2. Horror
The typical conventions that we would expect from a horror
trailer are chiaroscuro lighting, to create a dark and eerie
atmosphere mirroring the emotions of the film, and a slow
editing pace to build suspense, and in the end having a fast
editing pace to scare the audience, enticing thrill seekers
and encouraging the watch the film if they enjoyed the
small scare in the trailer. We would not typically see the
killer/demon/ghosts true identity or face depending on
type of villain, as this adds to enigma and does not give
away possible plot twists or scares in the horror. We also
would expect to mainly see the main location of the film
through out the clip, as a typical convention of horrors is
one or a few locations.
3. The Conjuring
The advert for the film The Conjuring did have chiaroscuro lighting as
this informed the audience that a vast majority of the film would be
dark and eerie, conforming to our expectations of a horror trailer.
However, the start of the trailer had quite low key high contrast
lighting, which may actually help scare the audience and this
lighting will feel relaxed then suddenly itโs dark. Also, there was
black and white short clips shown, providing a history to the
location, and suggesting to the viewer that this film will have links
to the past. We then cut to chiaroscuro lighting, which serves two
purposes, one to create a dark atmosphere, and two because most
of the โhorrific incidentsโ occurred at night, showing continuity.
Also, the further into the trailer, the darker it gets, building even
more tension within the audience.
4. The Conjuring
The Conjuring trailer also conforms to our
expectation of slow editing to fast editing, as at
first the clips from the film are slow, then as we
start to see that it is a horror stay slow, as this
helps build tension and fear in the audience, then
at the end fast pace to scare them and to get
people excited about the film. However at the
start, the clips in black and white are also fast
paced, however this is also to help build tension
and the clips are very short and so only make the
viewers wary about what they are about to see
and is the first sign that the trailer is for a horror.
5. The Conjuring
We do not see the face of the demon/killer/villain, however we do see
the hands and arms of time, one coming out of a closet and
clapping, as the trailer builds tension, and again at the end hands
appear out of the darkness next to a main characters face, clap, and
then the candle she is holding instantly goes out. This is the scare
shown in the trailer that is used to entice the audience, if they are
scared by this and enjoy horrors, it will make them more likely want
to go and see the film. However there is still enigma as we donโt
see the face of the villain, providing another reason for someone to
want to see the film, to see who the villain is. Also, the fact that we
see arms and hands proves that the villain is human or close to
human, providing fear as even hours after viewing the trailer,
audience members may be thinking about it when they are in the
dark and imagine seeing arms come out of the closet and believe
this is possible, keeping the film in their mind and reminding them
that they want to go an see it.
7. Romance
In romance films, we would typically expect to see a slow editing pace
through out, with maybe a slightly quicker editing pace of the happy
points in the film. Romance films themselves are usually have quite slow
paced editing so this will attract a certain audience to go and see this film.
If someone enjoys fast paced action films, they will probably not want to
see the romance film as the editing pace of the trailer allows them to
guess that the film will also be slow paced. The lighting is usually low key
high contrast as this strongly connotes happiness and makes the audience
members feel positive, which romance films often do. Also, if audience
members remember having positive feelings towards the trailer, they are
more likely to go and see the film itself. We would also expect to see and
clearly know who the two main characters are. We also would expect to
hear soundtrack from the film, usually an upbeat song about love, which
helps tell the audience exactly what emotion they should be feeling and
again helps sell the film. Also a voice over or title plates would commonly
be used as this again tells the audience what they should be feeling and
also provide them with some context to the film.
8. (500) Days of Summer
The editing pace for the trailer to (500) Days of Summer is
quite slow paced, giving the impression of an easy
going film to watch. However the montage of clips are
not in chronological order, instead mainly showing
mainly happy clips except when the voice over says
words such as โof furyโ in which it would show a clip
where a character is angry. However this helps, as if
the audience thought the film was happy and slow
through out, they would be less likely to want to go
and see it as it would give the impression of being
boring and having no real story line.
9. (500) Days of Summer
As expected, the lighting for (500) Days of Summer was low key high
contrast, making the footage seem bright with connotations of
happiness and therefore giving the impression that the film is a
happy one and making the audience feel happy when watching it.
