In depth trailer analysis: Cinematography

Cinematography is possibly one of the most important aspects of the trailer, as a trailer is simply a montage of different shots. It is important for these to be varied, otherwise the trailer could be uninteresting and boring. This is definitely seen in the Life of Pi's trailer where several shots are used together.

In the timeline I created below I looked not only at the several different types of shot used but the effect on the audience. The effect on the audience is very important as it is them that will be watching the film and who need to understand it.

Looking at different types of shots and the number of different shots used in a trailer will aid me in the construction of my own as I now understand the typical conventions of cinematography and will now be able to make my trailer look like a trailer. This cinematography analysis task has also shown me how I can use different shots to produce different effects.

IThis activity will help me to discover the various shots that I could use in my trailer. I have looked not only at the shots and their effects but what they are used for. By knowing what shots are used for I will be able to understand how I can use cinematography to achieve a specific purpose.

I have learnt that...

• Establishing shots are useful in setting location
• Close ups show who is the main character and pay detail to emotion which may be key in a particular scene
• Long shots/wide angle shots can be good at showing action/movement
• It is important to apply to the 180 rule as well as the rule of thirds
• High angle and low angle shots can show dominance/authority vs inferiority
• Birds eye shots are also good at establishing a location well, they can also make the subject appear small in comparison to the setting which can show vulnerability

In depth trailer analysis: narrative

I created this book-like document to present my research findings of how genre is introduced in the Life of Pi's film trailer. This was part of my in-depth analysis task. What I noticed was that the narrative is introduced in a variety of ways, namely through the use of voice over or dialogue between the characters it can also be introduced through the...

• Mise en scene (props, location, lighting etc)
• Cinematography (e.g establishing shots introduce setting)
• Sound (parallel sound is good at setting the mood of the piece)
• Editing (Fades for example can show a period of time which is necessary for understanding of a storyline)

In depth trailer analysis: Sound

As part of my 'in depth trailer analysis' task I was required to look at the use of sound in the trailer. I looked at various aspects of sound including digetic and non-digetic sound, the tempo of the music, volume and if it was parallel to the images on screen, for example.

This has shown me that sound is a very important aspect of the trailer by being able to...

• Help the construction of the mood/atmosphere of a scene
• Volume too can affect the scene's overall feel
• Silence can be effective in building tension
• How the score should be parallel (match) the images on screen
• Having different sound perspectives can interest an audience further
• Voice overs can be useful in introducing the narrative

In depth trailer analysis: Genre

According to IMDB the film Life of Pi is listed under the following three genres: fantasy, adventure and drama.

I decided to watch through the trailer and look at how these genres are introduced. I presented my findings in a mind-map format (presented below). This has shown me that there are several ways of introducing genre, not only through the mise en scene, but through cinematography and editing- for example.

In depth trailer analysis- Mise En Scene

I created this video using screenshots from the trailer. I commentated on aspects such as the lighting, setting, props, costume and composition and the effect it has on the trailer, by telling the story/changing the mood.

This has shown me that the smallest things such as keeping a life ring at the front of the shot gives it more significance and therefore gives the audience a greater understanding.

These subtle differences and almost invisible ways of affecting the mood of the scene/trailer are extremely important and need to be though about in great detail.

In depth trailer analysis- editing

I created this Prezi presentation to look at the editing of the Life of Pi trailer in detail, looking at how transitions, effects and sound, for example were used and the effectiveness of them. It has shown me many features that I may like to include in my own trailer such as dissolves to show time. I have evaluated the effectiveness of the features also in the presentation (see last slide) and made some comments on how I could use this research in the construction of my own trailer.

In depth trailer analysis- titles evaluation

I created a word cloud which includes some of the common features to titles in trailers...

What I learnt from looking at titles is that several stand-alone or pre-modifying adjectives are used to attract an audience, add detail and make the product (being the film) appear more interesting.

Credits are important such as the director and actors, especially if they are well known as they can help to target the pre-sold audience being those directors and actors fans.

The production company's logo/ident almost always comes first in the titles. This is something that I must consider when making my film trailer.

If the film is based on something else such as a novel (much like Life of Pi) it is important that the piece on which it is based is credited. Again this works well if the product that the film is based on is award-winning or "highly acclaimed". This is seen in Life of Pi where the use of the adjective "acclaimed" used to describe the novel could capture an audience by suggesting to them that because the novel is good, so is the film.

Titles are often used to begin to tell the story, these however must not give to much away. Repetition is also good in film trailers as it adds emphasis to a key point of which you want the audience to notice. It can help an audience to remember something and therefore is effective as an advert (which is essentially what a trailer is).

