Horror Trailer Findings.
After analysing each of the six trailers we found many conventions; in terms of the techniques and styling. We analysed trailer length, shot types and angles, writing/titling sequences, colours, mise-en-scene, lighting, storyline and dialogue. By comparing and contrasting six different trailers with this information we can create our trailer to suit the conventions of the horror trailer.
Generally we found that trailers last around the two minute mark, with 'Scream 4' SPECIFIC WEB PAGE having the shortest trailer at 1:29 and 'The Devil Inside' SPECIFIC WEB PAGE having the longest trailer at 2:31 minutes. (analysed via www.youtube.com). Evidently, trailers have the primary incentive to advertise the film in an exciting and dramatic way without giving away too much of the film's plot. From the texts we analysed we found the two minutes gave ample time to portray characters, protagonists and 'bit-piece' plot so the 'crescendo'of the film is not given away; thus preventing the film being ruined.
'The Devil Inside' trailer was the longest one of the trailers we analysed and, after watching the full film, we found that the scariest or most exciting parts of the film were shown in the trailer. This seemed the film was riddled with filler scenes. Yet 'Scream 4', the shortest trailer of them all, showed both victims and protagonists within the plot yet didn't reveal the main parts of the film. However, some of plot seemed abit vague and uncovered. So, we've decided to balance the two and go for around a two minute trailer as we believe it'll allow us to reveal enough of the plot without it dragging on or being too vague.
To gain a better understanding of how horror trailers are generally filmed we analysed how many shots and what shot types are often used. Over the course of the six trailers we found varying amounts of shots taken - from Scream 4 having only 58 shots in a 1:29 trailer to the Cabin in the Woods having 126 shots in a 2:25 trailer. The amount of shots used is evidently dependant on the length of the trailer; yet all have a lot of shots overall. This evidence will help greatly in how we'll have to shoot our trailer - obviously fast paced with a lot of cuts to create a fast paced and dynamic film. The use of extreme close up and close up shots seem to be extremely common in the genre. Points of intensity in each of the trailers are emphasised by an extreme closeup so emotions are clear - this adds to the 'scare-factor' in which the film is designed. So, we'll try and use this shot type a lot to create the intensity and fear needed to obtain a convincing trailer. Handheld camera shots and films have become a lot more popular in the film industry. The first real use of this style of shooting was found in the 1999, $248,639,099 grossing phenomenon 'The Blair Witch Project.' More recently, in films such as the The Devil Inside and The Exorcism of Emily Rose, this style is again used. This gives a brilliant 'home feel' to the trailer which intensifies the drama as it seems more realistic to the viewer - it's not trying to be some Hollywood blockbuster. I think using this technique in our filming will only add to the fear factor.
Each constituent element of a successful horror trailer is bound together by clever and convincing choices of mise-en-scene. With different styles of horror (psychological or physical) the mise-en-scene changes dependent. For a lot of the physical horrors, such as 'Scream 4' and 'Cabin in the Woods'the clothing and setting are fairly coherent with one another. For example, the clothing in each start fairly normal standard clothing then deteriorate throughout to more dirty and blood covered. The clothing that is used throughout the trailers are casual, this is so it relates with the target market group. Props and settings are equally important to master. Everything has a purpose in the trailer. For example, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre trailer has a lot of props and settings with dangerous and creepy connotations. Burnt cars and un-used farming machinery are littered throughout the film - in which both have dangerous connotations. This adds to the eery feel needed to create a horror film. On the other hand the trailer of 'The Devil Inside' is completely different. A lot of the setting had religious references or even based in a very clean hospital. With such a contrasting theme of story line to clean hospital the fear factor is again heightened. Throughout all of the horror trailers analysed it's clear that the settings are generally dark. This taps into the primal fear of the unknown - Achluophobia- Fear of darkness. (www.phobialist.com)
So we can go either of two ways - old and eery props and dark settings or a very clean cut feel which emphasised the dialogue/acting. Both techniques have proved to be effective in making a convincing horror film, yet I think the darkness style would be more effective and convincing as getting hold of an empty hospital may be difficult.
With such short trailers, around the two minute mark, dialogue is at its shortest. As it's obviously difficult to gain a genuine value for how many words are uttered, we simply noticed that minimal words were used. Some trailers, such as 'Insidious' did use a substantial amount more of dialogue to describe the complexity of the films situation - however it was the only trailer that used so many words. Generally, the focus was on the scening and the acting so dialogue would only take from the intensity. By looking at Texas Chainsaw Massacre it specifically uses little dialogue over a harmonic and eery music score. (The songs played at the beginning is called 'Song to the Siren' originally by Jeff/Tim Buckley, but most famously covered by a 1980's goth band named "This Mortal Coil", but the version in this trailer was recorded by a girl from a band called "Moneypenny" in the WB studio and isn't available for download anywhere, nor has it been released on CD.)www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_OVI4uet-w. The soft tone of the singing is very eery and completely contrasts the aggressive scenes shown. The dialogue gives a background to characters and potential situation without it dragging on. As the scenery changes around a minute it the dialogue dies down and heavy breathing and screams are a lot more predominant. This again heightens the trailers intensity and makes for convincing horror viewing. We found this technique makes the trailer seem a lot more proffessional, so we'll use this technique in our filming and use very minimal dialogue throughout. This will also be helpful, as maybe the camera quality isn't the best it could be so the dialogue may sound unprofessional anyway.
