Research-Shutter Island trailer analysis

                
                          
I chose Shutter Island to analyse because it was the first film that triggered my love for thriller films. Due to it being a psychological thriller it is extremely enticing, i like how the plot twist at the end of the film completely changes your perspective and makes you want to watch again and again in order to pick up clue which you may have missed in the begging. The trailer is very clever and intricately produced, as although it gives us a basic story line, there are flash cuts which are there to plant seeds and disorientate us a viewer. This trailer has had a huge influence in helping me discover what i want to base my trailer on and therefore i have decided i want to mislead the audience into thinking that my protagonist is actually the victim though through montage edits and flash cutting i am going to create an enigma of which may lead them to suspect something else. I am going to foreshadow the 'random' shots used within Shutter Islands trailer and adapt it to suit my narrative. Though like this trailer i am going to ensure that i do not give to much information away in order to keep the audience on their toes, hungry for more. 

Research-Focus group

I decided to set up a focus group of sixth form students aged between 17-18, both male and female. I did this because it aloud me to gain qualitative date which would contain more detail and depth and would later be helpful when creating my trailer. The reason i asked these specific questions is because they cover elements in which i feel i need further knowledge on and more of an insight into before i start planning my trailer. I targeted the focus group at teenagers, as i believe they will be my main consumers as they are typically associated with the thriller genre as they are experimenting with different genres and the fear factor typically lures them in. I am going to analyze the answers to each question in order to come to a conclusion with elements i should include or even leave out of my trailer.

Question One; What do you expect to see in a thriller trailer?

I thought this question was crucial to ask as i really wanted to understand other peoples expectation of a thriller trailer. I liked the idea of enigma codes, as they makes thrillers more interesting and sinister as it allow things to catch you of guard. The group all said they like it when they don't know what to expect as it creates thrill and suspense, which is one of my main aims of my trailer. Another interesting point was high pitch music, you would usually expect to hear deep heavy beats as they are more creepy, however contrasting that idea completely can have the same effect. Sounds such as screeching are unpleasant to hear and are likely to make the audience feel uncomfortable, which increases the thrill. Another good point which was mentioned was low key lighting, i think this is the most commonly used convention, thrillers thrive of darkness and 'the fear of the unknown'. When there is no light, anything could happen, it also makes events scarier than what they would be in the light as we pay more attention to the sound. I will definitely include  a lot of nighttime or dim light shots in order to create and uncomfortable atmosphere.

Question Two; Do you prefer to see a story outline or best bits?

I asked this question as after watching many trailers i realized that this element plays a huge effects. Some trailers focus mainly on telling the audience what the film is going to be about, maybe in not much detail, however they are still trying to reel the audience in by giving them a good indication. On the other hand some give you little of the story line and predominantly thrilling shots which are from some of the best bits, this obviously catches the audience attention. My focus group were at first in dispute, as half thought that the answers obvious, you need the best bits to make the audience want to watch it and if you reveal the story line then whats the point of watching it? On the other hand someone else said tat the story line is vital in telling the consumers what the film is going to entail and if you just include best bits then the film wont be as good. In the end they came to a conclusion that for a good trailer, you need elements of both. You should give a brief outline of the story, giving away informaton that wont ruin the film when they come to watch it, combined with shots from the most intence moments in the film, so therefor you have the best of both worlds.

Question Three; What is favorite thriller film, or thriller trailer?

 I thought this question was beneficial as it allowed me to be able to see with my own eyes what people like, not just random ideas. This would give me the opportunity to look at the trailers or watch the film and evaluate what i like and don't like about them so then when creating my final product i can personalize some aspects and maybe include them. Both films my focus group came up with were psychological thrillers though for very different reasons. The black swan was chosen because they liked how you were unaware it was even a psychological thriller until the end. This shows that clues were cleverly dispatched and that it focused more on the psyche than blood and gore. In my trailer i want to use these misleading techniques, so its especially captivating for my audience. The other film my focus group liked was that from the trailer of Gone girl, it is clear that the man is the victim and the woman was dominating, they liked the reversal in gender roles as it caught there eye and made them think. I believe that only following stereotypes can create a very generic trailer so therefore i hope to go against the norm and create something a bit quirkier

Question Four; Which sub genre most appeals to you and why?

