The Narrative Image in Film Trailers

The main purpose of a trailer is to make people want to see the film. How does it go about doing this? John Ellis suggests that a trailer presents a 'narrative image' of the film. Basically giving us an idea. Ellis argues that the narrative image of a film is 'decidedly less than the whole film - it is the promise [of the film] and the film is the performance and realisation of that promise'.

Narrative Pleasures
- the trailer suggests the pleasures the film offers
- it needs to introduce something new, as well as build on our current knowledge
- it needs to use our awareness of genre, certain stars and what they've promised

Features of trailers
1. Avengers
2. the Hobit : Battle of the Five Armies

- What mystery do the trailers suggest (enigma)?
- How do the trailers build on the audiences previous knowledge of the films (familiar aspects)?
- What do they suggest is new?

Soundtrack in Trailers

In order to understand the theory of a film trailer even better, I decided to watch two trailers without the sound to see how much information I could gather from them. Unsurprisingly this meant I received a lot less information about the factors such as the stars and the setting. This shows how necessary it is to credit with text as well as dialogue. I watched 'Big Eyes' by Tim Burton and 'The Spectacular Now' by James Ponsoldt both without sound twice and then with sound once. Here it what I found out from the two viewing without sound. 

Trailer Conventions from Ella Sandison

Conventions of a Typical Film Trailer

Here is a list of typical features in a film trailer;


1. Voiceovers are used to tell the story and give credit information
2. The stars of the film are showcased
3. Key points are sometimes conveyed through titles
4. Conversations between characters often consist of one liners
5. Dramatic camera angles may be chosen to show events or characters
6. Action is interpreted with actor or director credits on screen
7. Music plays an important role in creating atmosphere
8. The film title may not appear until the end
9. The trailer builds to a climax, where it ends
10. Montage (a series of shots from different points in the film, edited together) is often used to highlights the most dramatic, humorous or fast-paced aspects of the film.




All of these work together to attract the audience and to make them want to see more. Making sure the trailer doesn't give away too much is a key component of producing a trailer but also to make sure enough is revealed to intrigue the audience enough in the first place.

Film Trailers : Genre

Genre
In this post I will provide four examples of film trailers with annotations based upon 5 questions which are listed below;
1. How would you describe the genre of the trailers? Do they feature any key elements?
2. What similarities can you see with male and female representation?
3. To what extent are special effects a feature of these trailers?
4. How does the soundtrack help to create a genre?
5. Who is this genre aimed at?

Trailers:
A.  Unbroken
1. Historical and war genre
2. This trailer has a majority of male characters, and the few female characters shown only appear for a few seconds each.
3. Not many special effects are used in this trailer, only when the plane crashes into the sea
4. The soundtrack is slow and saddening, is also used in the film "The Fault in Our Stars', this could create a pre-consumption
5. This trailer could be aimed towards teenagers to mid-twenties and of both sexes

B.   American Sniper
1. Historical and war genre
2. Their are only two women in this film trailer, wife of the sniper and women with the bomb. Both these women play the role of a victim in this film, the both receive some of the negative impacts of men going to war
3. There is hardly any special effects used in the trailer, this helps increase the realism of the situation and entices the audience
4. The heartbeat soundtrack adds tension and realism to the situation and emphasis the stillness of the sniper
5. This trailer could be aimed at teenagers to middle aged people of both sexes

C.   Blackhat
1. Cyber and war genre
2. The female in this trailer is shown as weaker than the male as she is protected by him (2.22). The female can also be portrayed as a double agent, being used by the men in the film to gain extra information.
3. Lots of specials effects are used in this trailer this adds tension and excites the audience
4. the soundtrack in this trailer matches the action, as the action builds so does the volume and the thickness of the soundtrack
5. This trailer could be aimed towards teenagers to early-twenties of both sexes

Codes and Conventions of Film Trailers

Film Trailers 3

When are film trailers released?
- most are produced at the same time as the film is being edited. This timing is key because the film must be shown far enough in advance to generate excitement but not too early that people forget about it.

How did these trailers generate a buzz?
1.Annie
 - already a well known musical, so previous fans/audience
 - 'Annie' is black in this version of the musical, where as originally she was white and ginger, this created a lot of talk leading up to the film
 - star quality : Cameron Diaz

2.Exodus : Gods and Kings
 - known director of similar film 'Gladiator'
 - special effects ; story of Moses and the breaking of the sea

3.Kingsman : The Secret Service
 - star quality : Piers Morgan
 - theme of mixed social classes
 - mock on 'James Bond', comedic twist

Why are films usually released during Summer and Autumn?
- Annie, this is a family film and children won't be in school during the summer holidays and therefore releasing the film at this time will allow it to have more views in cinemas. Releasing a film in summer will also help to increase viewing because people are more likely to spend money in the summer seasons, such as a family day out to the cinema.

- Exodus, this film was alternatively released in December another time when people are more likely to spend money. The film also has a link to religion, the story of Moses, which is apparent around Christmas time making it a better time to release the film again.

Film Trailers 2

How do trailers help fill cinemas?
Marketing campaigns use a genre to gain the interest of the potential audiences, using elements that are familiar. However, they must also show the  audience how the new film is different to other films in that same genre, this becomes known as the films unique selling point (USP), there can be more than one USP in a trailer/film.

Here are three different film trailers listed with their unique selling point/points.
1. The Hobbit : Battle of the Five Armies
 - detailed various settings
 - location
 - gentle folk music, contrasting the battle scenes

2.The Imitation Game
 - main characters, this gives the film star quality
 - based on a true story
 - the enigma machine/code, little is known about this so attracts attention

3.Testament of Youth
 - based on true story
 - the aspect of 'lost youth' against war, different to typical war story
 -female protagonist in war film is unusual, normally from a males point of view

Trailers can be shown in many locations other than a cinema, such as online via YouTube or an official website and on TV. Websites set up for films often show trailers that have been cut for a general audience and are suitable for any aged viewer. Where as in cinemas, the trailer shown will suit the age certification granted to the film being shown.