*

Through doing my research and taking what I

have found into account, I have decided to

produce a film trailer of the thriller genre.

**The conventions I have chosen to include:

The element of mystery: This will play a primary part in my trailer, and I hope to achieve this by using

only non-diegetic sound. This means the only voice that will be heard will be a voice over, and the

dramatic music I hope to include in order to create the correct atmosphere and build tension.

From my audience research I found this was the most popular idea, as it will leave people with many

unanswered questions, making them want to then go and watch the movie in order to get answers.

This will also give my trailer a Unique Selling Point (USP), this is extremely important, as although it is

important to follow conventions, it is important that it includes something that separates it from

everything that is already out.

Location: My audience was given the option of the two stereotypical thriller locations; the woods and

a house. The majority decided a house would be the best location, with one person stating “You will

be able to do more things in a house as the woods can be limited”. This comment helped me a lot

with my decision, as I thought that I may have problems in the woods such as the weather, and limited

resources. Basing the thriller in a house would fit the genre conventions, as they are usually

associated with ghosts and abnormal experiences.

Lighting: I will be including a lot of darkness and dull lighting. This is because it will add to the element

of mystery and help to set the appropriate atmosphere. It also means people will be able to easily

identify the films genre and therefore the target audience will watch it.

** Roland Barthes five codes:

The hermeneutic code: This is an element that is left unexplained and therefore leads to audience

with questions. By withholding information, it keeps people interested and also means that when

the answers are revealed, they are more dramatic and the audience get a greater sense of

satisfaction from them.

The proairetic code: This builds tension and interest by implying that something significant Is going

to happen. This is designed to keep the audience guessing and maintain their attention.

The semantic code: This refers to the connotations within the story as way of adding meaning.

The symbolic code: Can be seen as a “deeper” version of the semantic code. This gives elements a

deeper meaning and is mostly done through antitheses which shows opposites in order to create a

contrast and further deepen the meaning.

The cultural code: is „what goes without saying‟/ something everyone knows, it doesn‟t involve

anything that contradicts opinions and adds an element of realism.

*

I will mostly be using the hermeneutic code in order to leave the audience with questions after they have watched the trailer. From my primary research I found that this is what the majority of people expected from a thriller. I plan to implement this by hopefully leaving the audience feeling slightly confused through the music, quick shots and lighting. I also want to do this by also using the proairetic code and implying that something drastic/significant is going to take place.

I also hope to create connotations through the dark surroundings, dark costumes and props such as blood and face paint. The reason I want my trailer to include deeper meanings is because I want people to believe it has been well thought out, and has a clever plot and is more than just blood and darkness. Through my primary research I discovered many people like to have to think, as they get pleasure from working out the plot.

*Ellipsis: Allows the audience to fill in any gaps in the story e.g. “December 2015” or “ Five

hours later”. I will be using this technique a lot due to not having any diegetic sound, this

will make the trailer easy to follow and help the audience understand the setting etc.

Narrator: A person who can be heard speaking over the images on screen. They are usually

included to give the audience background/extra information and to help set the scene. The

protagonist will be narrating at the beginning of the trailer so the audience will have a

better perspective of what is happening as they will be given some background information.

Flashbacks: When relevant shots from the past are incorporated to help the audiences

understanding. They are used to give background information to help explain/support the

storyline. I plan to use this so that the audience will immediately be aware of what the

trailer is about, although I also recognise I must ensure I don‟t give to much away.

*

The theorist Claude Lévi-Strauss came up with the idea of films containing binary

oppositions. These are opposing values e.g. The Villain Vs The Hero. In relation to

the thriller genre these oppositions are usually A spirit Vs An innocent family/

person. With the spirit or evil element having bad values, and wanting to harm

others and the innocent person/people having good values and being seemingly

helpless.

I am going to include this theory in my trailer as I believe it is one of the most

important conventions of a trailer, and is a basic expectation from the audience.

It also will make it easier for me to incorporate paranormal activity.

*When producing my film trailer I believe it is important to follow the

majority of the conventions as the majority are basic expectations from

an audience. By doing this it will also make it easier for me to make

the genre clear to the audience and therefore give me more freedom

with my ideas because I will not have to dedicate most of my focus to

overdoing elements such as dark lighting to ensure the genre is

conveyed. Through my research I have realised that it is important to

follow these conventions, but I also found that it is also important to

have a USP. This feedback made me realise the importance of

challenging conventions so people will take an interest and be able to

distinguish it from other film/trailers. I decided to challenge my

conventions by focusing on the dramatic sounds, voiceovers and

background music and not by what is being said by the actors. By doing

this it means I will have to put an extra focus on mise-en-scene, to

ensure all the other elements convey the correct message, whilst

maintaining an element of mystery.