Props and set dressing

For our film trailer we require a variety of props and pieces of set dressing to allow us to portray the most realistic and believable post-apocalyptic scenario possible. Below is a list that Tom and I created of all the things we require before shooting:

 

Equipment:

Camera - We shall use my DSLR camera (Nikon D3100).

Go pro camera - Borrowed from a friend of Tom's dad.

Tripod -  School supplied.

Video camera - Tom's own camera, which can be used to acquire alternative angles and viewpoints.

 

Props:

Axe - Sourced from home. (Used for firewood).

Fake blood - Shop bought. Will be used for several scenes, including 'infected'.

Zippo lighter - Shop bought. I shall incorporate this into my film poster, using it as the light source for the page.

Camping light - Sourced from a friend.

Backpack - Already owned.

Cap - Already owned.

Motorcycle - Owned and used by actor in film trailer.

Motorcycle clothing - Owned by actor in film trailer.

Coloured contact lenses - Supplied by a friend. These will be used during 'infected' scenes.

Games console - Already owned. Will be used as a part of a flashback scene.

Microphone prop - Bought online. Will be used as a part of a news report.

Baseball bat - Already owned.

Cheap plates - Shop bought. These will be used in a key scene by the protagonist.

Video camera - Already owned. This will be used by the main character to make a 'video log/diary' of events that unfold.

 

Set Dressing:

This is an important element of the mise en scene of our trailer, so we had to think carefully about how to make the setting seem legitimate. We have thought about things such as:

Boards for the windows as a form of barricade.

'Litter' that can be used to portray the idea of abandonment. In particular, for a scavenging scene I have bought old, did-used books from a charity shop, which I will tear up and place around the room, to add to the ransacked look.

Film Trailer Synopsis

The chosen genre of my film trailer is Horror, with a specific focus on post-apocalyptic survival. Tom and I have taken inspiration from films such as 28 Days/Weeks Later, I Am Legend and Shaun of the Dead, although the latter is less relatable due to its comedy ties.

The plot that we have decided on consists of:
Harry O'Brien is a typical guy just going about his everyday life, when one day when journeying he receives and ominous phone call that changes his life forever. The call is from a secret organisation, that conducts dangerous experiments using chemicals and microbiology for the government, however this is unknown to the character at the time. A global pandemic ensues and seemingly leaves Harry as the only human survivor... as the other inhabitants of earth have either dies or got infected with a mutating virus.

A synopsis: After an ominous phone call, a young man's life crumbles around him as he is thrown into a unknown world where Earth's inhabitants have lost their touch with humanity. In his battle for survival, Harry O'Brien faces the unthinkable and unchartered. Could this have all been prevented? Could all of those lives have been saved? 

Cast List

Main Protagonist

 

Harry Hughan - Harry is a good friend who both Tom and I would be suitable for the role as he is not shy nor will he back away from any suggestions we may give him. He will show a high level of moaturity and we can depend on him to get the job done effectively. The role he will take is that of 'Harry O'Brien' an 18 year-old male who is dropped into a world where he must go to any length to survive.

 

Secondary Characters

 

Shaun Johnson - Shaun will fit the role of news broadcaster perfectly due to his professional and proper manner. This create the desired effect, for a minor yet significant role. It is his news broadcast that will fill feed the audience pieces of the backstory to maintain their interest.

 

Scott Greenwood - Scott will play a mysterious motorcycle-riding character that appears in certain points of the trailer, but little is revealed, giving the audience a sense of mystery and need to know more. It would appear that our main protagonist may not be the last man alive as previously thought.

 

Infected/Zombies

 

Amy Brookes, Oli Fairway and Jack Machell. With other friends who have volunteered to step in for minor roles if we would require them to do so.

Initial ideas and production company name

For the A2 trailer task I shall be producing the piece with Tom Critchley. We agreed that our film genre of choice would be Horror, but more specifically the zombie/ post-apocalyptic sub-genre. We believe that although this would be undeniably challenging, preparation will allow us to create a convincing film trailer for this genre.  

