Trailer Proposal / Narrative Structure

Proposal/ Narrative Structure

We have proposed to make this particular trailer due to the nature of our film synopsis, the narrative of our film reflects the typical codes and conventions of supernatural horror films. For example, our narrative includes the supernatural, teenagers who are the typical victims of horror films, lots of suspense and anticipation that is shown through the unexplained occurrences that is included within our trailer. Theories such as the final girl theory by Carole J Clover which is a motif in horror films. It furthermore refers to the last woman alive in a horror film that may escape or confront a killer or evil entity, this is exemplified in our narrative as only one female character manages to escape the evil spirits that haunts the school which is our main setting. This last character is is always conventional. For instance, we made our final girl the most innocent, intelligent and obedient character to further illustrate that her ability to be the final girl is justified. Our narrative will also abide by Tzvetan Todorovs narrative theory of equilibrium which follows a three part structure where it begins with an equilibrium that is initially balanced, something then comes along to disrupt this equilibrium, furthermore leading to a final resolution which is also when the equilibrium is restored. 

Teaser Trailer/ Mandatory Documents - Production Process

Pre Production:

• Treatment - the treatment will enable our group to identify key aspects of our trailer to focus on - this includes establishing our trailers target audience , purpose, characters, script, technical requirements, risk assessments, schedules, scripts, storyboards, locations and also budgets. Everything mentioned down below is apart of the treatment:
• Production Schedule - To ensure members of the group know their roles within the production process, enabling them to concentrate on certain areas of production that they are assigned to.
• StoryBoard - To ensure their is a drawn layout for the narrative to enable our group to visualise our trailer.
• Shooting Script - To establish a well structured system for the shooting of our trailer during production, to ensure the shooting of our trailer is organised and efficient.
• Location Reconnaissance - The find the most suitable locations to film our trailer without any issues but also to find locations that will abide by horror conventions.
• Risk Assessment - The risk assessment is used to maintain health and safety while producing our trailer, this furthermore will ensure me and my group members are kept safe with no harm done to us.
• Budget - Is important to ensure the financial costs of our props are covered with finance that will be contributed by group members.

Production:

• Filming - Is considered to be the most important part of the production process, filming is essential to ensure we can edit our trailer during post production, but without film, making a realistic teaser trailer would be impossible.
• Logging Sheets - These will be used to keep a log of all the times we filmed, this will enable us to manage our filming schedule more effectively by using the logging sheet to identify when filming has taken place, furthermore allowing our group to meet deadlines of shooting.
• Call Sheets - These will be used to gain contact information of group members, furthermore increasing communication in our group which will increase our ability to work as a team.
• Equipment Requirements - This will help our group keep track of production equipment such as cameras, tripods, microphones, etc, leading to smooth, organised and systematic filming process.

Post Production:

• Editing Decision List - This is a list that will show the details of every single editing decision, this list will detail every cut that needs to be scraped which enables our group to only include the best standard shots for our teaser trailer.
• Editing - Is one of the most important parts of our teaser trailer production, editing is essential to ensure sound and imagery is in sync but also in reflection to our narrative, good editing is essential to ensure our trailer portrays the codes and conventions of horror. This includes eerie noises and lots of anticipation that is shown through edited shots.

Introduction - Film Concept

Introduction - Film Concept

Firstly, as part of a group of 4 , we have decided on the narrative for our final teaser trailer. To summarise, our narrative will consist of three main characters who are students in a school. The school has an important rule for students not to stay back after 6pm. The three students decide to defy this rule by going on an adventure within the school on the night of halloween 2016. They then come across a room that has tape on it to indicate that no one should be going inside. They then come across different supernatural spirits who leave a trails of vandalism for the students, They also stumble upon weird things happening inside the school, this includes creepy shadows, hand and footprints on the walls and other unnatural and unexplainable sightings. 

As we have decided the narrative for our trailer, we now need to plan our teaser trailer. To do this we have decided to distribute different production roles to members of our group. These roles include choosing the producer, director, production designer, director of photography, casting agents, editor, makeup artist, costume designer and prop manager. After choosing these roles, our group will also have to create a storyboard of our narrative which will help to structure the narrative but also to establish whether it is linear or nonlinear. Our narrative is linear because it follows a chronological order. We will also have a shooting script to illustrate what shots we will be using in scenes which will also provide organisation to our cinematography. Location recces will also be implemented, this includes visiting a potential filming location to workout its suitability for shooting, this also means considering the angles, lighting and sound present within the location itself along with research and risk assessments. Our group will also make title and graphic designs to use within the trailer itself, we will also obtain certain equipment to use as props for our final trailer. Furthermore, we will also test certain camera shots to see if they are effective and complementary to the genre of horror in a way that will abide by horror codes and conventions. We will also take photographs of the film shoot to track progress but also to show how we film, how we set up our equipment and how well we work as a group. Next, we will have to physically shoot the trailer itself which will be one of the most important parts of production. Post production will include editing the teaser trailer which will include using first hand produced soundtracks made from our group or using third party free copyright sound effects. During post production, we will have a rough edit and lastly a final edit. After all stages of production, we will finally showcase our finished teaser trailer.

