problems that are raised in the film are the things that begin to change in the film.
4. In what ways are the characters established?
The characters are established through the opening scenes of introduction. The clips establish who and what the characters are, for example the little girl with the black hair, the clips are edited to show her appearing and disappearing, making it clear to the audience that she is not part of the family and that something is not normal with her.
Information on characters is introduced by revealing certain things within the clips. This helps the audience put together the story themselves by not actually telling them what’s going on or what’s happened. Information on the characters can be found on the internet, as the trailer reveals the film is based on a true story, so they can look into it.
5. What does the viewer learn from the voice-over?
The voice-over establishes what kind of things that goes on in the film causing the audience to learn the basic story line without knowing the insight to the film. The narrator helps put the pieces together.
6. How is dialogue used?
The dialogue reveals to the audience the problems that go on within the film and how they are created, basic words fit together.
Sometimes dialogue is juxtaposed against
7. How and when are action clips used?
Action clips are used when the trailer dies down and goes quiet, giving the perfect opportunity to create a dramatic entrance for the action clip, creating a shock and thrill towards the audience.
8. What do they signify?
They are significant for creating suspense to the audience at the end of a trailer. This is when the action clips mainly come into place
9. Describe the pace of editing and visual style. What mood does this evoke for the viewer?
The visual style is slow at first creating suspense to the audience. This creates an exciting mood for the audience as it encourages them to want to watch the film.
10. How are titles and graphics used?
the title is generally put at the beginning and the end of every trailer, this is so the audience don’t forget the name of the film.
11. In what ways is the genre signified to the audience?
The genre is signified to the audience by the use of imagery and the themes that are used, for example using dark backgrounds to highlight the title.
12. How are the stars established?
The stars are established by highlighting their names when they pop in the trailer. Making it clear what famous people, or people you recognize are in the film.
13. Describe the overall structure of the trailer. I.e. when particular information is introduced. Does this follow a conventional pattern?
The pace alters whenever something interesting comes into the scene to make sure the film isn’t portrayed as boring, if the trailer only shows boring bits at the beginning of the clip and good bits at the end, then the audience wont watch it, as it needs to be exciting throughout the whole film.
14. How does the trailer appeal to the viewer?
The trailer will only appeal to target audiences. For example people who enjoy horror. It does this by making it clear at the beginning of the trailer what genre the film is.
15. Summarize the forms and conventions of the trailer.
The trailer has typical conventions of a horror film. For example slow paced music at the beginning and fast and scary when something bad is going to happen. Also the fast movement of the slides, to show roughly that something intense is happening. Fast music is used at this point to create the tension/suspense.