 

We have began to plan ideas for our 'production company' whose name will feature in the trailer through the form of an ident as well as during the credits at the end of the trailer. One of our better, and most probable ideas is 'Antidote Studios', with the ident consisting of a vile falling over and pouring down a plug hole. As our film is specifically related to a mass infection/virus/pandemic, we believe that the combination of a vile and the name of 'antidote' will have suitable connotations, and will allow the audience to create the necessary links about our film. The significance of our ident is that it will portray an 'antidote' (Antidote Studios) being lost down a plug hole, giving the impression that there is no cure or solution to the crisis being experienced in the film and it's trailer. This begins to subliminally portray to the audience the feeling of stress or danger that is being experienced by the characters on-screen, before they have even watched the entirety of the trailer.

 

We may use the a professional distributor such as Warner Bros Pictures (who disturbed I Am Legend for example) as this would give our trailer a more mainstream and well-produced feel, as opposed to being a smaller more independent production.

World War Z trailer analysis

Synergy in the marketing of films

Synergy is the cooperation between different sections of the same company, that results in the production of an idea or item that would not have been possible by either section individually.

The marketing used in the film industry is some of the most common as well as the most effective. After years of trial and improvement, which continues to this day, film producers are able to effectively and successfully market their films to their target audience. Synergy is so important to this industry as it allows film makers the opportunity to have the largest possible reach into the public and gather the largest audience possible, with the great thing being, each poster, trailer, magazine cover etc all acting as sign posts leading to the same place, the actual film itself. The reason synergy has become such an important part of any films marketing campaign, especially as technology continues to diversify, is the variety of different platforms/medias that synergy makes available to the marketing scheme of a production. For example, a trailer may have been created through synergy, and then released on YouTube, this could then be shared on Twitter, as well as being advertised by IMDb. This is only the online aspect, as posters, articles, and billboards etc will create interest when someone physically sees the item, but this may then prompt them to go online for further information. Television cannot be forgotten, nor pre-movie trailers in cinemas as these are two of the top areas of advertisement for a trailer that has been produced for a film. 

The most effective aspect of synergy within the film industry, is its ability to create a sense of unity and coordination throughout the entire marketing campaign. Being able to target an audience when they go on YouTube, social media, buy a magazine or even go for a walk and pass a poster or billboard, is something that is priceless to the producers of films who make every effort to ensure their film is watched byas many   people as possible, synergy makes it that little bit easier.

Marketing campaign for World War Z

My chosen genre for my film trailer is horror, but more specifically the sub-genres of Zombie/Apocalypse type films. I intend to focus upon the survival aspect of these films, rather than the scare factor, although that will always be present. With many iconic 'zombie' films being quite aged, such as Dawn of the dead, 28 days/weeks later, even I am legend. It is due to this, a more contemporary example in the form of World War Z, released in June of 2013, starring Brad Pitt, would be more suitable for me to look at.

 

For World War Z's marketing campaign, as with many films, prominently consisted of trailers, of which were accompanied by posters, magazine covers, billboards etc. What is unique about this campaign in particular is their viral video titled 'Crisis Zero' that talked about a pandemic/crisis similar to that seen in the film, however put it a real-world context. This video is made in a mock-documentary style, that explains a global 'infection' that has ravished Indonesia. This is made to look like a current event that is occurring right now, and the viewer should be concerned. Such a technique creates worry, and prompts the video to go viral online. This video appeared online four weeks before the release of the film, to create interest and encourage people to discuss the film. This video created a very much real link to the audience, avoiding the term zombie, instead focusing on the idea that a 'viral infection' had caused the pandemic. Such a realistic video is something that is unique for a film's marketing campaign, which has made it stand out from those who stick to more conventional methods. What is special about this kind of method, is the appeal for it to be used to play tricks on people, this continues to spread the advertisement for the film.