Conclusion of Research Tasks

Our research tasks consisted of researching the purpose and functions of trailers and also analysing several trailers in both grid and non grid format. Firstly, from researching the purpose and function of trailers, i've found out how trailers are constructed and presented to the audience, therefore i can applied this knowledge and understanding to my own trailer. If i have extensive understanding of the purpose and functions of trailers, i will be able to create a trailer that follows purpose but also abides by typical functions which will make it more effective as my trailer would be created correctly. For example, from research, i had found that horror trailers follow a three part structure which includes the trailer having a quick paced but conclusive montage at the end. Therefore, from this research, i may also decide to implement a montage into my trailer in order to ensure i'm following the typical structure of a horror trailer which will lead to an effective but influential trailer being made while it follows general trailer codes and conventions. Also, from analysing many different horror trailers, i've also found out what my trailer should include. For instance, from many different horror trailers, i noticed that the music is very key and sets the tone for the trailer itself, therefore, i now understand the importance of background music in my own horror trailer. Also, analysing dissimilar trailers enables me to differentiate each trailer and see what each film trailer includes, therefore i can understand the codes and conventions of horror trailers more in depth, enalbing me to apply this to my own trailer. Also, when analysing trailers, i can see what the most important aspects of a horror trailer is, therefore i will ensure i focus on these aspects when making my own trailer , which will ensure my trailer is fully representative of the horror genre but also a conventional trailer at the same time, therefore leading to our trailer playing a more significant role within our marketing campaign for our film.

Mind Map - Ideas

As you can see, this mind map was made during a discussion with my group. This mind map reflects all the ideas we had contributed to the storyline of our trailer. Most of these ideas were introduced and altered from other horror films however we aimed to make our ideas as realistic as possible to ensure we maintain our trailers originality but also to abide by the typical codes and conventions of horror films.

Trailer Analysis - Friday The 13th

 Friday The 13th Trailer (1980)

Screenshot 1 - Old Man

• Representation - The elderly man within this shot is actually represented as knowledgeable and experienced which is emphasised through his traditional and conventional clothing. As you can see, the aged man is about to get on his bike to travel far away from the secluded location where everyone eventually gets murdered. This can therefore accentuate that he is wise, senior people within the trailer are therefore portrayed as valued members of society that can provide younger audiences with guidance and wisdom.

• Medium Long Shot - The medium long shot provides of the old male establishes both the character and setting. The shot can indicate to viewers that the old man is quite lonely but also harmless. This could imply that he is a protagonist, however, this shot is also showed briefly, therefore it could add a sense of enigma to the narrative of the trailer, which will make viewers think about who this character is and the role he plays within the story.

• Audience - This brief shot of the elderly man will help the trailer to maintain its anticipation, this is due to the unknown identity of the elderly man. However, this character is the only one that is mature in age, therefore the audience may think he is more significant to the story line that initially expected.

Trailer Analysis - Friday The 13^th

At different points in the trailer, we see both a knife and axe being wielded by the hand of the murderer who remains unknown. Immediately, this conforms to the codes and conventions of horror slasher films as these weapons are signifiers of murder and peril which are the main themes of a slasher. This trailer follows a linear narrative which is exemplified in the trailer through the use of numbers to indicate the number of victims that were murdered by the unknown killer in chronological order. The theory of binary opposites by Claude Levi Strauss is evident through the representation of the young and elderly. For instance, teenagers are portrayed as sinful which is emphasised through the two teenagers who were caught participating in sexual intercourse, this scene therefore indicates these teenagers to be disobedient but also troublesome. In contrast, we also see an old man that actually leaves the location where everyone is killed, this elderly man is therefore portrayed as well-informed and knowledgeable. The binary opposition between young and old is actually a positive concept as it introduces certain morals and values to the narrative such as respecting those who are older and wiser than you or even respecting the will of parents.

The nature of this film is based around the pain and suffering of victims who are killed savagely by the antagonist. However, some viewers within the audience might be sadistic, therefore they will have a tendency to derive pleasure and sexual gratification from the pain and suffering caused to others. The violent terror themes of this trailer, can definitely lead to sadistic viewers watching this film to achieve gratification the infliction of pain on others, this is due to number of victims that are actually brutally murdered within the trailer.  Within the trailer, the identity of the killer remains unknown which automatically abides by conventions of a slasher. This furthermore creates suspense and builds up anticipation amongst viewers who will be urging to know who this murderer is. In the trailer, the most used type of camera shot is the point of view shot which is used to show viewers the perspective of the killer. It therefore illustrates to the audience, what the murderer himself is looking at, it therefore enables viewers to empathise what the character in the trailer. If the audience is placed within the shoes of the killer, this also adds a lot of intensity to the narrative, as we can see the murders take place first hand yet we still don’t know who the killer is.

