Codes and Conventions of trailers

Trailers usually start with a green classification which shows the audience it’s suitable for, following this is a company logo to show which studio has produced the film/trailer. Depending on the genre of the film the logo will be altered slightly. Within a trailer there could be a signifier which gives a clue to the audience about what the film will contain and the theme it has. I’ve researched two films and anaylised their trailers, both fall into the Horror genre;

Omen

·         Children’s playground/big savage dog both contrasting ideas which makes the scene sullen

·         Dog is panting and we hear the creaking sound of the swing / overlapping sounds

·         Symbolism with the light creating a heavy silhouette of dog

·         Low key lighting shows its during the daytime/ the back lighting is of the playground

·         Parallel sounds include leaves, footsteps, creaking of swing, howling wind (non-diegetic sound)

·         Rocking horse is covered in beam of light/ highlighting innocence of Childs play

·         Scene Introduced in total darkness, along with foliage and trees

·         Contains a distorted sound to make it seem unearthly

·         Camera tracks around and up to boy on swing/ point of view

·         Low angle shots of dog makes it look intimidating

·         Camera moves to close-up/extreme close-up of boys face

·         Boy dressed in blood red school uniform/ Contrast with darkness and pale skin

·         Direct correlation as instrumental sound changes tempo and pitch lowers

·         Boys head moves toward camera instantly creating horror impact

·         Slight smile suggesting sinister thoughts

·         Fade to black, heavy bang of drums and text appears (Alliteration adds impact

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF1yU7cE1As

The little boy is seen on the swing as the camera tracks up from the back toward the front. He has a fixed stare at the camera as the music deepens in pitch ,before it speeds up in tempo. His costumes implies hes a normal school boy whilst his expression indicates theres alot more to him than that.

The Shinning

·         Credits rolling up toward the screen, almost seems backward as credits usually at beginning

·         Hallway with equal sides showing its basic and normal

·         White walls emphasise clinical feel and make other colours stand out/ opposite sides both have blue couches and one picture on the wall

·         Direct correlation with instrumental sound as credits roll/ droning sound

·         Fixed still camera throughout trailer, low angle/ point of view audience is hiding or fell they are sitting down in the room /creates tension and suspension

·         Credits stop and suddenly blood gushes out from the side of the lift at back of room

·         Edit of slow motion as blood splashes up walls and travels down towards camera

·         Gives image of waves crashing and colliding/emphasises danger

·         Splatters over white walls/contrast

·         Blood finally gets to the camera/covers it audience feel like their in room

     

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKdKc06av1g