B+C
'The Devil Inside' trailer was the longest one of the trailers we analysed and, after watching the full film, we found that the scariest or most exciting parts of the film were shown in the trailer. This seemed the film was riddled with filler scenes. Yet 'Scream 4', the shortest trailer of them all, showed both victims and protagonists within the plot yet didn't reveal the main parts of the film. However, some of plot seemed abit vague and uncovered. So, we've decided to balance the two and go for around a two minute trailer as we believe it'll allow us to reveal enough of the plot without it dragging on or being too vague.
To gain a better understanding of how horror trailers are generally filmed we analysed how many shots and what shot types are often used. Over the course of the six trailers we found varying amounts of shots taken - from Scream 4 having only 58 shots in a 1:29 trailer to the Cabin in the Woods having 126 shots in a 2:25 trailer. The amount of shots used is evidently dependant on the length of the trailer; yet all have a lot of shots overall. This evidence will help greatly in how we'll have to shoot our trailer - obviously fast paced with a lot of cuts to create a fast paced and dynamic film. The use of extreme close up and close up shots seem to be extremely common in the genre. Points of intensity in each of the trailers are emphasised by an extreme closeup so emotions are clear - this adds to the 'scare-factor' in which the film is designed. So, we'll try and use this shot type a lot to create the intensity and fear needed to obtain a convincing trailer. Handheld camera shots and films have become a lot more popular in the film industry. The first real use of this style of shooting was found in the 1999, $248,639,099 grossing phenomenon 'The Blair Witch Project.' More recently, in films such as the The Devil Inside and The Exorcism of Emily Rose, this style is again used. This gives a brilliant 'home feel' to the trailer which intensifies the drama as it seems more realistic to the viewer - it's not trying to be some Hollywood blockbuster. I think using this technique in our filming will only add to the fear factor.
Each constituent element of a successful horror trailer is bound together by clever and convincing choices of mise-en-scene. With different styles of horror (psychological or physical) the mise-en-scene changes dependent. For a lot of the physical horrors, such as 'Scream 4' and 'Cabin in the Woods'the clothing and setting are fairly coherent with one another. For example, the clothing in each start fairly normal standard clothing then deteriorate throughout to more dirty and blood covered. The clothing that is used throughout the trailers are casual, this is so it relates with the target market group. Props and settings are equally important to master. Everything has a purpose in the trailer. For example, the Texas Chainsaw Massacre trailer has a lot of props and settings with dangerous and creepy connotations. Burnt cars and un-used farming machinery are littered throughout the film - in which both have dangerous connotations. This adds to the eery feel needed to create a horror film. On the other hand the trailer of 'The Devil Inside' is completely different. A lot of the setting had religious references or even based in a very clean hospital. With such a contrasting theme of story line to clean hospital the fear factor is again heightened. Throughout all of the horror trailers analysed it's clear that the settings are generally dark. This taps into the primal fear of the unknown - Achluophobia- Fear of darkness. (www.phobialist.com)
So we can go either of two ways - old and eery props and dark settings or a very clean cut feel which emphasised the dialogue/acting. Both techniques have proved to be effective in making a convincing horror film, yet I think the darkness style would be more effective and convincing as getting hold of an empty hospital may be difficult.
With such short trailers, around the two minute mark, dialogue is at its shortest. As it's obviously difficult to gain a genuine value for how many words are uttered, we simply noticed that minimal words were used. Some trailers, such as 'Insidious' did use a substantial amount more of dialogue to describe the complexity of the films situation - however it was the only trailer that used so many words. Generally, the focus was on the scening and the acting so dialogue would only take from the intensity. By looking at Texas Chainsaw Massacre it specifically uses little dialogue over a harmonic and eery music score. (The songs played at the beginning is called 'Song to the Siren' originally by Jeff/Tim Buckley, but most famously covered by a 1980's goth band named "This Mortal Coil", but the version in this trailer was recorded by a girl from a band called "Moneypenny" in the WB studio and isn't available for download anywhere, nor has it been released on CD.)www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_OVI4uet-w. The soft tone of the singing is very eery and completely contrasts the aggressive scenes shown. The dialogue gives a background to characters and potential situation without it dragging on. As the scenery changes around a minute it the dialogue dies down and heavy breathing and screams are a lot more predominant. This again heightens the trailers intensity and makes for convincing horror viewing. We found this technique makes the trailer seem a lot more proffessional, so we'll use this technique in our filming and use very minimal dialogue throughout. This will also be helpful, as maybe the camera quality isn't the best it could be so the dialogue may sound unprofessional anyway.
B+C
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