The official trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md6Dvxdr0AQ

The 'Crisis Zero' viral video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7TUqP8J86o

Analysis of 3 film posters

Analysis of 2 film magazine covers

Wolverine - International Trailer Analysis

As a part of my research & planning, I shall analyse the International Trailer of the upcoming production, Wolverine, which is set for release 24th July 2013. The marketing for the film is widespread, with numerous examples of convergence across different platforms of media. By analysing and researching this film, I will allow me to compare the marketing and production tha goes into blockbusters, which will allow me to compare to productions of different genres and of a much smaller scale, that is a closer representative of my own production peice later in the course.

Wolverine stands as the sixth installment of the X-man Series, with Hugh Jackman reprising his role as the titular Marvel superhero. As well as being the main star, Jackman, along with his company, Seed Producions, also produced the film. The film was produced on a budget over $100 million, and was shot in a variety of locations all over the globe, including Japan and New South Wales, as well as other Australian locations. Wolverine follows Logan as he travels to modern day Japan where he encounters a prominent figure from his past, who offers him mortality in gratitude for a long lasting debt. Vulnerable for the first time Logan must face new mental and physcial extremes to overcome his struggles.

This trailer is an excellent example of how advancements in technology have heavily influenced film trailers, with Wolverine showing excellent uses of CGI throughout and a massive 134 cuts, which would have been unprecedented when the first film trailer was released almost a century ago.

As with many trailers, Wolverine consists of three, quite identifiable acts. Act 1 0:00-0:32, introduces the audience to the main protagonist and their background. Act 2 0:35-1:15, establishes the premise of the film and gives a general overview of the plot to the audience to start to entice them in. Act 3 1:16-2:10, introduces a twist in the plot, something that will leave the audience with a lot of unanswered questions, with the only way of answering said questions is watching the final theatrical release of the film.

The primary camera shot of the trailer is an establishing shot of a mountainous region, to introduce the setting and location immediately to the viewer. After the protagonist is shown for the first time, we are shown a close up of an aged picture. We know this is of some significance as binary opposites of black and white are used to
make it stand out, as well as a voice-over tie-in of 'losses' which establishes the link of this character to Logan. The camera then pans over a small town show the main

character's isolation and altogether loneliness. We are then given an over the shoulder shot that shows someone recording the lead character, which allows the audience to begin to think about the plot and increases their interest as there is a possible threat. Once Logan enters what is to be revealed as a bar, and confronts the other men, we are given a medium close up of the weapon on of them is carrying. This again introduces an element of danger, and shows the prominence of the weapon, giving it significance. Soon after we see the iconic feature of the titular super-hero, Logan's blades, through a medium close up, with them being centralised in the frame. We then go on to see an effective way for portraying travel, a single second long clip consisting of a long shot of a private jet flying. During the flash back to WWII, we are immediately greeted with a two shot of the two characters in question, of which one of them if Logan, the main character. This allows the viewer to quickly understand who, when and what is going on. During this same flashback, following the explosion, a close up is shown of Logan's face to emphasise the pain he is suffering while

sheilding the other character. Followed breifly by a low angle shot to show the dominence of the main protagonist and a close up of the other man's eyes to show his shock at the impossibilty he had witnessed moments ago. Later on, we are shown a distant focus over the shoulder shot of Logan, as this sort of acts as an unconventional POV shot which allows the identity of the character in the foreground to remain a mystery. Following a close up of a futuristic computer diagram (which furthers the plot), we recieve a close up of the previously hidden old man, in coordination of the him delivering the word "mortal". This is a significant part of the trailer as this acts a 'turn line' that swifly rolls into 'the rise' as the action intensifies, which is a frequent aspect of modern trailers. As it does so, Logan is attacked, which is where we see blurry dutch-angled camera shots, which portrays the disorientation the character is feeling, to the audeince. As the trailer begins to near its end, and it has been established that Logan is weak, we see a close up to then medium-long shot of him in some sort of device. We also, see a medium shot and pan of Logan being kicked back and forced into a slide.

