Trailer Analysis and Influences

To create a film trailer, we need to analyse existing trailers of a similar genre. After analysing the trailers we will use them as influences and inspirations for the creation of our own trailer. Following or going against the conventions of the trailers we have analysed.

The Hunger Games (dir. Gary Ross 2012):

As the film is about the adolescent struggle survival in a harsh reality we decided to examine the trailer so we could create a similar feel to it and use it to attract our demographic.

The Production Company's logo is after the beginning sequence of the trailer, this is so the audience gets a little bit of a taste for the trailer before knowing what company has produced it. The shots involve a lot of movement on steady cameras. These are cameras not on tripods they add more of an immersive feel to the trailer.

The relationships between the characters is made explicit with the use of close-ups and reaction shots of the main characters.  This builds an attachment to the audience as they begin to sympathise and empathise with the characters. We would follow this convention of the genre, we need the audience to feel for the characters even though they are not watching an entire film about them. The shots in the trailer are very tightly framed this adds an intimate feel and also adds a sense of entrapment and claustrophobia and  It becomes obvious due to reaction shots and Katniss' desire to not have her sister be a "tribute" that this is a bad thing. The scenes between Katniss and Prim show Prim's fear of being chosen and the bravery of Katniss for taking her place.

There is some copy that tells the audience the film is based on a best-selling book. This means that fans or readers of the book will want to go and see the film, also the people who were interested in the book but haven't read it will also want to go and see it. This is the USP of the film and by including it in the trailer it attracts the same demographic as the book.

 Non-diagetic is heard throughout, during the selection process, it is a drumming sound- to build suspense and tension in the trailer, so the audience already feels as if they are watching the film in the trailer. The music builds up towards the end of the trailer again to build suspense as the Hunger Games begin, with the contestants arrival. The trailer goes against Prop's theory in the trailer, even though she is not allowed outside the fence it shows that Katniss' life is at equilibrium, then it is soon disturbed by the reminder of the authority she lives under and the selection process follows. This disturbs the equilibrium but at the end it is not shown to be solved. This means the audience will want to see the film to find out who wins and who dies. I would like to incorporate the use of tension and curiosity for the audience to want to see our film, they will want to know who wins the struggle for survival.

 There is use of dialogue as narration in the trailer as well, the man talks about the way the Hunger Games work- this is used as narration to explain to the audience what the main character faces. By showing violent and aggressive shots of Katniss' opponents the audience begins to sympathise increasingly for her- this is due to the fact that she faces strong opponents. But the audience is also shown that the main character is not weak- she has talents too and this makes her an admirable character for the audiences to root for. A two-shot of the main characters is used to show their relationship, this shot is tightly framed which again shows how they are trapped and have to enter the games to survive. There is shot reverse shot which shows Katniss turning her attention to Peeta, this shows the audience that their relationship has changed due to the games. Copy is used in-between shot of Katniss preparing for the games and this increases the pace of the trailer as the non-diagetic music builds up.

There is a close-up of Katniss receiving the mocking-jay badge which is the logo for the films and book series. This is another hint back to the book for the people who are fans of it. There is a countdown used to increase excitement and suspense. There are shots shown in sync with the countdown showing the people in Katniss' district, her sister, her friend Gale (who is also a romantic interest). There is a mid shot of Katniss in a glass container which also shows how she cannot escape- trapped. There is a loud  non-diagetic banging noise and then everyone starts running off which then cuts to a point of view shot. Then the Logo appears, this makes it more memorable to people who have not read the book. The tag line appears 'May the odds be ever in your Favour' this is accompanied a Twitter hashtag '  #HEADFORTHESQUARE' and the next bit of copy afterwards is a Facebook link. This shows how viral marketing is integrated into other areas of distribution such as Trailers and posters.

From this trailer we would like to use influences such as the sibling bond and the protection the elder sibling has to provide. This will involve a number of two-shots to construct an endearing, close and protective relationship.We would also like to use a lot of camera movement so as to keep the frame always seeming to be on the move. This fits the genre as it is suggesting that in order to survive you have to stay on the move. By not using a tripod for many shots we should achieve this. We also liked the idea of a countdown towards the end and an open ended-trailer so it leaves the audience with a lot of questions. We would also create a Twitter and Facebook account to use as links in our trailer, so we are exploring viral marketing and linking it to our other forms of distribution.

The Road (dir. John Hillcoat 2009):

This Film is about a father-son relationship in a post-apocalyptic world filled with many dangers such as starvation and gangs of cannibals. We wanted to look at this trailer because it has similar themes of social-criticism.

The trailer goes against Prop's theory, the trailer begins with the problem. We would like to also use this in our own. Copy is then used to explain that the world has changer. This informs the audience that this film is about the end of the world. We are then shown desolate shots of the world that would usually be populated. A non-diagetic sound of a bass is heard accompanying each shot of an empty area.

 Copy is also used to show signs of life such as 'Wake' and 'Breathe' this makes the audience think about survival and the struggles in a harsh world that is in the film. This also relates to a primitive style of life, so people have a more basic array of tools and have to become more independent and rely on instinct. The trailer also shows the interactions of the family, the bond between father and son, but also the arguing with the father and mother. We would also like to include the relationships of family within the trailer. There is shot-reverse shot and two shot to show the connections between the characters.