Although some men are victims in the trailer, a large fraction of the people who are killed, are screaming women. In contrast, we never hear male characters screaming in fear. The implementation of screaming women abides by the typical stereotypes of women, such as always being weak and vulnerable victims. In contrast, men are portrayed as dominant to females as they are killed silently. This therefore reflects that they do not show pain, but take it in a manly way. This contrasts greatly to the loud screams of women, this piece of diegetic sound can therefore emphasise that women are feeble. Within the trailer, we also hear eerie climactic sound effects continuously, this non diegetic sound creates a sinistrous tone that is established within the trailer, ultimately developing the tension of the trailer to a point of climax. The trailer also mainly utilises dim lighting, this is to emphasise the dark but evil theme of the film itself, which is a slasher horror. Dim lighting can also add a dramatic mood to the trailer which can also accentuate that the narrative reflects the genre of horror with lots of dramatic scenes.

Trailer Analysis - I Spit On your Grave/ Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Characters & Representation

Within the trailer, there were 2 female characters , 3 males and 3 antagonists who were cannibals. The female characters are sexually objectified however one of them support the theory of the Final Girl by Carol J Clover as they have some form of morals which is shown through a shot of them reading an astronomy book.  The three males are weak as they are killed first. The antagonists are illustrated as sinister through the use of masks and weapons that could symbolise dominance, murder and power.

Setting

Firstly, the setting consists of a farmhouse isolated from civilisation. The location of the film sets the tone of the film itself, for instance, a house that is far away from the city could imply that there is no form of escape or help, furthermore foreshadowing that something is bound to happen within this particular location. The setting is also a typical location for a slasher horror such as this one.

Narrative 

From watching the trailer, i believe the narrative is about a group of young sinful teenagers who go on a road trip, supposedly against the will of their parents. They stumble upon an old farmhouse where they discover a group of murderous outcasts living next door. The group is then attacked one by one by a chainsaw wielding leather face who wears a mask made of human flesh. The leather face is also accompanied by two other villains who are also cannibals. I believe the narrative also supports Tzvetan Todorovs narrative theory of equilibrium. This is where the trailers narrative follows three different stages. This includes a state of equilibrium that is balanced, then broken and finally repaired through a solution.

Theories

The theory of binary opposition can be applied to this trailer in the form of good and evil against each other which is represented through the leather face murderers against the young naive teenagers. Binary opposition was a theory made by Claude Levi-Strauss who believed that the conflict of a film is based around the binary opposites that are also the central climax of the narrative structure.

Types of shots used

There are many shots used within this trailer that emphasise different code and conventions of a horror trailer.  These shots include:

Low Angle Shot: To emphasise the inferior status of the female teenager, she is therefore portrayed as feeble and helpless , with the possible need of a dominant male figure to protect her, she therefore abides by the typical stereotypes of women.

Close Up Shot:  This shot shows a skeleton hand which could imply that the household is dangerous and possibly inhabited by psychotic killers,  The close up therefore signifies imperilment.

Over The Shoulder Shot: Used to show the villains from the final girls point of view, furthermore shows viewers the perspective of the woman, the shot could therefore show the pain and suffering the woman is going through, this gives an incite as to what she is going through in the hands of the leather face cannibals.

I Spit On Your Grave

Characters & Representation

From watching the trailer of I Spit On Your Grave, there are two distinctively obvious representations of characters consists of male and female portrayals. For instance, men are illustrated as quite savage and disrespectful people with no clear morals or ethics, this is show through their action of gang raping an innocent vulnerable woman. In contrast, the woman within this trailer starts off by conforming to typical stereotypes of women such as being weak and reliable on men. However, as the trailer progresses, we start to see that the woman becomes more independent and dominant, this is shown through her actions of getting revenge on the men that raped her. She therefore breaks  the stereotypes that were previously bestowed upon her at the start of the trailer. 

Setting

The setting of this film is located far deep into the woods of an unknown place. Woods are usually far away from civilisation but are also very isolated from the outside world. Isolation therefore can accentuate that the victim within the trailer, has no chance to break free from the antagonists, this location also emphasises pathetic fallacy as the environment of the location sets the dark and chilling tone for the rest of the film

Narrative

From watching the trailer, i believe the narrative of the trailer is quite simple. Its about a lonely innocent woman that goes on a journey to the woods on her canoe, she is then viciously attacked by a group of men in the area who strip her naked and rape her. After she is raped, she rises up from her traumatising experience by getting revenge on all the men that raped her, one by one. She then becomes a authoritative and powerful woman who kills the villains that once wronged her. This film also follows Tzvetan Todorovs narrative theory of equilibrium. This is where the trailers narrative follows three different stages. This includes a state of equilibrium that is balanced, then broken and finally repaired through a solution. The equilibrium is broken when the woman gets raped and it is then repaired when the woman kills the gang of rapists.

