Film Trailer ResearchBy Scott Naylor and Lucy Payne

Good Points•Trailer flows really well, there is no stopping and starting between clips•Soundtrack also flows really well, music doesn't stop in the background, only quietens. Also has typical music for a sci-fi film, e.g, music from 2001: A Space odyssey, and other music such as The Prodigy - Out of space, which links to the genre of film and also adds comedy•Trailer shows what type of comedy it will be•Characters are likeable which will draw an audience in, and have typical goodies and baddies, which also will make the audience want to know how the story ends•Good pace, starts off slowly, but then builds tension towards the end, and ends on a light note which also indicates how the movie will go, and leaves the audience laughing and wanting to see the film•Text is good, as it is simple, but easy to read, there is not too much on the screen to read which is also goodBad Points•Makes the film kind of predictable, in that you know two people are going to find an alien, and try to hide it from the baddies and will most likely get away

Through the mise-en-scene of this trailer, the impression that I get of the film is that the characters will be likeable and your typical sci-fi geeks, with their unkempt hair and graphic t-shirts, and that the baddies will be government or police, with their suits and badges. I also get the impression that it will be a high energy film with all of the different locations and explosions.

Conventions/Iconography: Title/text is in silver which is related to sci-fi, the title also has an alien head in the A, again linking the trailer back to the genre of the film. Soundtrack is very space themed.In our trailer: We would like to use a similar colour scheme, and hopefully have a soundtrack that relates the genre of the film.

PAUL

TRAILER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdHUQtnJsyQ

MEN IN BLACK

TRAILER

Good Points•Explains what the film is about, you know the genre of it within the first 20 seconds•Good text again, like the way it fades out so the audience definitely has time to read it•Shows the types of characters, the one in charge, the new guy joining in that might mess up at first but gets the hang of it in the end...•Funny clips which also show that it is a comedy as well as a sci-fi and again show the type of comedy that will be in the movie•Voice over is good, typical, deep American male voice, saying the names of the actors in the film•Film has a tag-line which is funny and will also make the film/trailer more memorable•Good animations, and 'MIB' symbol is good, the way the characters go through it and then it zooms out to show the symbol, showing that they are the 'Men In Black' and the main charactersBad Points•Soundtrack is a bit dead, no real music or tune to build up tension•Trailer flows well but again, there is no real climax or main part of the trailer

From the mise-en-scene in the 'Men In Black' trailer, I get the impression that the film will be visually pleasing, in that there will be many different things to look at, such as the different creature, the explosions and so on. I gather that the men also want to appear professional and intimidating and powerful from their smart suits, and equipment.

Conventions/Iconography:'Columbia' logo changed to identify as a 'men in black' film. Text again is black and white and the title looks like it is in space. Lots of explosions and futuristic sounds, music also suggests that there will be a lot of action, and comedy moments.In our trailer:Similar pace, ie, lots of quick cuts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsQ41frO-kI#action=share

Good Points•Funny•Had a tagline at the end again to make it more memorable•Showed action aspects of the film, mixing the genres well•Showed the storyline clearly without giving too much away•Good length trailer, no dull moments•Rhetorical questions, to engage the audience•Shows the main characters clearly•'From the celebrated best-selling novel' looks appealing, interesting, has a sci-fi look and feel to it.•Text at the beginning could be used to show how boring the character's life is at the beginning, that he wasn't expecting anything out of the ordinary to happen, as when the action starts, different text is used•Soundtrack is good, uses a lot of typical sci-fi sounds, and builds up to a climax at the end of the trailerBad Points•Text at the beginning is almost too boring and doesn't look like it is part of a movie trailerThe mise-en-scene in this trailer gives me the impression that the main character in his dressing gown, is confused as to what is happening and is not prepared, or was taken by surprise at what is happening. My impression of the man in the white trench coat is that he is sure of himself, in power and knows what is happening. I also get the impression that the film will have a futuristic feel, in that everything is white and spacious and there is bright lighting, making it look new and as if it is from the future.

Conventions/Iconography: Typical trailer pace, in that it starts slow, then there is a problem, or a climax, and end on a joke. Again, uses blue and white and black, all related to space and a futuristic feel, and again the title looks as though it is in space/stars.In our Trailer: Same pace, similar soundtrack

THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

TRAILER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLdiWe_HJv4#action=share

PROMETHEUS

TRAILER

Good Points• No dialogue apart from the cries at the very beginning of the trailer , creates a tense feeling.•The constant beat creates and idea of something getting closer as the beat gets louder as the trailer progresses.•The quick cuts to each scene keeps the film fast without revealing much.•Uses iconography by using typical Ridley Scott font that builds up throughout the trailer.•Short and doesn’t reveal much but the dark surroundings and mise en scene let you know that this is a sci-fi film.Bad Points•Not enough may be given away to interest people and works more as a teaser than a full trailer.•The quick cuts from each ‘scene’ make it hard to understand what is happening in the film and may cause more confusion than anything.

The mise en scene in this film gives me one straight forward impression, that this is a film set in the far future in deep space. I, as the audience, get this impression by looking at the characters costumes e.g. The space suits used are sleek and silver giving a classic sci-fi film look. Also the use of dark lighting makes the film seem mysterious and creepy and adds to the idea of being in deep space.

Conventions/ Iconography: The trailer doesn’t follow a typical pace in that it doesn’t have a problem in the middle but rather all over and is very quick. Uses typical Ridley Scott font. Typical sci-fi style colours are used through out such as blue, silver, black and white.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sftuxbvGwiU#t=51

TRAILER

X-MEN: FIRST CLASSGood Points•Uses a mixture of silent scenes and scenes with dialogue.•Starts with an introduction of the characters.•Problem is introduced halfway through.•Quick pace.•Doesn’t reveal too much about the dtoryline.Bad Points•Slightly predictable because you know how this film will end because of the other films but also because it is made quite clear that the two main characters are going to have a confrontation at some point in the film.

The mise en scene in this film shows that the film is set in the past, although this is obvious from the JFK report on the TV it can also be shown through the characters clothing. This can also be shown as a sci-fi film by the costumes worn when the characters are the ‘X-Men’.

Conventions/ Iconography: This trailer uses iconography by using the usual X-Men logo and fonts used in all the other films. It also uses the recognisable X-Men costumes. The pace is a typical convention of a sci-fi film, starting out slowly by revealing the characters then bringing the pace up with the news of war and lots of quick cuts and action scenes and then finally slows down by revealing slightly but not quite why the character that becomes Magneto changed in the first place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8ccSiH4olo