Both of these examples show the character's new found vulnerability, that the viewer will be eager to discover the true extent of. The trailer ends with a medium shot of Hugh Jackman's face, he offers a pained expression and looks directly into the camera/ at the audience with the voice-over link of "what I am...can't be undone" "Don't be so sure". This combination leaves a lasting image in the viewers mind, and does the last bit to try and encourage them to watch the full film.

The mise-en-scene of the trailer, as with many, plays an important role in truly defining the character and setting/location of the film. Only a couple of shots in, we get our first glimpse of the main character, he is shown to have a beard and long, scraggley hair.

This gives us the impression that he's been away for a while, with little interest in his appearance. Soon after, we see Logan walk towards a bar, this is however done at night, during heavy rain as this adds to the atmosphere and builds up the reveal of the character's unknown intentions. During the flashback, we are immediately shown that it was sometime ago, due to the WWII Military uniforms, and Logan is clean cut and has only his signature side burns. Part way through the flashback, the screen is consumed by a white flash, this shows the furiousity of the explosion, which in itself acts as a historical reference. Throughout this scene, a long with many others in the trailer, CGI has been used to make the scenes as good as possible. When Logan is taken to japan, the unknown character's wealth is shown through suits, expensive cars and rooms filled with gold decore. Later on, when Logan is attacked, the disorientation of the character is portrayed to the audeince through a blurred effect on the background. CGI is shown again to some extent, when a woman appears to tear her face off, which is clearly computer generated to add effect to the scene. Around the 1:34 mark, we see typical screen text, stating "This year". These are used to make the release date of the film clear to the viewer. The following scenes include a fight in which Logan is shirtless, this is used to portray the physicality and power of Logan. After another CGI scene, this time a fight upon the top of a high-speed train, everything cuts away to leave Logan hanging from a building, with the voice-over tie in of "can't be undone"..."don't be so sure". This acts as the 'button' of the trailer, that leaves that last little bit of interest in the mind of the viewer.

In relation to edits, the trailer offers a variety, but with the main choice beinh fades to black to ensure an element of fluidity between clips. This is seen several times at the beginning of the trailer, switching between the Voice-over parts, as well as moving from the car into the night-time raining scene...in this instance it shows the passage of time. We also see a pull focus during the over shoulder shot of the person in the car. This is used to clarify the position of the character and how he's watching Logan. Quite typically, we see the use of jump cuts during the bar fight, as this allows for action scenes to be filmed in a way that looks more ferocious but can still be filmed safely.

We soon see the trailers idents of the film, 35 seconds into the trailer, which is often a tactic used in lower budget films, where footage is shown immediately to entice the audience.  This is followed by a quick succession of fades, including a second-long shot showing a plane flying. This is an effective method for showing travel. Sepia effects are used during the following flashback scenes, with a rapid string of jump cuts used during the explosion scene to emphasis the panic and pace of such an event to the audience. Fades are also well used to seamlessly flow between the 'struggles' of Logan's life, to coincide with the voice over.

Following Logan being shot a few scenes later, slow motion and blurring are used to show his disorientation and pain to the audience. This is furthered by unsteady-handheld shots, including cantered angles. It is this action that marks a change in direction for the trailer, with the line 'we can make you mortal' from the now identifiable voice-over acting as a turn-line and leading to the rise in the trailer as events take a turn. After a prolonged build of fast-paced action, the trailer finally slows at the end, with the 'button' of 'don't be so sure...' from the ale voice-over. As this slowly fades to black, it allows the audience to reflect on the trailer and plot itself, leaving them interested in the film.