This allows the audience to know if itโs the kind of film that they
want to watch, if they like happy films then they know that this will
be for them, which means the trailer is doing itโs job of selecting
and audience and then making them want to go and watch the film.
Only a few clips are slightly darker, however still seem quite warm,
showing that there are twists to the film, but also giving optimism
that there is a happy ending from the warmth that is still there, and
so they may want to see the film to see if there is in fact a happy
ending and if it is the one they expected.
10. (500) Days of Summer
The trailer does show us the two main characters throughout the
trailer, which is what we predicted, and in fact, the only two
characters the film introduces us two are the hero and princess,
suggests that a vast majority of the film is solely about them, and
also allowing us to know that this is the main couple in the film, and
it is their story we will be following. We do also have a voice over
man, repeatidly saying โ500 days of...โ and words such as
โintimacyโ โfuryโ โtendernessโ. Most of the words are positive and
the clips match them, suggesting most of the film is positive. It also
constantly reminds the audience of the title, and helps it to stick in
the audiences mind. The opening sentence is โthis is not a love
story, it is a story about loveโ letting the audience know it is a
romance, however may not be the conventional one or one they
expect, adding intrigue and a want to discover what happens in the
film. Also title plates saying โ(500) Days of Summerโ repeatedly
show, again reminding of the title.
12. Action
For an action film, we would expect chiaroscuro
lighting, as this creates a dark atmosphere, and
usually something dark has to be happening for
action to occur. We also would expect fast paced
editing to keep up with the high adrenaline of
action films. It also creates tension and suspense,
however not the same type of tension as a
horror. Also we would see many different
locations in the clips suggesting the film has quite
a complex or interesting story line. We also again
would expect voice over or title plates to add
context.
13. Fight Club
Throughout the entire trailer, chiaroscuro
lighting is used. This lets the audience
definitely know that this film is going to be
dark throughout, and that it is for a specific
kind of viewer who enjoys dark intense films.
It also gives the film a gritty feel, and suggests
that it is not for the faint hearted. It also
suggests that the location is quite a dark, run
down place.
14. Fight Club
The first few seconds of the trailer for fight club are quite
slow paced. This is to grab the audiences attention and
pay attention to what the characters are saying. โI want
you to hit me as hard as you canโ are the first words
heard. This is not a commonly heard sentence, so will
keep hold of the audiences attention. It also
immediately lets us know the film is about fighting.
Then, when we hear the voice over of the main
character say โWait. Let me start earlierโ to the
audience, we then have fast pace editing. This matches
the fast action of a fight and generally of action films,
allowing the audience to know the genre of the film.
15. Fight Club
Throughout the trailer, many many different locations are
seen, in fact the same location is rarely seen in two
separate sets of footage, letting the audience know that the
film will probably have a complex story line if there are
many different locations to keep up with. Also the first title
plate we see is โfrom the director of Se7enโ which is also
an action film, letting the audience know the genre and
also, if they enjoyed Se7en, it makes them believe they will
also probably enjoy this film, and so they will go and see it.
We also hear a voice over throughout from the main
character, mainly direct to the audience. This will give the
audience a feel of being told to go and see the film, by the
character, not the actor, which will again persuade them to
see the film. This is what we would expect of an action film.
17. Sci-Fi
We would typically expect a sci-fi trailer to show the
same location โ space. This immediately lets the
audience know that the genre is sci-fi. We would
also expect to see a lot of CGI as it is difficult to
film in space. Sci-Fi films usually have a major
disruption, so we would expect the editing to at
first be slow to show location, and then speed up
at the disruption. Also we would expect mainly
chiaroscuro lighting for the disruption, and also
because there is not much light in space unless
we see a world built up by aliens like earth.
18. Gravity
The whole location in the trailer for gravity is in
space above earth with a satellite. This lets the
audience know that most of the film will be set in
outer space and that it is definitely a sci-fi. We
also see a lot of CGI as it would be physically
impossible to let two actors float around in space.
This also suggests a lot of money has been spent
on the film, as with most marquee sci-fi films,
and so audience members may be impressed
with this and more inclined to see it.
