As the genre of my film trailer is horror, i have selected various images of locations and characters that i have found to be typical, within this genre. As i can see from my mood board a lot make up and and masks have been used, along with dark colours such as blacks and greys. This is going to help give me an insight, on what i will need to include when making my trailer.
The Happening is a 2008 American thriller film that follows a man and his family as they try to escape from an inexplicable natural disaster. The plot revolves around a mysterious neurotoxin that causes any person coming into contact with it to commit suicide. The protagonist, a science teacher named Elliot Moore, attempts to escape from the substance with his wife and friends as hysteria grips the East Coast of the United States.
A large photo is used, covering the whole of the background. The image uses a lot of dim and dull colours, such as browns and greys. The rule of thirds is used to draw our attention to the abandoned cars along the side and the town in the distance. The use of the dull colours, stormy sky and empty cars in the image give the audience a sense of danger from some kind of a natural disaster they are incapable of controlling. The font on this poster is white which stands out against the background. It is also aligned in the center.
Vacancy
When David and Amy Fox's car breaks down int he middle of nowhere, they are forced to spend the night at the only motel around with only the tv to entertain them, until they discover that the low budget slasher movies they're watching were all filmed in the very room in which they're sitting. With hidden cameras now aimed at them, trapping them in rooms, crawlspaces, underground tunnels and filming their every move, David and Amy must struggle to get out alive before they end up the next vixtims on tape.
A large photo is used, consuming the whole of the background. The outside of the picture is black fading into the main image. The rule of thirds is also applied to poster because the audience's attention is drawn straight to the center of the poster. The picture has a slight hint of orange/red, which fits in with the colour of the title of the film. The colours that have been used stands out against the black border. The colour red can be used in different ways to portray different meanings such as: a warning, danger, blood within the horror genre or love and passion within the romance genre. In the center of the image is the reflection of the word 'motel' this helps suggest to the audience that there is a 'vacancy' in the motel. The actors in the picture have a scared/shocked expression, suggestin that they are in danger from someone or something.
Orphan
Kate and John Coleman are rebuilding their marriage after a troubled relationship. They decide to adopt a child and when they meet the nine year-old Russian girl Esther at the St. Marina Orphanage, they immediately fall in love for the well-educated orphan. Sooner Kate feels that Esther is manipulative and has some disturbance and she believes it could be hormone or borderline personality disorder but John refuses to listen to his wife and the wounds in their marriage reopen. When Kate goes further in the investigation of the past of Esther, she discovers that the girl is not who she tells she is
A large photo is again covering the whole of the background. The colours used aren't dull for example the light background contrasts with main image. The main image is of a young girl, the audience will be able to tell that she could be 'the villian' in this film because of the caption 'There's something wrong with Esther'. This also helps draw in an audience as this leaves them wanting to know whats wrong with her and what trouble she causes. The main colour for the font on this poster is in white, this doesn't really contrast with the light background, however because it is bolder it stands out more. The colour red is also used for 'Can you keep a secret?' by using the colour red, this highlights to the audience that there is some kind of danger from knowing this 'secrect' and can act as a warning.
Monday, 19 October 2009
After analysing each trailer I have picked up on some things that are vitial in order for a horror film trailer to be a success. I will try and include all of these aspects where possible when making my own film trailer. Some of which incluse: -Mis-en Scene: must be dark with limited lighting creating a 'scary' atmosphere.
-Music: quiet at the begining building up towards the end of the trailer. This helps to add suspense and tension.
-Editing: slower pace long takes at the begining, and then speeding up into faster, quicker short shots lasting no longer than a couple of seconds.
-Camera Angles: Close ups help define the characters expressions and point of view shots
-Costumes: 'killer' should be wearing a dark costume and only be seen for a limited amount of time in the trailer. It helps keep their identity hidden, drawing the audience in.
Target Audience: Both male and female who enjoy films of the horror genre. The age range is anyone 15 and over, as this is th certificate of the film.