Lastly, the sound in the trailer plays an important part, as with any trailer, in creating the correct atmosphere. The trailer begins with a voice-over given by an elderly man, he talks about how 'eternity can be a curse...' which offers a direct character link with Logan, the only character on screen, as his immortality has turned against him (as seen in the X-men series and past 'Wolverine' films. For the first twenty seconds of the trailer, there is very little diagetic sound, instead only a combination of the voice-over with heavy bass-type music that helps to create tension and mystery as anything is yet to be explained. The first obvious piece of diagetic sound comes in the form of the glass bottle smashing and guns being drawn in the bar scene. This is soon followed by some dialog, relieving the tension or air of danger due to the characters sarcastic tone.

The iconic metallic noise of Logan's 'claws' being drawn, this creates an instant link of familiarity with the audience. We go on to hear the voice of a Japanese lady in the form of a voice over, this lady appears briefly in the bar scene and prevents the confrontation. She says 'I've been trying to find you...' and goes on to further explain the plot to the audience as she talks about her employer dying and that Logan had previously saved his life. The voice-over soon switches back to the elderly gentleman from the very beginning of the trailer, allowing the audience to create the link that perhaps he is the woman's grandfather. He says 'I can make you mortal' which is very interesting to both established and new audiences, as previous fans will realise that the process preformed on Logan was supposedly irreversible, and newer fans will make the link to the stated downfalls of immortality stated at the start of the trailer, and realise why becoming mortal may be very enticing to Logan.

When over the next few scenes we hear and see Logan shot, the pounding music followed by the immediate break indicates to the audience that something has changed, there is a problem, and perhaps Logan has gone through with the reversal. This is immediately confirmed when Logan says 'I'm not healing like before',  this adds an unexpected twist to the plot and gives the viewer some insight to the danger and troubles that Logan will face and battle to overcome in the film. Towards the end of the trailer, Logan says that 'what I have, cannot be undone' which is replied to by the old man who has offered him mortality, but only after a prolonged pause, he says 'Don't be so sure...'. This builds tension and leaves the audience with many questions that they are eager to have answered. Who is the old man? Will Logan survive? Will he seek revenge? This is an effective ending and leave the viewer with these questions long after watching the trailer, with the only way of obtaining answers through watching the film itself.

Questionnaire - Results

As a part of my research & planning, I created a questionnaire to allow me to gather information related to the task, that can help sculpt my final products. After I had received an acceptable number of responses, I compiled and compared the results to look at the opinions on film trailers themselves. The results were clear, with 26% picking Drama as their favourite genre, with Horror not close behind with 26% and 58% of people choosing 'A good plot' as their favourite aspect of trailers, I know which areas to focus on when creating my trailer. The results of my questionnaire have helped to reinforce some early ideas for the my trailer. I shall focus around the genres of Drama and Horror as these were the two most popular and while not neglecting other important aspects, such as cinematography, I will ensure the plot is prominent and professional in the final product. With each respondent giving a reason for their choices, it is important that I use the information carefully to make my trailer as effective as possible.

The link to the full set of result is below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SKFXzkeMZF8TBvtKPBlAw6zTQmLbDtrMx2W6_HLIKSM/viewanalytics

Trailer Research - Horror Trailers

As a part of my research into the genre of Horror, I watched the films that had been nominated under that category for the golden trailer awards. I believe that the trailer for The Possession is the best of nominees. The use of fades rather than just using sharp cuts towards the beginning of the trailer helps to create smooth transitions that allow for a a gradual build up of tension. Also, the lighting of the footage shown is quite effective, and in several ways. At the start of the trailer, most of the shots are light, to help portray the 'happy family environment' that is effectively later ruined through the events of the story. This light is swapped for darkness as to reflect the turn in events as more supernatural/ dangerous things are shown. The music of this trailer also plays a large in why the trailer is effective. The song is cover of Rammstein's 'Engel' which ultimately creates an eerie atmosphere and feeling which is useful for a trailer of the horror genre as it often intensifies what is felt by the audience when watching the clips on-screen. Just as important as the use of music, is in fact the use of silence. Horror trailers, including 'The Possession' often has all sound cut...leaving the audience on the edge, captivated in what will happen next.