In depth trailer analysis- placement of titles

I created this timeline looking at every single title in the Life of Pi trailer. I analysed each for effectiveness and judged them against my other research looking at similarities and differences.

Test poster corrections

My teacher was not happy with the previous image so I recreated it using better credits.

My test poster

After conducting a vast amount of research into other film posters I decided to create one of my own. This is not a final piece of coursework, just a small task to show that I now understand what a film poster should look like.

This poster comprises of a main image, but no characters this is not typical of film posters but is justified through the fact that the film is about the road, and being lost.

The film poster uses credits, actors names, the film's title, a tagline and a rating. These are all features commonly used for other film posters.

Further film poster research

I looked at the following website which told me of the seven elements of a great film poster design. These included a style that's consistent with the film (a characteristic I earlier discovered in my research process).

Other features included creating appeal with fans and non fans alike and showing what the film's about without telling.

TO VIEW THIS WEBSITE PAGE CLICK HERE

What have I learnt from my poster research?

Film poster analysis: Les Miserables

I tried to look at several posters that used different features from one another here is the poster analysis I wrote up for the film Les Miserables...

Film poster analysis: Another Earth

I tried to look at several posters that used different features from one another here is the poster analysis I wrote up for the film Another Earth...

Film poster analysis 2: Harry Potter

I tried to look at several posters that used different features from one another here is the poster analysis I wrote up for the film Harry Potter...

Film poster analysis 1- Insidious

I tried to look at several posters that used different features from one another here is the poster analysis I wrote up for the film Insidious...

Poster moodboard

Before analysing or making my poster I decided to make a moodboard out of several film posters. This began my research process by showing me what they look like before I look at a selected few film posters in more detail.

Next steps: film poster research

poster task by georgihonnor on GoAnimate

What have I learnt from the first part of my research?

This presentation explores the first part of my research process, from the beginning of the project until now, including details of what I will take from my research.

What is a trailer?

My research has enabled me to define what a trailer is and understand its key characteristics. I created this mind map to talk about it some more.

What is a teaser?

After conducting a vast amount of research on teasers and trailers and their differences I created this mind map to define what a teaser actually was.

Direct comparison: results

I created this video on GoAnimate to discuss the key differences between a teaser and a trailer.

The differences between the teaser and trailer. by georgihonnor on GoAnimate

Directly comparing a teaser and a trailer

I have decided that to further my research I will look at both a teaser and a full theatrical trailer of the same film. This will enable me to discover exactly what is added to the theatrical trailer by making a direct comparison looking at different aspects of the film.

I have decided I will look at both the teaser and trailer of the 2005 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The teaser can be viewed here:

  

And the trailer can be viewed here:

Analysing the differences in teasers and trailers

I looked at the differences between the trailers and teasers in terms of the aspects researched. These are discussed in the sliderocket presentation below. 

Teasers and Trailers analysis

Before analysing the differences between what a 'teaser' and a 'full theatrical trailer' is I made this video looking at what I thought was effective about the trailers and teasers. I looked at aspects such as cinematography, editing, mise en scene, sound and narrative. This is similar to my original research task and these extra finding will aid the construction of my very own trailer by giving me more ideas/conventions to work with.

Next steps for research: Theatrical vs Teaser trailers

Next steps for research by georgihonnor on GoAnimate

Exploring simmilarities and differences between trailers

I created this table to explore the similarities and differences between trailers both independent and blockbuster as well as my alternative trailer (television drama series).

Trailer research: alternative trailer

I decided to widen my research by not only looking at trailers of an independent or blockbuster nature but to look at one from a television series. I have analysed this trailer for the period drama series "Downton Abbey" assessing it using the same criteria I did for the film trailers such as cinematography, for example. It turned out that this trailer was not actually much different from the film trailers of which I have looked at. 

Trailer research: Little birds

Trailer research: Another Earth

After deciding to conduct some research on some independent film trailers I came across this film called "Another Earth" which has been rated the 5th best independent film of 2012 by IMDB.

Next steps for research

As explained in my evaluation, the three trailers that I did research are from that of blockbuster films. What I will need to do to make my research more varied is look at trailers of an independent nature, or even one advertising a television series. This will all help me to understand what is expected of the trailer that I will eventually produce.

Next steps for trailer research by georgihonnor on GoAnimate

What have I learnt from this research?

Trailer research: The Great Gatsby

Trailer research: The World's End

Trailer research: Les Miserables

My first step...

Our task...