There are so many hybrids of thriller films it is very difficult to narrow it down to one. However i do think it is effective to have a sub genre as it allows you to play around more with numerous codes and conventions and it is also a lot less restricting. Therefore i wanted to see what people wanted to see and what is popular nowadays. Every member of my focus group said psychological, this didn't surprise me as the most famous  thriller films of this decade seem to either be action or psychological for instance, inception and shutter island. My focus group likes the way it messes with your mind and anything can happen its enticing and makes you want to watch it over and over in order to pick things out you may of not before. This has definitely made me more tempted to do a psychological thriller as the narrative is more complex and there is so much you can do with the sub genre

In conclusion this task has really given me a greater scope into what people want and therefore has given me different ideas that i wish to include in my trailer. I no longer have an unanswered question and  i hope together with the survey my trailer will not just be the representative of only what i want, yet the consumers to. 

 

 .

Research-A nightmare on Elmstreet trailer analysis

 I decided to analyse this trailer, as it a good example of a thriller horror hybrid, this is a combination which I am interested in and believe could be something id like to do for my trailer. The reason for this is because I like the fact that you can use conventions from both genres and merge them together in order to get a more powerful and effective outcome. Conventions which I especially liked were the use of the power cutting, this this instantly created a more sinister feel to the trailer as our insight into what we think is happening and what is actually happening is slightly disorientated.  definitely want to develop this in my trailer and ensure that there is a definite deprivation of light in order to reinforced the enigma.The use of little girls was definitely a compelling touch, as we are unaware as to why they were there, which is even more creepy, however  this is a typical horror convention, so therefore I would have to be careful when producing my trailer to balance out elements from both genres.   From doing this research there are certain aspects which have motivated me to adapt material in order to fit the narrative of my trailer whilst still creating a suspense filled trailer.  The most striking element of the trailer is definitely the camera angles, I particular like the use of frame working, this would be beneficial in my trailer when you see my victim being stalked, this would create a tense atmosphere as they audience are aware of what is happening although the characters aren't. The close-up shots of one of the protagonists in the bath has also inspired me as it shows a complete invasion of privacy, this consequently emphasises what the villain is capable, I definitely want to use a shot similar to this as it will create an enigma of calm and tranquillity, which is later disrupted. I think the visual style of the trailer is also something I would like to try and integrate within my final product, this is because there is a dull, morbid tone throughout, it almost takes the life out of the visuals, this is usefull when foreshadowing the death and destruction in the narrative.

Research- Codes and conventions of a thirller

Definition

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_(genre)

History of thrillers

       1920s-1930s; 

• In 1926 Alfred Hitchcock was the first direct to make a film under the genre of thriller, it was named "The lodger"The story line was filled with suspense and based around a mass murderer whom targeted women. 
• In 1929 another thriller was release named 'blackmail' it was the first British film to Incorporated sound.

       1930s-1940s; 

• In the 1940s Hitchcock continued to direct thriller films these include the Oscar winning 'Rebbecca', 'suspicion' and his personal favorite 'shadow of a doubt' which was based on a real life serial killer in the 1920's who was known as 'The merry widow murderer'
• George Cukors produced a psychological thriller in 1944 named 'Gaslight' which was about a man who made a plan to make his wife insane in order to gain her inheritance when she was had died
• There were numerous other thrillers released in the 1930's and 40's such as 'The stranger on the third floor' in 1940, 'kiss of death' in 1947' and 'cry of the city' in 1948

       1950s-1960s

• In the 1950s Hitchcock was still making thriller films, however he started to evolve his technique one of his most famous experiments was with technicolor. He produced various films in this period some of which are 'Dial M for murder' in 1954 which was about a man who attempted to murder his wife, he also produced 'rear rainbow' which was about a man in a small town who was adamant that his next door neighbor was a murderer and 'vertigo'
• In 1953, Marlyn Monroe stared in the thriller 'Niagara' which was about a women who made a sick plan to kill her husband. 
• In 1965 Stanley Donens produced a 'stylish thriller' which involved numerous plots and twist about 2 men who's mission was to find hidden loots and sneak them into Paris.
•  In 1968 a french film directed by François Truffaut named 'The bride wore black' was released. It told the tale of a widow who set of on a mission to kill the five men who killed her husband on her wedding day.
  

       1970s-1980s

• The 1970s was a landmark year in film making, there was a drastic shift in how films were made. Thrillers in particular became increasingly eary, violent thrillers became a huge craze,The genre thriller had never been so brutal. A sense of realism that had never been see before had been added to them.
• Robert Fuest directed the film  'And soon the darkness' in 1970, which was a story about two women's adventures France. After losing each other one goes to the police for help, after finding her friends body she realizes that the policeman on the case was actually the attacker.
• In 1972 Hitchcock released the film 'Frenzy' this was rated 'R' for its explicit content. Yet again it was about a mass serial killer who targeted women. 
• One of the most remarkable thrillers was Clint Eastwood 'Play misty for me'...