Theories

A theory that could apply to this trailer could be the Cultivation theory. This theory was composed by G. Gerbner and states that the more time people spend living in the television world, the more likely they are to believe social reality portrayed on television. For instance , if people watch films like I Spit On Your Grave, they will start to believe that living in the woods will consist of large groups of men that are sexual predators, people may start to believe what is shown in films like this. Another concept that could apply to this film is Sadistic Voyeurism. This is where certain viewers will find satisfaction watching someone else being sexually abused, someone people therefore take wrongful satisfaction from the plot of this trailer.

Types Of Shots Used

There are many shots used within this trailer that illustrates the different aspects, codes and conventions of horror films as well certain characters, objects and how they are presented. These shots include:

Medium - Long Shot: Is used to show a half naked man that is wearing no shirt, the shot could therefore emphasise the role that men play within the trailer, which are sexual predators. The shot could possibly foreshadow the sexual abuse that the woman experiences by the hand of a gang of men, this shot shows one of those men.

Close up Shot: Within the trailer, we see a close up shot of the main females hand gripping a knife, this shot could therefore signify a sense of uprising and vengeance as the woman uses the knife as a weapon. This furthermore illustrates the antagonists to be inferior to the female, who appears to gain power and dominance through her yielding of the sharp knife.

Long Shot: Within the trailer, there is a long shot that shows a female on a boat and a male floating in the water. The shot could emphasise the superior dominance of the female over the male, this is because the female is shown on a higher position to the male, accentuating that the male is beneath the woman, this furthermore belittles the male, implying that he is inferior. The shot also illustrates the breaking of stereotypes as the female is in fact more ascendant than the male, where as typical stereotypes would depict this to be visa versa.

Trailer Analysis - The Conjuring 2

This trailer represents media language in several ways. The initial shot is in birds eye view which gives the audience a looking down perspective which adds variety to the camera angles utilized within the trailer. The shot includes an old tape recorder which already emphasizes the pre modern theme of the film, it also adds a portentous tone to the shot. The voice is also of a lower quality in audio sound which also portrays the sound as quite threatening but also quite harrowing however it simultaneously illustrates a sense of nostalgia in diegetic form. In this particular shot , there is also no background sound which also builds up the suspense into a crescendo that reaches its climax later on in the trailer. 

Editing within the trailer is also very effective. Throughout the whole trailer, there are constant quick cuts and fades showing segments of the actual film itself. This not only draws attention but it also creates an signification of mystery. This editing technique is important as it doesn't expose too much of the film in a way that would dishearten viewers from going to watch it in theaters.

The mise en scene of the trailer is also specific to the genre. For instance, at minute 1:18 in the trailer , you will see a shot that is composed from different fearful aspects. In the shot there is a girl staring at a wall full of crosses. These props are used to inject a religious aspect onto the trailer, furthermore linking this with spiritual and demonic characteristics. Pockets of darkness also surround the girl, this also enhances the fear factor of the trailer because darkness is one of the main conventions of horror movies, the absence of light also creates the illusion of supernatural presence.

In the trailer, the girl is represented as the subject of weakness due to her consistent fear. Although innocent, she is burdened by evil which also supports the convention of a typical weak victim. Her bright red pyjamas also reinforces that she is still in her infancy which furthermore accentuates that she is unimpeachable. This furthermore attaches an ironic tone to the film. For instance, kids are usually noticed for creating things out of the ordinary through imagination, therefore having a child as a victim asks the question of whether anyone will help her.

The institution that created and distributed the film was Warner Bro, Pictures which is apart of a media conglomerate and acts as a subsidiary. Warner Bros. Pictures produces and distributes a wide-ranging slate of some 18-22 films each year, employing a business paradigm that mitigates risk while maximizing productivity and capital. Warner Bros. Pictures either fully finances or co-finances the films it produces and maintains worldwide distribution rights. It further monetizes its distribution and marketing operations by distributing films that are totally financed and produced by others. The conjuring 2 is a horror film and is also rated as R due to its horror and terror. R rated therefore results in people aged under 17 needing adult supervision. Furthermore, this could imply that the target audience of the film is mainly 17 years of age to the mature adult stage of the life cycle.