The History of Film Trailers

The first ever film trailer was made for a film called 'The Pleasure Seekers' and was first shown in November 1913. From then on, trailers have evolved and adapted to be formed into what we see as an important part of advertising for films today. Although a rare feature for many years, now we are surrounded by trailers, becoming a distinct part of the modern cinema experience.

One of the oldest examples of film trailers is that for the 1937 animation, Snow White. Obvious and immediate traits of the trailer, as with many early creations, are the heavy focus of large text and the use of superlatives. This is something that was very common in the beginning but was slowly replaced by the advance in technology which allowed the focus to switch more to effects. The Snow White trailer is also unusual in the fact that no moving image is actually shown, which is uncommon for a film trailer. It also featured the creator, Walt Disney, part way through the trailer delivering dialogue on each character. These features are clear in portraying just how far trailers have changed.

Just a couple of years later, the trailer for the 1939 film 'Gone With The Wind' shows major developments from Snow White. Although large bold text, and superlatives (inc. voice over) are still all very prominent, the trailer is made up of moving images from the film. Even more interestingly, some of the clips aren't in the final production, as the trailer was compiled before completion, this is something that is still very common today but sometimes goes unnoticed. Furthermore, although the characters and the actors/actresses playing them are introduced, it is not through speech delivered by the director, but through text and voice over, a stark contrast to Snow White and something that is not too dissimilar to modern trailers.

A stark contrast and clear example of evolution from above if not all previous trailer comes over two decades later in the form of the trailer to the film Psycho. This trailer is one of the most famous, allbeit for its extraordinary length of 6.5 minutes or for the guided tour of the infamous motel by Alfred Hitchcock himself. These were both and remain to be unusual features for film trailers. The decision to place the title screen at the end of the trailer also had a lasting effect, now a common feature in most modern trailers, it had been previously thought that the optimum place for the title would be at the beginning. 

A somewhat extraordinary and unique example of its time would be the film trailer of the 1964 film Dr.Strangelove, directed by Stanley Kubrick. The trailer incorporates a mixture of fast jump cuts (136/minute) with dialogue that is partly delivered through text/voice over and then finished with words cut out of the actual film footage. The combination goes well to leave the viewer with an overall disorientated feeling, that suites Kubrick's style.

One of the most ground-breaking trailers of it's day came in the form of that for the 1977 Star Wars film that started the iconic film series. By this time, technology had began to advance enough to allow for a greater, more professional use of special effects in the film than had ever been used, which the trailer was not shy of showcasing. Although a voice over is still featured, Star Wars: A New Hope, marked a significant point in film-making technology, that would continue to evolve into the SFX and CGI filled films (and trailers) that we see today.

Trailer Analysis - Pain & Gain (2013)

Theatrical Trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRtXB0_Caws

Pain & Gain is the latest film by Michael Bay, due for release this summer. Famous for his Bad Boys and more notably Transformer series, Bay is a well known and often well-loved director who is used to far bigger-budget blockbusters. Based on true story, Pain & Gain depicts a group of bodybuilders who enter a kidnapping and extortion ring after hatching a plan against a wealthy 'crook' to obtain his assets, when the plan fails, events spiral out of control.

The Theatrical trailer has a length of two and half minutes, which is very common with trailers as that is the limit which is only allowed to be exceeded once a year, so in a bid to show as much footage as possible, many companies make their trailers 150 seconds long. This film fits under the genres of crime/comedy/thriller/action but judging by the trailer and in relation to the 'Save The Cat' genres, it would most likely come under 'The Fool Triumphant' as although whether the main protagonist, Daniel Lugo, is successful or not, he and his partners are clearly established as the underdogs.

Within the first 12 seconds of the trailer, the premise of the film is already established to a generous extent. This is a common feature of trailers, the idea of truly condensing things as much as possible, to feed the audience information to help build interest.