A minute into the trailer another problem is presented, the violence and cannibals come into the trailer, this presents the audience with a sense of urgency and panic. A mid shot of heads on stakes appears quickly before becoming a negative and cutting away- this shows an increase in the dangers, for the father and son, in the post apocalyptic world.  There is a non-diagetic sound of unsettling music when the cannibals are searching for them using flaming torches. A wide shot/pan is used to show the large numbers of cannibals before the camera lowers into a two-shot of the father keeping the boy quiet while they attempt to hide on the cannibals closing in.  This engages the audience to sympathise and empathise by using a young vulnerable child and a concerned parent.

   The camera becomes more shaky when there is a tense conversation between one of the men with the father and son this shows the increase of adrenaline and reminds the audience of the constant threat of danger.   The non-diagetic music quickly builds up until the diagetic gunshot. There is a strobe edit then followed by some copy explaining what else the author has written. This also means that fans of the author will be encouraged to go and see it. The cannibal is not seen being shot but this adds to the demographics curiosity and also means the trailer can be shown to younger audiences.

There is a quick montage using fast fades accompanied with non-diagetic music that goes in time. The shots include the cannibal group accompanied with the voice over/dialogue of the mother saying "they're gonna catch up with us" this again brings in a sense of urgency and also the copy appears saying "at the end of civilisation" this reaffirms the fact the world has been dead for some time and people have become more primal. There is a reprisal of the montage and music, this shows the man's weapons and violence such as knives and close-ups of the man with a gun.

By using non-diagetic music to quicken the pace, many tightly framed action shots are used in combination with wide shots. The copy becomes more frequent and the font looks more aggressive than earlier in the trailer. The copy begins saying commands to do with survival, but these are more urgent like "sacrifice" and "protect". This further leads the audience to empathise with the father due to him protecting his son.

The cast and crew names along with the institution and production credits at the end of the trailer. They are accompanied by the title of the film and the website, this is so interested people in the audience can go away and research more about the film virally. The release date is shown along with "Everywhere" this links to the apocalyptic feel and large scale.

 From this trailer we would want to take influence of the non-diagetic sound and wide/location shots, to show how the world is desolate without adults. We also want to use copy towards the end that covers the themes of surviving in a harsh world. We again liked the family quality and to use it in a way to engage audiences. We liked the shots using low-lighting such as matches- this suggests how dark the world has become. We would also like to have web-links and the title at the end of the trailer so the audience will remember it.

 

Tomorrow when the War Began (dir. Stuart Beattie 2010):

This film focuses on a group of teenagers who have to try and survive in their country that has been invaded. Everyone they know and love disappears after they return from a camping trip. We wanted to look at the trailer for influences because it covers similar themes of survival.

The trailer begins with the first institution logo and then cuts to a long-shot of a motor bike going through the shot, there is no music and only the diagetic sound of the motorbike can be heard. This seems to add a sense of realism to the trailer. This is followed by a wide shot of a house, there is an overlap of audio. Starting as contrapuntal/non-diagetic sound and then becoming diagetic in the next shot due to a shot reverse shot with the two girls. Non-diagetic music begins to fade in and is then accompanied by the second institution logo as the music kicks in fully. This is followed by a number of wide low angle shots- a helicopter will have been used (aerial shots). This is to show the expanse of wilderness that the group of friends go camping in. 

The copy such as "a place to escape" and "a perfect time" suggests that something bad could happen, but it seems like a teen-movie at first due to the comedic shots of the boy- Homer being distracted by Fi changing into her bikini. There are a number of group shots of the friends laughing around the fire, but the music fades out as a point of view shot is used to show jets flying through the sky. The mise-en-scene changes after this, the clothing looks dull and the areas of land look like they have been through a draught. The camera work becomes slightly more shaky, this could reflect the loss of control.

There are a few shots showing that the families have disappeared along with the fact "there's no dial tone." Copy informs the audience that the film is based on "the best-selling novel by John Marsden". This will make fans of the book interested in going to see the film, and other people who may not have gotten round to reading may think about seeing the film more. After this the pace accelerates very fast, this shows how much action there is in the film by the number of explosions, smashing windows. But, we see a glimpse of the teen movie mood again through a suggested romance: A shot reverse shot of Homer winking at Fi.

The music comes to a sudden end as the title of the film appears. This is then followed by a shot of the friends riding away on motorbikes, it is noticeably darker which shows how the mood of the film changes. This is with a narration taken from dialogue "what do your instincts tell you" there is a close up of the main character saying "that it's time to go to war". After this we are told the film is "coming soon" and there are institution logos at the bottom along with a website to link to the viral marketing.

We wanted to take influence from the simplistic font style of the copy along with having the institution logo a little bit later. We also liked the idea of using a campfire in our film to make the group of friends seem closer. We also liked the idea of overlapping dialogue. I did not like the pacing of the trailer it is very slow and then suddenly speeds up towards the end. I would prefer a variation of paces to be used. We thought we should also include the film was based on a bestselling book (we would base it on a book if we could) so we could use it as a USP to attract audiences. We liked the use of clothing to show the changes that have happened, we also liked the snippets of scenes shown where the group figures out that the adults have been taken.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Dir. Francis Lawrence 2013)

We also decided to look at the sequel of The Hunger Games. As it includes the similar themes and ideas of the first film.

We again liked the open-ending to the trailer, we also wanted to use the over-lapping sound/dialogue to make the trailer flow better. The Trailer also has the institution logo after 30 seconds in, so people can remember it. This is something we would want to use in our trailer. Also we liked the use of the younger sibling to engage the audience.