     1990s-present

• As you can tell the thriller we have seen today has evolved hugely, it has become more intense, more savage and due to the advances in technology, a lot more realistic. If we watch a thriller made in the 1960's today we are unlikely to find it as scary as viewers of the time. 
• One of the most horrifying thrillers of the 1990s was Johnathan Demme's 'The silence of the lambs' 

Codes and conventions

      The main conventions of a thriller include;

• Quick cuts
• shadows
• mirrors
• suspense filled music
• constant changes in camera angles
• Low key lighting
• Diegetic sounds of breathing
• Black and white shots
• disorientation of time and space
• montage editing
• The protagonist being in fear of antagonist

         Themes; 

• Terrorism/political conspiracy/psychological mind games/supernatural events/crime/spies/assassination/torment/stalking

     Charecters;

• The protagonist is usually a innocent male/female which makes the audience empathize for them
• The antagonists have darker and more sinister motives than ones in other genres, there identity is usually hidden and is slowly revealed throughout the film they have usually been put in bad situations themselves, so therefore their aim is to seek revenge.
• The 'femme fatale' is a theory used to describe the main female characters in thrillers. They are seen as being colder and more ruthless than the typical representation of a woman.

     Edititing;

• The editing is usually based around creating an uncomfortable and suspenseful atmosphere for the viewer. This is usually done by a combination of quick cutting and changing of camera angles this is used to unhinge viewers.
• Cross cutting is also frequently used to build suspense as we see are able to see things which are hidden from the characters.
• Continuous editing is another editing style incorporated a lot within thrillers, this helps the audience gain a better understanding and can add tot he realism of the event.

       Mise-en-scene

• Mirrors are used a great deal within thrillers, this is used to show the characters reflecting on what they've done or what has happened to them. This usually shows a sense of voyeurism as we are seeing the characters in a more personal light.
• The use of stairs represents an almost hierarchical structure within the genre thriller, they show the power distribution between the antagonist and protagonist. For instance the connotations from climbing up or falling down stairs could show the power shift of a character. 
• The location is important as it helps the audience establish the setting and therefore attach their own opinion to the scarceness of the situation.
• Low key lighting is used as it unsettles the viewer as they are not fully aware of who/what may be around the characters.
• The protagonist will usually wear ordinary clothes, this is because it adds a sense of realism and gives the audience the idea that this could happen to everyone. The antagonist stereotypically wears black as it has connotation of death.
• Black and white is commonly used to show the sinister style of the film

      Sound

• Sound is an extremely important feature of any film though especially thriller. Music is used to create tension or and eerie feel, this can be through diegetic or non diegetic material within the scene.
• High pitched screeches are commonly used to unsettle the audience and makes them believe something unpleasant could happen. 
• Sound are frequently associated to characters, for instance in Spielberg's 'Jaws' we can always tell when the shark is going to attack through the distinct sound which plays as soon as it is approaching. 
• The tempo of the sound usually speeds up within a tense situation as helps make the audience feel more frightened. 

       Cinematography 

• A variety of extreme closeups and closeups of the characters is frequently used, this can show their reactions to situations but also their emotions as this helps add to the atmosphere and makes the audience more able to emphasis.
• The shots of the antagonist will usually consist of quick cuts in order to keep their identity hidden from the viewer. They are usually scene from shots such as; from behind, of their silhouette and low lighting. 

Whats the difference between thriller and horror genre?

There are actually various differences between a horror and a thriller movie, although they may look visually similar, there are numerous factors proving otherwise. Thrillers are more psychological and requires more thought and explanation to what is happening in the film. However horrors usually involve masses of blood, gore and unexplained violence, the narrative lacks the extent of depth that thrillers offer. Thrillers involve a lot more plot twists which leave the audience thinking and questioning so therefore they are seen as being more stimulating to watch. Though in a horror there is a huge lack of logic and it simply aims to scare the audience without making them think to deeply as to what/why things are happening, they are usually a lot less realistic. To conclude horrors are made to 'horrify' so the viewer is screaming, shouting and literally jumping of their seats however a thriller is intended to 'thrill' so although they are on the edge of their seats, they are not falling of them.

