Trailers: Forms and Conventions

Horror Forms and Conventions : Trailers

Trailers tend to have a number of typical elements that are used to attract its audiences, these elements consist of:

• Trailers usually tend to last for up about 2-3mins, however teaser trailers tend to last up to 30-90 seconds. The reason for this is so that they are not giving too much information to the audience. When looking at both trailers of a particular film we tend to notice that scenes may be repeated which makes the audience intrigued meaning that they will have to watch the film to know what happens.
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Examples; Woman in black teaser trailer lasting for 47 seconds.

Example 2: The official trailer lasting for 1 minute and 42 seconds.

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• Fast pace editing 
• Fast cutting
  
• Shots being thought out very well, meaning that the shots have been placed there for a reason, as every shot are purposely linked to the scene being showed. This may be done to point out something to the audience
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• Range of visual styles; for example if a hand-held camera was used in a scene this connotes that it was more of a natural scene rather than a stylised scene or sometimes it may have other styles such as classic horror styles, horrors that promote realism etc.

Example; Blair witch project has elements of hand held camera being used.

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• A focus on dramatic high points for example where conflict, confrontation or tragedy are portrayed, the audience familiarise themselves with the roles being played by the characters. This tends to happen with scenes where there is conflict, death etc.
• A break with continuity filming principles this consist of jump cuts, the most grabbing scenes of a film making the audience more engaged which is very familiar with scenes were something bad is about to happen.
• In a trailer the scenes shown are never put in order from its original film. They tend to form an unfinished story whereby the audience will want to know more about what will happen.  

Example: In the trailer of insidious the trailer doesn't tell us what happens in the film and the reason why. They only showed some of the processes that occurred in the film but not in its correct order so that the story line is not given away completely.

• We also see character traits, especially of the main characters so that the audience are familiar with the characters before seeing the film this usually tends to be the bad person, the character being haunted, the character who saves the victim etc. 
• In a trailer there tends to be a main 'three act structure' that is used, this includes
  "Act 1" - This lays out the premise of the story. "Act 2" - this drives the story further to another level and usually ends with a dramatic climax which is very powerful. "Act 3" - This often consists of visual montage of strong, powerful and emotional moments from the film that will grab the audiences attention quickly this may also contain cast details.
• Heavy emphasis on close-ups, this is essential information due to the main fact that close-ups can be understood a lot easier by the audience in comparison to a long shot, this is also a necessity in fast-paced trailers.
• Special effects are also used, this consists of slow motion, freeze frames, fades, wipes, fast pans etc.
• Voice overs are used to provide the main narrative link, for example the voice can explains what the audience sees.
• Character dialogue acts like a voice over, this is often used as a 'sound bridge' where we as an audience see the character speaking and then his or her voice continues as we see the shots related to what they are saying. This has the same function as a voice over but focuses more on narrative link between shots.
• Soundtracks tend to add to the scene this is essential this can be classed as mood music however themed songs may be used. 
• Voice overs and dialogue are also classed as soundtracks - They are mainly used as a narrative to explain to audience in case they are confused etc.
• Trailers are never shown in order compared to its original film.
• Captions (words over images) and Inter-titles (words between images) usually tends to provide details of stars, directors, previous films, similar films etc
• The typical length for a teaser trailer last for up to 30 -90 seconds and a full length trailer lasts for up to 2-3minutes.
• Trailers are direct messages addressed to cameras
• Trailers included important messages such as the day month and year of release

Example of a teaser trailer :

The teaser trailer for the Human Centipede 2

Length: The teaser trailer for the human centipede 2 uses the known forms and conventions for a trailer which is not revealing too much to the audience which is shown through 50 seconds.

What teasers do: A teaser is just to make the audience thirsty and hunger for more information about the film and what will happen. Teaser trailers usually tend to prepare the audience before the official trailer comes out nearer to the time of its release date.

Fast pace cutting and Sound: In this trailer we are introduced to the first human centipede film so that the audience are automatically aware that this is a continuation of the film. We start hearing loud music which goes with the theme along with this we hear groaning and tears before we see a cut which is . We also hear noises similar to a dog barking which implies that the character is sick and has no mercy. Just before the scene switches to the film that they are promoting we hear a loud cry screaming saying something that sounded like 'NO' this instantly makes us worried and we think what will happen next. While the trailer for the Human Centipede 2 carries on we hear strange bizarre noises and laughter which could be linked to the security man having power over the victims he has captured. 

Close ups: In the trailer we see some close ups of weapons. I also noticed that the colours used was in black and white which could connote that they didn't want to give away the true colours of this film creating a dark atmosphere.

Credits, Certificates and Release date: These are usually shown at the end of a trailer. On this trailer we can see both credits and certificates, however release dates are expected on trailers which come out nearer to the time of when the film will be released.

Length: This trailer last for 2 minutes and 7 seconds.

Release date: This is the actual trailer showed sooner to the release date. 

Selection of scenes: Trailers are very important because if the trailers are not interesting and attention drawing the audience will not be interested in the film this is done by the suspense and action added in the trailers. 

Story Plot: When we are introduced to the trailer they do not show a bit of the first human centipede they just show the 2nd part as the audience are already aware that it is a continuation of the first film. However we see the security man called 'Martin' looking very disturbed when strangely admiring the first human centipede. He almost looks as if he is masturbating over it which is strange as other people would do this with a magazine, by this we can instantly tell that there is something wrong with him. We then see someone who comes to see him to ask him why he has been behaving every strangely. 

Voice over: We then hear a voice over where we hear his worried mum explain what she has been hearing him while we see Martin with his planning book. When the psychologist gives Martin's mum an explanation we then start seeing scenes of matters getting worst as we see this the sound starts building up before it stops after his mother finds his book. 

Soundtrack: While the trailer carried on we notice the music stopped which makes us feel like he has been caught out and everything will be fine. However we then see him carrying out his plans. 

Fast cutting: Throughout the trailer we see flashes of a real centipede which is a constant reminder of the main purpose of the film and what Martin is trying to achieve. 

Sound - non diagetic and diagetic: As the trailer comes to an end we hear a loud cry with a scream and then see and hear the sound of a centipede walking connoting his mission will be done.