"Movie Trailers" examines the world of movie trailers and this short, but effective visual medium for promoting upcoming films. We will examine a range of different movie trailers and by the end of the unit you will make one in small groups. Formative Assessment.Film trailers are intended to get audiences excited about seeing a film at the cinema. However, trailers are also a form of condensed storytelling. In just a couple of minutes a trailer can establish genre and mood, introduce character and setting and establish plot and key themes.Film trailers are narrative and persuasive texts, which will help you focus on your literacy skills. The short duration and strong visual and auditory content means that trailers should engage you all. During this unit you should be able to discuss and articulate your knowledge and understanding of the visual texts we watch in class. You will also get to devise and make a movie trailer for a fictious movie of your own choosing in groups.
Film trailers are an engaging way to learn about fiction genres and narrative structure. It is important that genre is established in a trailer as it grabs the attention of audiences that studios know will want to see the film. If it’s a fantasy then fans of that genre will want to see your films more than the very different audience demographic who will be more interested in then latest romantic comedy. The trailer’s voiceover or text on screen will sometimes quite overtly compare a new film to a previous, successful film that the studio released in the same genre (e.g. "From the people who bought you…"). Of course, when choosing moments from the film the film studio will often choose a range of sequences (action, romance, comedy) to show that their film has ‘something for everyone’. Typical narrative structure is often broken down in this way:
- Opening: establishes setting and introduces character
- Build up: Relationships established. Development of characters and their world
- Problem: a dilemma or series of complications. Characters are faced with an obstacle to overcome a mystery to solve, or often more than one
- Events: a series of events/action as characters try to overcome obstacle, solve problem, discover truth and so on. Further complications may arise in the process
- Resolution: the protagonists are victorious, problems are solved, truth revealed
- Ending: characters reflect on events, reinstate relationships and look forward.
The narrative structure of a film trailer could be simply shortened to this:
- Opening
- Build Up
- Problem
- Events
Occasionally people complain that film trailers give far too much away. An effective trailer avoids any suggestion of resolution and ending, perhaps just a hint that the protagonist is going to learn an important lesson. The intention is to leave audiences wanting more, not feeling they have seen all the ‘best bits’ already. The key events are often put in non-chronological order so the actual film will not be too predictable.
Once key moments from a film have been chosen the editors who cut the trailer refer to editing conventions (some might say clichés) that can provoke the intended emotions and begin to tell the story. The following are some examples that can be seen in horror, action and fantasy:
- Long shots to establish character, setting and the 'dilemma'
- Fades to black that suggest shifts in time
- Transitions accompanied by booming SFX, building tension and placing significance on the text on screen – often white on black
- Short shots and quick cuts of some of the most exciting moments from the film, the ‘events’ that lead to resolution but not necessarily in chronological order
- Quiet music to establish story, menacing music to highlight villains, build to a crescendo
- Sudden moments of quiet and silence between and after music and SFX, which have equal impact on mood and pace.
Trailers for a comedy are very different. Editors can play fast and loose with transitions to create a lighter touch. The use of split screens, wipes and sound effects become acceptable as the film is not to be taken seriously. The voiceover and text on screen will most likely feature the film’s USP, its unique selling point. This will be something that can be communicated on a poster. If lots of the chosen moments of the film feature character dialogue then these phrases may appear on screen to read instead. Here is a selection of commonly used techniques:
- 'This Season'… (creates a sense of anticipation)
- 'From the people who brought you…' (refers to established audience)
- 'Based on the unbelievable true story…'
- 'Based on the bestselling book…'
- Star names (actors or director)
- The title (often heard and seen at the same time to cement it in viewers' minds)
- Official website so audiences can find out more
Aside from these persuasive features however, the language on screen and in the voiceover can also establish the narrative. Words chosen can suggest key themes and summarise the plot in a grand way to suggest the plot is timeless and universal. Some clichéd examples are:…They will find hope where they least expect it
One man's destiny…
…She will face her biggest challenge
...It will change their lives forever!
...Experience a new kind of fear
Storyboarding and writing a voiceover script for a film trailer is a useful activity for any student studying film. You are creating a multi-genre text that requires you to consider different audiences and communicate a lot of information clearly. However, trailer making can be taken further to encompass teamwork and social skills, ICT, drama, and other cross-curricular opportunities.CLASSROOM TASKS: Reading trailers Film pitch When presenting a pitch, start with The production team Script and storyboards Production design Filming Editing Marketing and screening
As a class watch and discuss a wide range of age-appropriate trailers from different genres. Explore the typical characters, settings and plots that are synonymous with those genres and how these are established in the trailers. Compare and contrast the purpose and effect of editing techniques used in trailers for fantasy, comedy, action, world cinema etc. Use these viewing (reading) sessions to explore the use of camera angles, music, sound, light and colour and discuss the choices made to excite, entertain and tease the audience.
Filmmakers have to 'pitch' their ideas to producers, who decide if the film will be made. Prepare and present a film pitch. Your teacher will play the role of producer and studio executive. Your film idea could be adaptations of children’s novels (that haven’t already been made into a film) or stories from other areas of the curriculum, such as history.
This is when groups can decide who is good at what and decide roles within their team. Each group needs actors, a director, editors, someone to operate the camera frame, each shot etc. Of course many roles will be shared.
The more thought you as a group put into planning the more successful the filming and editing will be. This is the most important stage of the process. You need to plan and draw storyboards considering shot types and camera angles. You can even start thinking about music here. The voiceover script, on-screen text and any dialogue needs to be written now too.
There is a link to Art / Design / and Technology if any sets, props or costumes need to be designed. Actors need to be rehearsing at this time and the camera crew deciding on locations and lighting.
The most fun stage still requires patience and teamwork. You can watch the 'rushes' on the camera's monitor and may need to re-shoot sequences. The script and storyboard should be closely referred to throughout. The better the planning, the easier the shoot will be.
This process will take the longest. Footage needs cropping and sequencing before transitions, text, music and sound effects are added. You can add their voice-over using built-in or external microphones and add it to the soundtrack. Groups may want to split up and edit their footage in pairs so they can compare each result and evaluate together. Is the story clear and engaging?
Groups can create campaigns for their films with a poster and website to accompany their trailer. Your finished work will be screened in front of the whole class and we will ask for evaluation and feedback from other pupils. Are they interested in the characters and stories in the trailers? Would they want to see these films in their entirety?