To expand further, Todorovs theory can link to this trailer. Tzvetan Todorovs narrative theory suggests that all narrative follow a three part structure where they begin with equilibrium, where everything is balanced, progress as something comes along to disrupt that equilibrium, and finally reach a resolution when the equilibrium is restored. This can be seen within the trailer as the girl gradually becomes haunted by the supernatural presence in the house, the equilibrium was balanced until it was disrupted which is exemplified through the introduction of the evil spirits and characters. Every story must have an end therefore a restoration of the equilibrium is bound to happen and this is usually always foreshadowed within every horror movie.

The narrative of the film itself is also very intriguing. It begins in 1977 where paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren come out of a self-imposed sabbatical to travel to En field, a borough in north London. There, they meet Peggy Hodgson, an overwhelmed single mother of four who tells the couple that something evil is in her home. Ed and Lorraine believe her story when the youngest daughter starts to show signs of demonic possession. As the Warrens try to help the besieged girl, they become the next targets of the malicious spirit.

Narrative Lesson / My Narrative Idea

Firstly, in today's lesson we had learnt about the elements of narrative which consist of the following:

Flashbacks - Used to create suspense, structure the narrative

Enigma - Roland Barthes Theory - Refers to mystery within a narrative where clues are dropped but no clear answers are provided, Enigmas within the narrative make the audience want to know more, unanswered enigmas tend to frustrate the audience.

Analepsis - A narrative device that shows what has happened before the present, this also gives the audience more information on the narrative, helping them understand the story in further detail. An analepsis can be internal or external.

Internal Analepsis - Flashback to an earlier point within the story, this is different to a an external analepsis because it is a flashback of something that has already been seen by the audience.

External Analepsis - Flashback to a further point past where the story begins, this is a point that hasn't even been seen by the audience which is why its differentiated from an internal analepsis.

The Narrative Structure - Todorovs Theory - which is the theory of equilibrium where the setting and key characters are established and the story line is set up. There is then a disruption of the equilibrium by oppositional characters such as the antagonist. There is then a recognition of disruption which leads to an attempt to repair the equilibrium. The equilibrium is then reinstated with a solution.

Claude Levi Strauss - Theory of Binary Opposition - Strauss stated that all narratives are driven forward by conflict that is caused by character and event opposing each other. Oppositions in films consist of Good & Evil , Natural and supernatural and even power and weakness.

Linear Narrative - Telling a narrative from beginning to end is called linear because it follows a chronological order. A linear narrative includes a main plot, characters, setting, climax and resolution. Linear narratives typically present stories from start to end without using flashbacks to often.

Non-Linear Narrative - Non linear narratives consist of an order of events that is rearranged or deconstructed in a way that reflects the central characters state or the story's theme. Events within this narrative are normally portrayed out of chronological to purposely confuse viewers. Non Linear narratives are likely to use flash backs and flash forwards.

Overall, we learnt about several elements of narrative however we also were able to apply this to certain well known film theories such as Binary opposites, equilibrium and even the enigma code. These elements helped my shape my own narrative but also give me an idea of how horror narratives are structured , i furthermore used to my advantage to create a horror narrative that would abide by some of these elements.

Idea - Narrative

Firstly, my idea for a narrative will consist of two main characters that are best friends however they are both thrill seekers in a way that will make them do stupid and reckless actions. The two characters names are Damien and Buster, although they are both thrill seekers, Damien seems to be more timid and cautious of his actions. Firstly, Damien and Buster decide to explore a Forest/Graveyard in an attempt to find out whether a ghostly myth or story is true or not. This story consists of a haunted Forest/graveyard that has been previously mysterious sighting of the supernatural but also of shadowy figures. However, the two best friends explore the legends and rumors in a humorous attempt without taking anything too seriously. While they explore the forest/graveyard, they stumble upon demonic symbols that signifies an evil presence. As they investigate further into the surroundings of the forest/graveyard, they sense a feeling of uncertainty that leads on to them thinking that they are being watched by something. All of sudden, Buster turns around and Damien is no where to be seen. Buster frantically goes looking for Damien for a short period of time shouting his name repeatedly echoing through the forest. Catching a glimpse out of the corner of his eye, Buster sees a hooded figure facing away from him , on the back of this figure, Buster views what seems to be the same symbol discovered earlier on the floor which seems to be linked to a demonic emblem. At the end, Buster quotes, "is that you Damien" which leaves the narrative in a cliffhanger. Although i have contributed this narrative to my group, our actual narrative may be different than this.

Research - Horror Presentation/ Marketing Campaign

Trailer Analysis - Psycho/ Babadook & Female Representation

Media Language

Cinematography - Within the trailer, there are many different shots that are used to emphasize and illustrate aspects of the slasher trailers setting, characters and themes. As a result, camera shots are significantly important in shaping the meaning & narrative of the trailer.