Research-Narrative theories

 

By establishing the key narrative theories, i have gained a real insight into the ins and outs of each one, this has given me the ability to go onto further my planning and decide which ones i believe i could incorporate to the best of my ability. Firstly i am really inspired by Todorovs theory, this is because it adds structure to my trailer and i believe that in any film which is intends to create suspense, the theory is vital. I think its important to show the stages of which the equilibrium goes through in order to emphasis the corruption and create tension. Barthes theory has also triggered a lot of ideas when referring to my planning as it has helped me think of ideas and shots to include in my trailer to throw the audience of track, without using elements of this theory in my trailer, i believe it would lack substance and would be very typical. I specifically think the symbolic code would go with my narrative as i want to ensure there are multiple interpretations. On the other hand it has also highlighted which ones i wont include for instance although being a great theory, prop's just wouldn't be relevant for my trailer, this is because i simply don't have to demand for that many characters or those ones specifically, i hope to only use a few characters this is so my narrative doesn't get to confusing. I will be uploading a more detailed application of the theories to my narrative once i have fully established my plot in depth.

Research- The history of the movie trailer

Research- What is the purpose of a movie trailer?

A movie trailer is a combination of selected cuts from a film, its sole purpose is to advertise the movie before it is released. It gives the audience a flavor as to what to expect within the film so therefore the most enticing shots are usually incorporated. The movie trailer can feature on the internet, between television shows or before watching other films at the cinema, this not only allows them to be distributed to the masses, but also we are able to comment and find out others views and whether they are likely to watch it. The initial judgment of the text comes from what we see in the movie trailer, so therefore the trailer is extremely vital in marketing a film.  There are a number of techniques which feature within a trailer in order to reel the audience in and make them want to see the final product. These features include;

• Music- This really helps set the tone of the trailer, the type of music depends of the genre of the film. For instance an action movie will usually include fast pace music, this immediately entices the audience and compliments the fast pace cutting shots within the trailer. The music can range from being a popular song of the time or even specially composed instrumental, it really depends on the atmosphere in which is trying to be created.

• Fast moving shots- Most trailers include a variety of fast pacing shots, this is done because it makes it hard for the audience to take there eyes of the advertisement as there fearful they may miss something. Consequently it forces the viewer to ingest all of the trailer, making it more likely to excite them and therefore make them want to watch the movie. Another effect of this montage is that it allows snippets from the most enticing scenes without giving to much information away.

• Sound- Sound is huge part of every trailer, overlaying the sound track is usually a combination of diegetic and non diegetic sounds. A convention of many trailers is a voice over, the most famous voice over is spoke by Don Lafontaine which is also known as 'The voice of God'. The mixture of different sounds and visuals make the trailer attractive to the audience.

Research- Codes and conventions of 'The Expendables' movie trailer

• Appropriate for all audience- In the establishing shot we are shown this sign assuring that the trailer will be appropriate for everyone. This has been done in order to advertise the the masses, as if it is for everyone then they wont lose viewers from the younger generation. This will ensure that there sales are not effected due to age restrictions. 

• The 'voice of god'-  The voice of god is used at the beginning of the trailer, this is so it can set the scene and give the audience a brief overview of what the movie entails. The narration is shortly taken over by using clips of the film to tell a basic story line 

• Major Hollywood studio produced and distributed- Just before the main action of the trailer is shown, we are presented the names of the Hollywood based production and entertainment company's in which created this film. This instantly tells the viewer that the standard in which they will receive will be extremely high. This will make people more likely go and watch the movie as they are reliable company's which create extremely famous films each year.

 

 

• Classic Hollywood 3 act narrative structure- The trailer loosely sticks to this structure, we are introduced to the characters in the expeditionary scene, we then are made aware of some sort of mission and lastly we see the outcome of the mission. The reason that the trailer isn't completely presented to us in this structure is due to interruptions of action, makes the structure slightly disjointed.

• High production values including CGI FX. Fast paced editing- Within the first 20 seconds of the trailer we are shown strong support that the movie will contain a combination of advanced optical and mechanical effects. This is extremely important to make clear as especially with action films they are vital in order to create realism. The trailer as followed the convention of using fast paced editing, this creates tension and suspense whilst allowing us to see snippets of action packed scenes from the film, the effect of this means that we get to see alot however little is revealed.
  
  
  

• Single stranded, linear, closed narrative- Non linear narrative is used, this allows us to see more action though without us piecing it together. This is effective as not to much is revealed so we are left with unanswered questions,  which we would have to watch the film to be answered. 

