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Film Trailer Research
American Sniper
The American Sniper trailer is very effective in creating suspense and tension by using action-packed visuals and dramatic audio which helps the film appeal to its target audience.
The trailer begins with the diegetic sound of someone loading a gun whilst the opening credits are shown. Straight away, this causes tension as a gun connotes violence. The credits then cut away to show a large sniper rifle which further emphasises the violence and genre of action and war that this film partakes in. The camera then slowly pans up to reveal Bradley Cooper, the protagonist of the film. This further engages audiences as Bradley Cooper is a well known actor and audiences will take the film more seriously if it contains well known actors.Following the close up of Cooper, a birds-eye-view shot shows his surroundings which is clearly a catastrophic war zone. The tension is built up further as Cooper aims down his sights and we can see him fixating on different people within the war zone. This creates suspense as the audience know that Cooper could end their life at any given moment.
A series of flashbacks confirms that Cooper is the main character in the film. The flashbacks also provide the audience with a bit of backstory as we see when he got married and when he became a father. Non-diegetic sound of heartbeats can be heard which gradually increase in tempo and pace causing tension to be at an all time high as Cooper decides whether or not to take the shot. Just as it seems he is going to pull the trigger the trailer ends, leaving the audience with several quesitons. Ending the trailer like this makes the audience want to watch the film.
Gravity
The action then begins as the audience are shown a space shuttle that has clearly been destroyed. A wide-shot shows the shuttle spinning out of control with an astronaut attached to it being violently flung around. The frantic cries also add suspense and leave the audience on the edge of their seat wondering what will happen. The diegetic sound of ground control panicking also adds to the suspense. The trailer is very successful in creating a sense of panic through visuals and audio.
The sci-fi genre is highlighted as Earth can clearly been seen in the background confirming that this event is taking place in space. The fact Earth is seen in the background also creates a sense of distress as the lone astronaut is so far away from home and help is very far away.
The trailer also gains audience attention by flexing their A-list actors in the inter titles such as George Clooney as well as the director Alfonso Cuaron, a famous Hollywood director. This encourages audiences to watch as they already know some familiar faces and may like films with those actors in.
Cloverfield
The trailer cuts in and out of different parts of footage which further provides a shaky and 'unprofessional' effect. This effect also shows that Robert Hawkins, the protagonist is just a regular person. Roars can be heard in the outside which fits with the films sci-fi, horror genre.
The editing is done at a quick pace so audiences only get a glimpse at the action, enticing them to watch the film so they can see all of it. This is effective as it makes the trailer look exciting, but does not give the plot away.
The dark colour scheme and the fact it is night time in the city further adds to the chaos as the streets are briefly lit up by fireballs, showing the damage that has been caused.
Nocturnal Animals
Furthermore, the trailer introduces the main plot of the film, but without giving away too many details so that the audience must watch the film to fully understand.
The addition of non-diegetic music helps to display the genre of the film, mystery. There are intertitles which help show off the USP's of the film, such as a number of A-list actors as well as the famous director Tom Ford. This means audiences that are a fan of his previous work are more likely to watch the film.
The Birth of a Nation
Audiences attention is gained when text appears that states the awards the film has won at the Sundance Film Festival. This makes the film seem elite and respectable, meaning audiences are more likely to watch it.
The realism of the film is also highlighted by the dull colour schemes that suggest that this is the harsh reality. This connotes sadness which is in line with the key themes of slavery and racism.
Sound is also used to show the sadness within the film such as the sound of chains whenever slaves are shown working. Non-diegetic music is also used which creates intensity.
AMERICAN SNIPER
ReplyDeleteAlthough relatively brief, your analysis is sound, lucid and on point.
You note the way the trailer uses diegetic sound codes to establish the genre (war / action). You note the focus on star talent (Bradley Cooper) to connect with audiences and you explain how editing introduces the backstory. You analyse well the way sound is used to build tension in the closing moments and how the finale engages the audience’s curiosity and interest. Why is this accompanied by a slow zoom into an CU?
To improve, you could analyse the impact on the audience of the sniper’s backstory explaining how the trailer makes connections between his own life as a husband and father, and his sense of responsibility when faced with taking life. You could also refer to the final intertitle that identifies the film as a true story.
GRAVITY
ReplyDeleteYou write well on the overall impact of the trailer, especially in your analysis of how sound and vision creates panic and suspense. You note the key importance of the opening intertitles in establishing the extreme peril.
Your comment on how the sense of distress at isolation is achieved visually is thoughtful. You show awareness of how a trailer leverages star talent by naming its A list actors and director.
To improve: identify the ‘four lines of text’ more correctly as ‘intertitles’ and emphasise the contrast between the opening silence and the following cacophony of sound; in other words, apply the notion of ‘structure’ to the trailer and give an account of how the structure manipulates the audience’s emotions: what are the different parts to the trailer, and how does it finish? As you do this, consider the ways in which this trailer opens up the sci-fi / space / action genre by developing much more fully the thriller and drama codes: Sandra Bullock’s relationship with her comms at Houston (Clooney), what she reveals about herself, how she handles the horror of her own likely fate. This trailer invites the audience into the mind and experience of Sandra Bullock, so it is more thriller / drama than sci-fi.
THE BIRTH OF A NATION
ReplyDeleteWhen you edit this, write more fully, using full sentences and correct terminology (such as ‘intertitles’). When analysing the intertitles, explain, for instance, the Sundance effect and the impact on audiences of the references to injustice everywhere. Whilst you do briefly refer to the realism of the dark colour palette and its emotional connotations, you should balance this by also drawing attention to the plantation’s natural beauty which is in stark contrast. You comment very briefly on sound but as sound is one of the most powerful elements of this trailer in engaging audiences emotionally and in presenting the slave rebellion, you should analyse in detail both key snatches of dialogue and the use of the song ‘Rise Up’ by Andra Day. How is the evolution of Nat Turner from submissive preacher to rebel leader explained and justified?
CLOVERFIELD
ReplyDeleteYou get to the heart of this trailer well. What you write is astute, well supported and observant, such as how you identify the ways in which the audience is engaged through the immersive effect of the hand-held camerawork which creates POV shots and the quality of cinéma vérité. You understand the main function of the trailer is to entice the audience to watch the whole film through tantalisingly brief edited scenes that withhold so much. You grasp the genre and briefly identify sound codes that place the film in the category of scifi /horror.
To improve: how is the quality of ‘found footage’ leveraged? How is dialogue used? Inter-titles? Who is the protagonist? What tells the audience that this is a dystopian / apocalyptic scenario? How does the audience know that it is set in NY?