• Long shot - 4 seconds into the trailer, there is a long shot used to establish the location & setting of the motel, within the shot, the weather consists of night time rain, this type of climate is quite misty but also obscure, this could possibly suggest the theme of no escape, furthermore foreshadowing that something bad is bound to happen. The darkness and dim lighting of the long shot also sets a daunting tone for the rest of the trailer, emphasizing that the trailer is abiding by typical horror conventions. 
• Low Angle Shot - At 51 seconds in the trailer, you can see a low angle shot of a man( The Killer ) who is dragging his victim. Due to the shot being low angle, this could accentuate the dominant status of the antagonist as he is above the victim. During the shot , the camera also uses a backwards tracking shot which was most likely done through the use of a handheld camera. This technique of camera work enables the trailer to maintain action at a constant distance but also keeps the subject on screen within the frame.
• Close Up Shot - At 1:21 , there is a very quick shot of a knife. The knife not only abides by codes and conventions of horror films but its use as a prop in the mise en scene emphasizes the films sub genre to be a slasher/horror. The knife furthermore could be a semiotic symbol of danger but also murder, it furthermore signifies severance and slaughter.

Editing -  By definition, film editing is the art, technique and practice of assembling shots into a coherent sequence. Editing also describes the relationship between shots and the process by which they are combined. The relationship between shots may be graphic,spatial and/or temporal.

• Transitions - From 26 - 34 seconds, there is a succession of fade out transitions used from shot to shot. These transitions could be used to help viewers structure the narrative. Within the shot, props include an envelope supposedly of money and also a suitcase being packed, the transitions could therefore imply or suggest that the women is going to travel because of what might be in the envelope. The transition therefore shows an important part of the narrative and shows viewers the reason as to why the women is moving out in the first place. 
• Quick Cuts - From 1:19 - 1:24, there are lots of consecutive shots for a brief duration. These cuts could have been used to convey lots of information to viewers,for instance, quick cuts provides more structure to the narrative of the trailer without revealing the resolution. These quick cuts also portray lots of energy an chaos within the trailer which could imply that there is a lot of action. The pace of the quick cuts can also build up tension and anticipation to a point of climax. This part of editing can also compile a short montage showing the best bits of the film which abides by the typical narrative structure of horror trailers.

Institution

Production - Although Psycho was an iconic film made by Alfred Hitchcock in the 60s, it was only produced by one company which was Shamley Productions. Shamley Productions was an American production company, set up by Alfred Hitchcock himself. The company oversaw the production of Psycho altogether which includes pre production , production and post production stages. By having the film produced by a production company owned by Alfred Hitchcock, effectively allowed him to produce the film in a way that would suit his ideas and preferences, as a result of his historical legacy, Alfred Hitchcock was able to produce Psycho in a way that would show audiences a new genre of film which was horror in the form of a slasher thriller.

Distribution - In contrast to the one production company of the film, distribution of the film was done on a much large scale with at least 25 different companies distributing Psycho on a global scale. The most recognizable distribution companies would be Paramount and Universal along with its international subsidiary's which helped to attract wider audiences internationally. As Psycho was released in 1960, the film couldn't take advantage of digital distribution as the internet wasn't even invented back then. However, Psycho was released and showcased in worldwide theaters which enabled it to gain a box office of 50 million.

Genre

Genre/Sub Genre - Although the film falls into the genre of horror , the sub genre of Psycho is an horror/slasher, this is because the trailer consists of a killer who murders the protagonist with a knife. There are many codes and conventions shown in the trailer that shows this is a horror but also a slasher. These conventions consist of :

• Prop of the knife - The weapon is typically used by the antagonist of slasher films, the villain within the trailer also remains unidentified which also creates a sense of mystery, an enigma of horror films.
• Beautiful women as the victim - This is now the norm of horror movies, the woman in Psycho is the victim because she is portrayed as weak in comparison to males such as the police officer who stops her, she is also illustrated as vulnerable but also innocent in some aspect which is why her role as a victim is emphasized as unjustified.
• Killer/Murderer - The killers identity within the trailer is unknown, this therefore keeps the audience on edge but also amplifies the enigma of the film, building tension is imperative in slasher films to ensure the audience are shocked at climactic points of the film which is accentuated within the trailer.
• Location - The location of the setting within the trailer is a motel, however this motel is in a quiet suburban town to create an element of isolation and vulnerability for the victim within the trailer. As the location is far from civilization, this could introduce an aspect of panic but also fear.Within the trailer, rain also occurs at the location which is also used as a method of creating an spine chilling atmosphere.
• Lighting - Although the trailer is in dark & white, throughout the trailer there is a lot of dim lighting that can be noticed. For instance, the beginning consists of a shadow figure holding a knife. This also adds to the enigma of the film which essentially abides by Roland Barthes theory. The connotations of shadows are also one of the most conventions of slasher films because it helps to keep the killers identity unknown, furthermore building upon anticipation.
• Sound - High pitched tense music starts at the beginning of the trailer, the eerie hard on the ears music is another code of horror films. This piece of non diegetic sound makes the audience feel very apprehensive as it creates a sinister feeling of suspense with its crescendo chords. The music is used constantly throughout horror movies as it triggers an ingrained response in the minds of viewers making them feel quite anxious and disturbed.