•  Dramatic non-diegetic sound- In the expeditionary scene we are slowly being introduced to the trailer, this is complimented by slow music, this creates suspense as we are expecting something to occur. As the shots change they are followed by sounds similar to a gun this adds dramatic emphasis. It isn't until near the end of the trailer fast paced aggressive music which we can assume is the theme song as it mentions the word 'expendable' is finally played this is due to the mirroring of visuals and sound, this song is highly catchy so therefore the audience will build an association.  

• Clear binary oppositions-  Levi Strauss' binary opposition theory of good vs evil is present in this trailer. The lead characters in the film are introduce these are evidently the 'anti hero's' as although they are the protagonists, they are dramatically flawed due to the fact we are presented with shots of them fighting and killing people. Despite this their opposition immediately takes the role of the enemy as we are shown the south American gang kidnapping and killing and the anti heroes are seen saving the day. The use of binary opposites creates excitement and there wouldn't be an action film without them.

                                        

•  Star Marketing: Audience identification/expectations (Cruise/Pitt/Willis/Thurman/Jolie/Stallone/Craig/Schwarzenegger Di Caprio…). Generic Typecasting and Secondary Persona apply- From the expository scene we can identify that the main characters are all huge Hollywood stars, this immediately gives us high expectations due to the high quality of the movie. Generic typecasting is definitely apparent, for instance Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in some of the most famous action films known to man such as 'The terminator'. At the end of the trailer all of their names are featured in large text, this confirms any speculation and makes sure that fans are alerted. 

• Romantic sub-plot, Humorous dialogue- We can see a romantic subplot will feature in the film, this adds more depth to the narrative but also plays with our heart strings slightly as it is clear that the love is going be put into danger. this is more appealing for female audience this is vital because action movies audience is hugely male dominated. 

Research- Questions on 'The Expendables' trailer

1. At what point in the trailer are we told the name of the film? Why is this? We are told the name of the film at the very end of the trailer, this ensures it is the last thing the audience sees so therefore we are unlikely to forget.
2. Why are we told who is starring in the film? How is this information given to us? We are told who features in a film as it can give us a clear indication as to how good the movie will be. If the cast is mainly big Hollywood stars we can expect high quality acting. The information is usually given to us in large font shortly followed by a shot of the actor this allows us to put a face to the name.
3.  What type of action from the film do we see? In this trailer we can see special affects of explosions and gun fire, we can see extreme stunts, violent fighting and kidnapping this gives us wide variety so therefore we can expect the film to be action packed.
4.  What clues does the music give us as to what type of film the trailer is advertising? The music is fast paced and aggressive which is usually associated with genre.  it was actually made for the film as 'the expendables' is Incorporated within the lyrics.
5. What can you say about the voice of the person delivering the voice over?Why do you think this voice was chosen? What effect does it have? The 'Voice of god' plays the role of narrator in the beginning of the trailer, this has been done as it shows the film is of high quality, it sets a mysteriously tense tone.
6. How does the speed of what we see compare to watching a clip from a film? Why is this? Does the speed alter through the trailer or stay the same? The speed of the trailer is a lot faster than the action we would see in the film, this is effective as it makes it more intense to watch and gives the impression that the film has so much action in it that to enable us to get even a taste, we have to see it at this pace.
7. What information are we given in the very last frame of the trailer?  

 

 This is the last thing we see of the trailer, by involving social media allows the viewers to unite and discuss the movie, this creates an almost snowball effects as people will acknowledge others talking abut the film and get involved. This also will ensure that people that haven't seen the trailer will be notified about its release. 

 8. Which is more effective in making you want to see the film, the poster or the trailer? Why is this? I personally think the trailer is a lot more effective as a poster is an inanimate object consisting of one or two images from the film. However the trailer really allows you to gain more understanding of the narrative and gives you an expectation. A trailer is simply more engaging and due to this it is more likely to make me watch the film as it gives me enough amount of information for me to know if i will enjoy the film or not. 

9. Where would you expect to see this trailer? You would expect to see this trailer before action films at the cinema, this is because those who go to watch the film are sure to be action fans so therefore they are more likely to be interested in this. If you were to play it before a chick flick it would be unsuccessful as girls stereotypically are not enticed by the action genre. If it were to be played in the advert break between television programmed it would be most likely be played in between programs such as the the football as again they are likely to be watched by males