Narrative: A mother takes her troubled daughter to the town she cries out in her sleep 'Silent Hill'. After being knocked unconcious in a car crash just outside of this very town, the mother then awakens to find her missing. Whilst searching for her daughter she faces surreal reality shifts and monstrous creatures while uncovering her daughters connections to the towns dark secrets.
Setting: In an old american town, cut off from the rest of civilisation. This fits in with the horror genre perfectly as it helps to add to the mysterious and dark atmosphere. It also helps to emphasis the point that she is alone. Again Todorov's theory can be applied here as the equilibrium has been disrupted by the dissapearance of her daughter.
Costumes: The characters in this trailer are all wearing normal clothes, apart from when we (the audience) see the flashbacks. The characters in these scenes are all wearing clothes from the time perios they are portraying. However as the enemies in this are not human , alot of makeup and costumes have been used.
Lyrics/Captions: The captions in this trailer hold each scene together. This is very effective as it helps the audience get an idea of what is going on, without revealing too much of the plot. Each caption is quite short keeping the audiences interest for longer. Again by using Captions instead of a voice over, it helps to determine the genre of this film.
1.'What was once an ordinary town'
2.'Has been transformed by evil'
3.'Mysteries without answers'
4.'Secrets without explanation'
5.'Fear without end'
6.'One you enter this world'
7.'There is no turning back'
Special Effects: Special effects can play a huge part in horror film trailers, as they can make them seem more realistic depending on what they are trying to show. For example in this trailer, the little girl ghost. As this is hard to make an actor in the scene an actual 'ghost' they would have been edit in after filming.
Camera Angles: Close ups seem to play a big part in horror film trailers, as they help to show the emotions featured on the actors faces. This is vitail in order to make a successful horror film trailer. There is also alot of tracking shots used, these enable us to see more of what is happening onscreen. Other shots include:
Editing: Again at the beginning of this trailer the editing has a slower pace to help add tension and suspense towards the ending. However, the editing towards the end of the trailer is in sync with the sound of a heartbeat. This again adds to the effect of trying to build tension for the audience/
Sound/Music: There is a peaceful and calm music at the beginning of the trailer, this helps towards the build up at the end of the trailer. When certain events happen in the trailer the music changes to a more dramatic tone. For example when the creature appears behind her and when there is a flashback to the fire. This helps to emphasize the danger.
A large photo is used, covering the whole of the background. The image uses a lot of dim and dull colours, such as browns and greys. The rule of thirds is used to draw our attention to the abandoned cars along the side and the town in the distance. The use of the dull colours, stormy sky and empty cars in the image give the audience a sense of danger from some kind of a natural disaster they are incapable of controlling. The font on this poster is white which stands out against the background. It is also aligned in the center.
A large photo is used, consuming the whole of the background. The outside of the picture is black fading into the main image. The rule of thirds is also applied to poster because the audience's attention is drawn straight to the center of the poster. The picture has a slight hint of orange/red, which fits in with the colour of the title of the film. The colours that have been used stands out against the black border. The colour red can be used in different ways to portray different meanings such as: a warning, danger, blood within the horror genre or love and passion within the romance genre. In the center of the image is the reflection of the word 'motel' this helps suggest to the audience that there is a 'vacancy' in the motel. The actors in the picture have a scared/shocked expression, suggestin that they are in danger from someone or something.
A large photo is again covering the whole of the background. The colours used aren't dull for example the light background contrasts with main image. The main image is of a young girl, the audience will be able to tell that she could be 'the villian' in this film because of the caption 'There's something wrong with Esther'. This also helps draw in an audience as this leaves them wanting to know whats wrong with her and what trouble she causes. The main colour for the font on this poster is in white, this doesn't really contrast with the light background, however because it is bolder it stands out more. The colour red is also used for 'Can you keep a secret?' by using the colour red, this highlights to the audience that there is some kind of danger from knowing this 'secrect' and can act as a warning.