Representation

Firstly, representation is the way aspects of society such as gender, age or ethnicity are presented to audiences. Characters within the psycho trailer are portrayed in many different ways.

Woman( Protagonist)- Firstly, the main woman of the trailer is represented in several ways however they are negative. During the trailer, the woman is always wearing a nice dress or clothes which supports the stereotype of women being obsessed with appearance. It could also imply that women place importance upon wealth which is accentuated by the quality of clothes worn by the woman. Within the trailer, there are also many facial expressions created by the woman that suggests fear and shock. This can therefore imply that the woman is feeble, her feminine status is also constructed as very submissive. This is a negative representation because it abides by stereotypes of women being the weaker gender which has been and still is one of the main stereotypes in society.

Man (Antagonist)- Within the trailer, the status of men are shown as much more authoritative than women. This can be emphasized through the low angle shot at 52 seconds. The fact that there is a women beneath a man definitely suggests that the man is more dominant in terms of status. This also abides by stereotypes of men taking the main role of movies however as this man is actually the villain, this exemplifies the depth of his status even more because even as a antagonist, he is able to have a higher status than the woman character of the trailer. Women are therefore shown as subjective to men which is negative representation as it supports the concept of gender inequality. The man of the trailer is also very tall which can amplify his status further to be superior to the woman.

Overall, within the trailer, men are portrayed as superior to women which is represented through the mise en scene and camerawork , these representations also abide by typical stereotypes however female stereotypes are negative where masculine stereotypes are positive.

Audience

Psycho is rated as R which means people under the age of 17 need parental assistance. The rating of the film is evident within the trailer as it contains very graphic themes of the slasher sub genre, also, during the 1960s these types of films were very new and never seen before, this means even adults may have found the content within the film to be very disturbing. Judging by the trailer, i believe the target audience is people from the age of 18-35. People just over 18 would want to watch this film because it contains a lot of tense moments, young people are usually thriller seekers therefore they feed off the anticipation of horror films such as this. Anyone over the age 35 wouldn't want to watch the film because they may feel its a waste of time but also a wrong and unrealistic representation of reality.I think the trailer doesn't target any specific ethnicities , ages or genders as it consists of both men and women. The uses and gratifications theory can be applied to this film. For example, audiences may watch this film for entertainment such as enjoyment and passing the time however if people watch films like Psycho too often, they may start to think that these films are actually depictions of reality which supports the cultivation theory. More often, in terms of the uses and gratifications theory, more people are likely to watch this film because of integration and social interaction. This is where people may watch the film to emphasize or sympathize with characters. In this case, audiences may have sympathy for the woman of the trailer who is eventually killed, therefore the trailer can provide them a way of emphasizing with the feelings of characters shown in the films trailer such as the feeling of being alone and scared. The uses and gratifications was also created by Bulmer and Katz in 1974. People may also watch the film as a way of escaping the reality, for instance, some people may find bore within their daily lives, watching psycho might therefore inject some sort of action or energy into there lives.

Narrative 

I believe the narrative of this trailer is actually non linear as its quite hard to guess which segments of the film are in order or not. This juxtaposes Todorovs theory of equilibrium as the trailers narrative doesn't follow a three part structure. The trailers narrative could also be open because it includes many different characters and the ending is quite unclear. For example, the character of the police man is also shown once, however he could return as the killer, the narrative is therefore quite unpredictable. The narrative follows the theory of Binary Opposites by Claude Levi Strauss. The binary opposites within the trailer consist of good vs evil such as killer vs victim. This therefore provides more structure to the narrative as we know there are two types of characters against each other. This trailer definitely follows Roland Barthes theory of enigma which is the mystery of a film. Within the trailer, although we see many faces, we dont know who the actual killer is unless someone has previously watched the film, this therefore adds a sense of mystery to the narrative but also attracts viewers to watch the film, as they would want to found out who the killer is which also provides the trailer with an element of obscurity.

Babadook - Female Representation

Within the trailer, the representation of women is constructed in a way that shows females conforming to typical stereotypes. For instance, the story itself is about a woman and child who are haunted by the supernatural with no support system. The mother within the trailer is therefore showed as independent, however the question could be raised that she needs the assistance of a masculine figure in her life, her isolation and independence accentuates her need for a dominant male to protect her. Women therefore could be subliminally showed as submissive to men. This is even further exaggerated within the trailer. For example, within the trailer there are many scenes where the helpless mother looks for assistance , these scenes show her talking to different men for advice such as a male police officer. The theory of the male gaze can therefore implemented within this representation as parts of the trailer shows the scene from a male perspective, furthermore accentuating the superiority of the male gender.