19. Gravity
Like we predicted, the first few seconds of the trailer for
Gravity are slow and even quite relaxing, as we are
seeing the location of space and possibly slightly in the
future or the present day. It also means the audience
will not be prepared of the disruption, adding shock
when suddenly an astronaught gets lose and the
editing pace speeds up instantly. The tempo of the light
music in the background also speeds up making
audience members shocked and anxious to know what
happens next, which yet again makes them more likely
to buy a ticket to the film. From then on most of the
editing pace is quite fast to keep panic in the audience.
20. Gravity
Throughout the Gravity trailer, chiaroscuro lighting
is used, as it is set in outer space where there
isnโt much light naturally, keeping with the
continuity. However, in the first few seconds of
the trailer, the footage mainly has earth in the
background, giving a relaxing feel to the
audience, and shows beauty. After the disruption
however, we mainly see the blackness of space in
the background, and sometimes with stars in the
far distance giving a feeling of being lost. If we do
see earth, it is a POV shot of a spinning person,
showing disruption.
22. Drama
The clueโs in the title, dramas are quite dramatic, and so
we would expect chiaroscuro lighting to emphasise this
in a trailer for a drama. However, usually there are
some happy moments to allow a disruption or โdramaโ
to occur, so we would expect to see some low key high
contrast shots. We also think that the editing will be
fast paced, and usually dramas require the full
audience attention for understanding, so it is letting
them know that if they canโt keep up with the fast pace
of the trailer, then the drama probably isn't right for
them. Again, like an action film, we would expect to
see quite a few locations to show and extensive plot.
23. A Beautiful Mind
In A Beautiful Mind, we start off with quite
naturalistic lighting, suggesting that at this point,
all is well, however, once we start to learn more
about the story and the editing pace quickens, we
see chiaroscuro lighting, and a lot of night shots,
suggesting that the plot thickens into something
dark. Throughout the rest of the trailer we then
mainly see chiaroscuro lighting with the
exception of a few shots of happiness. This is
what we expected of the trailer for a drama.
24. A Beautiful Mind
Like the lighting, we start of with slow paced
editing, suggesting that this is before the
disruption when the main character is living a
normal life and we learn the context of him.
Then, once we hit the disruption, the editing pace
becomes much quicker, showing that the plot
becomes more intense and more interesting. This
will attract an audience who like their films
complex and intelligent, and the fast pace editing
shows that they will have to concentrate to keep
up.
25. A Beautiful Mind
We see quite a few locations for the trailer for a
Beautiful Mind, again suggesting a complex and
dramatic plot. It also provides context, we see a
place of study, presumibly a university, suggesting
intelligence in the main character, and we also
see a place that looks like an FBI secret base,
giving a glimpse to the drama as we can presume
this is where it occurs. We also see home settings
and starry nights, suggesting there is a romantic
side to the film, however the drama element
could also spiral or be added to by this.
27. Comedy
In the trailer for a comedy, we would expect most
of the clips to show jokes. This is to immediately
let the audience know the genre. The editing
pace may be quite slow to give an impression of
relaxation and an easy going film. We would
expect low key high contrast lighting as this
strongly connotes happiness, the main emotion
people want to feel when watching a comedy. We
also may expect title plates or voice over to give
the audience context of what is going on in the
story or a bit about who the characters are, in the
hope the audience will like or relate to them.
28. Weโre The Millers
A majority of the clips in the trailer for Weโre the
Millers are of jokes in the film. This is to convince
the audience that if they enjoyed and found the
trailer funny, they will have the same experience
with the full film. There are also some shots that
provide context, showing us that the plot is drug
smuggling, however a majority of them are
comedic. This is a selling point as people who
found the trailer funny are more likely to buy
tickets for the full film with expectations of that
being funny too. It also allows us to instantly
know the genre.
29. Weโre The Millers
The editing pace is slow throughout as expected. This
allows the audience to fully listen and take in the jokes
and so understand them. This helps with the selling
point of if they find the jokes funny theyโre more likely
to see the film. It also gives an easy laid back feel to the
film, and that the audience can sit back and relax when
watching this film. Throughout the entire trailer there
was low key high contrast lighting, strongly connoting
happiness and making the audience feel happier
watching the trailer, again suggesting that the audience
will have a good time watching the film and therefore
more likely to want to watch the film.