As with a lot of modern trailers, specifically for films that contain action, slow-motion is used to prolong that particular part of the scene, which allows the audience to concentrate on what is happening in that small snippet, where detail would have been missed if played at normal/expected speeds. In this trailer, it also allows for a voice-over to be given by the main character. This is a common feature seen in the codes and conventions of trailers as it immerses the audience immediately, without any out-of-character details as a distraction. The voice-over is reoccurring throughout, broken up by intermittent pieces of dialogue. This is also a common code and convention of this genre, as dialogue from key scenes in the film builds interest and understanding.

The 'turn line' of the this trailer appears around the 1:10 mark as Lugo states 'I got a plan to change that'  and the music alters to intensify and build a higher pace of action, that will ultimately lead into a number of jump cuts as scenes progress. The use of jump cuts is a common occurrence for films that contain action scenes as they build tempo and within this trailer, are also used to show the passage of time as events unfold, which is not an uncommon technique for this genre.

As the main characters plan is somewhat foiled, the music alters again, with the transitions and cuts also altering to fit the beat of the song. This adds an element of fluidity as the trailer starts to near its end and more of the plot is revealed, this is a common technique for this genre as a threat to the 'underdog(s)' essentially thickens the plot as well as interest. This could be referred to as 'The Rise' of the trailer, as it acts as a finale just before the ending scenes. However, within this crescendo, there is a pause for a calmer/comedic scene to be delivered. This pause reinforces the comedic side of the film, and a pause midway through the finale is often used in 'comedy' trailers like this as it is when the audience least expects it. Similarly, 'The Button' appears in this trailer as a comedic exchange of dialogue, which references 'going camping' even after all of the destruction of the trailer beforehand.

Large Text appears in the trailer only a hand full of times, to emphasise the most important elements, such as it being based on a true story, and the name of the director, as mentioning that it's made by Michael Bay is guaranteed to sell the film to more people who are fans of his previous work. The text appears at the start and end of the trailer, which is not uncommon in trailers as informs the audience of things such as when the film is released etc.

Hollywood films: Main genres (Save The Cat)

Monster in the house: This type of film consists of some sort of 'monster', normally of supernatural origin, that the characters in the film must escape from to find safety/ peace. Their lives are normally threatened, and thus to survive, they must kill the creature or escape from it throughout the film. The 'monster' is usually provoked by the human characters at some point, which ultimately leads to the events of the film. there are many examples of this genre, such as the Alien series and the Exorcist, but a more contemporary examples could be Insidious and Paranormal Activity.

Golden Fleece: This particular genre is named after the iconic tale of Jason and the Argonauts, significantly visualized in the 1963 film. The plot for these films revolves around a hero going on a journey/quest to achieve a goal/retrieve an item. This often leaves it open for character development and for them to 'discover themselves' while away on their quest. A notable series of this genre is Star Wars, but a more recent blockbuster would be The Hobbit: an Unexpected journey.

Out of the bottle: This genre follows a main character who is experiencing unordinary occurrences, sometimes those of 'magical' origin. The film takes the audience through the characters process of trying to understand said happenings, usually resulting in the main character coming to some sort of realisation about a good moral, which is the message of the film. Famous films of this genre are Bruce/ Evan Almighty and even Yes Man.

Dude with a problem: These films depict an an average man who finds himself in an extreme/unusual situation. This can include fighting a human or natural threat, in order to save the lives of innocent people. In most instances, the main character has to make some sort of self-sacrifice or change their ways somewhat in order to complete their task. Classic examples of this genre would be Die Hard and Speed, with the Taken Franchise being a more recent example.

Rites of passage: The premise to most of these films is that the main character is faced with some sort of life problem, like old-age or a loss in the family etc for which they must overcome to acheive a bigger goal, which is usually happiness. The character's experiences throughout the film are often relatable which makes the film more entertaining for the audience as they can often empathise with the character directly. These films are often comedies, however some have taken a more serious tone. Films of the genre include American Pie franchise.