Trailer Analysis - Hush

Hush -  Trailer Analysis

Shots

Within the trailer there has been a range of different shots implemented to present and exaggerate different aspects of horror. For instance, at the beginning of the trailer, there is a long shot that introduces the setting and location of the trailer itself however this particular shot uses the technique of panning to the point where we see a secluded house in the middle of the woods. The location itself is quite a cliche within horror movies as isolated houses are utilised to accentuate the idea of no escape or help. The long shot is therefore used to establish the uncanny setting of the horror.

At 1:28 seconds, there is also a medium long shot that shows the villain of the narrative. The shot shows the antagonist wearing a sinister mask. The mask also is a signature of a typical convention within horror films such as this one, most horror film villains usually wear masks therefore they are quite symbolic of other horror films such as Friday The 13th. The shot also includes a dim background with low key lighting. The setting behind the villain is quite gloomy but also extremely unilluminated, the characters composition is accurately placed in the middle of the screen to enable viewers to see the background simultaneously, the background adds an inauspicious tone to the character that is portrayed. The medium long shot combined with the elements of lighting and composition overall illustrates the villain to be quite daunting however the characters status is also compiled of surroundings such as darkness in the form of shadows and pockets of pitch black. The villains mask is also a signifier of danger which supports semiotics. This is essentially meaningful communication through the use of sign processes, in regards to this trailer, the mask could be used as a way to communicate a sense of fear into the audience.

Narrative

This particular trailer abides by the three part structure of horror trailers. At first, we see a woman (Victim) who is living a normal life however the problem arises when the masked man appears outside of her house. This could also be depicted as the disruption within the equilibrium which supports Vladimir Propps theory of equilibrium. The third act occurs near the end of the trailer which takes place in the form of a fast paced montage. The narrative is also easy to identify due to the use of constant graphic text on the screen at the beginning. This text gives us an incite as to what the film could be about.

Audience Theories

Uses & Gratifications Theory - This theory can be applied to any media text in order to show why an audience consumes a certain text such as the Hush trailer. This theory states that all media is constructed in order to fulfill the audiences needs. This theory comes under four main parts. These are known as information, personal identity,integration and social interaction and also entertainment. Information is the idea of audiences wanting to find out about society and the world which is an attempt to satisfy curiosity. Personal identity is the idea of watching media that is relatable to the normal life of audiences. Integration and Social integration is the idea of using media to find out more about the circumstances of other people perhaps through empathy or sympathy. Lastly, entertainment is people watching media for entertainment purposes such as passing the time or relaxation. Many of these ideas within the uses and gratifications theory can be applied to the horror trailer i have chosen. For instance, audiences may watch the actual film based on the trailer because they want to be entertained. This means they might watch it to get an adrenaline rush or to enjoy the tense moments of the film. However, other people also watch the film as an attempt to satisfy sadistic tendencies. For example, someone may find gratification by watching a lonely woman being constantly in danger which is quite sadistic. This could also be interpreted as sadistic voyeurism. Audiences may also watch the film as an attempt of social interaction. For instance, within the trailer, the woman is deaf, therefore audiences may watch the film in order to empathize with the character to see how she deals with certain situations, although deaf people are disadvantaged, audiences may watch to see what their role is in the film. Another reason could also be as an attempt of sympathy. Some audiences may feel sorry for the woman therefore they are drawn to watch the film in order to sympathize and understand the character on an extensive level.

Cultivation Theory- the more people spend time living in the television world, the more likely they are to believe the social reality portrayed on television. The process is cultivated because it only occurs over a long period of time. This can be applied to the film Hush for many different reasons. For instance, people may watch the film Hush and based on the violence and terror content of the film itself, audiences may feel desensitized to the violence. The definition of desensitized is to cause someone an experience, usually an emotion stronger than ever before. After watching Hush, audiences may feel that people who live in the middle of the words, are more prone to being watched and haunted by murderers and killers. Due to this scenario being quite frequent within horror movies, people who watch these types of films more often are likely to be influenced by its social reality portrayed in films.

Trailer Analysis x 3

Trailer Analysis Grid

Trailer Analysis 1 - Conjuring 2

Trailer Analysis 2 - Don't Breathe

Trailer Analysis 3 - Nightmare On Elm Street

Summary

Overall, analysing three separate trailers in grid format has enabled me to identify the most important aspects of trailers, the grid format also is easy to read and clear, therefore it aids with my analytical skills. For example, the grid format includes several sub headings which consists of the trailers narrative, location, characters, themes, pacing, on-screen graphics, editing and music. These subheadings are useful as trailer analysis is easier to breakdown as the grid format helps me analysis the trailer in sections rather than all at once.