Movie Trailer Questionnaire Results

As shown above is my movie trailer questionnaire results, these results with give me an initial idea of what media students, like myself, would like to see in a movie trailer and how they feel about them. I know now the type of things that persuade the audience to go and see a movie and i can now put my own trailer together from using these results and make it as good as it can possibly get.

Trailer Termology Including Definition

Definition

Trailers are used to advertise a film and are made up of shots from the actually film itself, the best  shots from the movie will be used in the trailer to make the movie seem as good as possible, this is without giving away any spoilers, if this happens people may not want to go and see the movie as they already know what happens. The scenes from the film do not necessarily have to be shown in the order as they are shown in the film, they can be mixed around and put how the trailer creators feel it looks best. The maximum length of a movie trailer is 2 and a half minutes, anymore than this and trailers cannot usually be shown. They only allow one special extended trailer from each film studio a year. 

Plot summary

Film trailers have a plot summary that usually have a three-act structure similar to that of a feature length-film. The first act starts it off but introducing the story and also lays out the premise of the story. Act 1 is then followed by act two which extends the story usually ending with a dramatic climax. And finally, act three consists of a visual montage of various clips (usually powerful and emotional moments) with a strong piece of "signature music" playing over the top. A cast run may be used to tell the audience of any popular stars that they may no are going to be in the movie they are watching.

Voice-over

A voice-over narration is also used to set up the premise of the story or to even explain certain parts of the movie to the audience itself to give them a greater understand of the movie and whats happening in it.

Music

Music is usually an important part of setting the mood of the trailer and it can literally be anything, for example a song, the song is also a great way as advertisement because if people like the song in the movie they can also buy that as well.

Cast, crew and studio information
The list of actors and actresses that appear in a movie is known as a cast run. Some successful and well known directors or produces will want a mention and to feature in the cast run, this is usually shown at the end of the movie. A billing block is used in the majority of trailers which shows a list of the principal cast and crew who worked on the movie. 

Technical elements
Sound mix - The majority of movie trailers are presented in multichannel sound mix such as Dolby Digital. They include sound effects and music that are enhanced by stereophonic sound in order to make them more effective and the main focus point.
Video resolution - Feature film movie trailers are usually presented in the same format as the feature - 35mm film or a digital format. Trailers can be distributed at any resolution up to 1080p with the help of high bandwidth internet connections. 

Saw Trailer Analysis

When looking at this trailers structure, the first scene shown is out of context and does little in exposition, but serves to set the tone for the rest of the trailer with low key lighting and a blue filter used to create an eerie atmosphere and an over-the –shoulder shot putting the audience in the place of the character. After this brief scene, the trailer then goes on to show the production companies’ logos, usually done at the beginning of a trailer.

The next segment gives us a little more insight into the story, by showing us two of the main characters as well as the villain, jigsaw. Voice overs are heard from jigsaw throughout most of the trailer, which is effective because while he doesn’t say much, the deep effect on his voice tells the audience enough they need to know about him, by signifying that this is a character shrouded in mystery. A very effective quick barrage of edits, showing newspaper clippings, also gives the audience an idea of what this character is about without giving too much away.

At about the middle point of the trailer, the music picks up in tempo and begins to increase in intensity, a common convention of horror trailers. At this point the trailer edits between scenes and various texts describing jigsaw, the words ‘killer’, ‘voyeur’, and ‘psychopath’ are all shown in between scenes from the film with more expository dialogue about the killer over the scenes. Also, it should be noted that the edits between the scenes in the film and the text are not simple cuts but fades to black, again emphasising the eerie atmosphere.

Something worth mentioning at this point is the consistent use of colour filters (mostly green) used throughout the trailer at this point, similar to the blue filter at the beginning, adding to the scary atmosphere. Also in the scene scenes shown with the filter is the low lighting, working in conjunction with the filters to create an eerie atmosphere, again, similar to the beginning of the trailer.

At about 1:30 into the trailer, the music greatly intensifies, increases in tempo and volume. The edits also become a lot faster between scenes from the film and text. The first text shown in this last part of the trailer is ‘this falls’, indicating to the audience when the film will be released. The scenes from the film being shown are also seemingly far more dramatic moments than before, coinciding with the increasingly dramatic music. Finally, at the music’s climax, the title is shown as well as one last voice over from jigsaw reinforcing the premise. While he doesn’t ask a rhetorical question, his last voice over has the same effect, saying “live or die, make your choice” which again, isn’t a rhetorical question, but it still leaves the same effects, leaving the audience with a choice.

Research Trailer Questionniare

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1WPGgH1SEcNu4hkmRYRpKfs1C9StlN8N8O78Kc-s7JS4/viewform

Above is the link to my online questionnaire i have created. Through people filling out this questionnaire i will hopefully recieve all of the information i need into what makes the best movie trailer, this data will help me to produce the best trailer possible.

Summary of my Coursework Brief

For my A2 coursework task I will produce a main product which is a film trailer, and 2 ancillaries which are first of all, a poster to match the film trailer I am producing, secondly, the front cover of a film magazine with my film on the front cover.
My group will consist of me, and 3 other of my classmates working together to produce my film trailer. We will be sharing the roles of
-Camera Operators
-Actors
-Props,Costume, Make-up (Mis En Scene)
-Lighting and Sound
-Director
-Continuity