Buddy Love: These films normally focus on a pair of characters and the things that they experience with each other. This normally strains their relationship but makes it stronger in the end. This is not always applied to 'buddies' as it can be applied to relationships, even those with animals, such as Free Willy. A modern example could be Paul, or Ted.

Whydunit: Some films of this genre go against the grain for most and focus on the villain, and why they committed their act/ crime etc. They try to explain the character that is rarely explained in true depth, and so this time, the audience get to learn of what it is like to be in the mind of the villain. A classic example of this would be The Silence of the Lambs. Films of this genre can also focus on more common occurrences like murder etc where the 'good guy' police officers have to try and solve the case.

The Fool Triumphant: This genre focus' on the underdog who appears to have no chance of succeeding at their life goals etc. As the film goes on, the audience can watch as they see the character expand and grow as a person, ultimately reaching ever closer to success. An example of this could be Django Unchained.

Institutionalised: This genre revolves around a group of characters who belong to a certain institution within society. These films are normally used to reflect said institutions in a certain light, be that positive or negative. Very famous films of this genre include One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and The Shawshank Redemption.

Superhero: This genre places an unusual person, a superhero, in a usual, everyday world that can be related to immediately by the audience. The character has to try and explain themselves but are usually misunderstood or even underestimated. Iconic films belonging to the genre would be the multiple Batman variations, but more recently, The Wolverine, a sequel to the spin-off of the famed X-Men series.

Film Trailer Questionnaire

As a part of my research and planning, I created a brief questionnaire to help me sculpt idea for my final products. I can use the responses to gather an idea of what elements to include and perfect.

Below is the link to the form, please take a minute to fill it out if you can, thanks.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SKFXzkeMZF8TBvtKPBlAw6zTQmLbDtrMx2W6_HLIKSM/viewform

Trailer Terminology

Trailer: A composition of several clips from a film, often from key scenes, but that are not fully explained to entise the viewer to want to find out more. Trailers use a number of elements, such as music and jump cuts to emphasise and draw more attention to the footage being shown. They can be in the form of shorter, teaser trailers that reveals very little, normally about 30 seconds. Through to an extra-long featurette that is often more like a full scene from the production.

Plot summary: This sums up the story of the film, usually in around 3 stage structure. The premise will be shown, followed by a further explanation of the plot, which then usually ends in a climax that often incorporates notable scores of music to emphasise the events shown.

Voice-over: This technique is used when explanation is needed or to briefly set up the premise to the film. This helps the audience to expand their understanding of the plot.

Music: The music used in a trailer very rarely originates or appears from the film itself. It helps to set the tone of the trailer and indeed the film. Often, recognisible peices of existing music are used, called 'library music' but there are occassions where the peice is written specifically for the trailer. There are also examples of songs used that sound similar to the original but are too expensive to license.

Cast, crew and studio information: A cast run is a common feature of trailers, this is where the names of the stars appearing in the film are mentioned. Also, if the director/executive producer is well known or has made a blockbuster recently, they are often mentioned too. As well as this information, there is usually a billing block at the end of the trailer which is a list of top billing/ most important cast and crew. Since the seventies, studio production logos have featured at the beginning of most trailers, these are often accompanied by the logo of the distributing company too.

Technical elements: The sound mix to many trailers are presented in Dolby Digital, or other forms of multichannel sound mix. This has helped sound effects and music, that are often enhanced by stereophonic sound a main focus point of contemporary trailers. Trailers are usually presented in the same format as the final production, this includes 35mm film or a digital format. Internet capability has allowed trailers to be shown in resolutions up to and including 1080p.

A2 Coursework Brief

For my A2 coursework I shall create a film trailer, accompanied by a film poster and magazine front cover, both advertising the production. I will be using this blog to document my research & planning, as well as my final products and the evaluations for each.