Pre-Production Phase Film Trailers

Pre-Production Phase
Louise Tindall

A style or category that
divides up art, music and
What is genre?
literature.
A set of principles for the
category of composition.
A set of conventions in which a
piece of art must follow to fit into
a certain category.
An artistic category or style.
A category of artistic
endeavour that has a
particular form, content and
technique.
A category of things
which establish a
similar characteristic
or quality.
A group in which a
set of arts is
distinguished within
their similarities.
A way to divide a piece of art
or literature into a group that
follows similar conventions
and ideas.

A way in which something
Familiar and predictable forms and
techniques used by the
media to communicate certain ideas or
is usually done. A typical strope of plot,
to convey a desired
impression.
What are
conventions?
character, setting, theme or
effect in a genre story.
What we expect
to see in a
specific type of
films.
Accepted ways of doing
something. The give the media text
meaning and determine the
response of the viewer.
The widely recognised way
of doing things in particular
genre.
What we expect
to see in a
specific genre of
media.

What is a trailer?
• A trailer is a form of advertisement for a future film that will be later exhibited at a cinema.
• Trailers consist of a series of selected shots from the film. As the main purpose of a trailer is to attract the audience
into watching the film the scenes are usually drawn from the most exciting, funny or important parts of the film but
are used in an abbreviated way to ensure that they aren’t any spoilers. (Sometimes the scenes are not shown in the
order that they are in the actual film)
• A trailer has to achieve this in 2 minutes and 30 seconds which is the maximum time length allowed by the MPAA
(Motion picture association of America). However, recently it has been recommended that they are not over 2
minutes although some films can have longer films depending on the size and fanbase of the film.
What is a teaser trailer?
• An advertisement campaign which consists of a series of small, cryptic and challenging advertisements that
anticipates a larger, full blown campaign.
• Released months before the actual release of the film to give an example of what the film will be like and to
build audience anticipation.
• It is a lot shorter than the official trailer as that gives more ideas to the actual storyline of the film.

How have movie trailers become
more contemporary?
• The proliferation of technology has meant that the viewing experience of trailers has massively changed over the
last few years. The emergence of technology has not only provided the audience more entertainment options than
ever before such as the internet, tablets and smartphones but it has also created a wider audience through social
media, people are able to discuss pieces of media such as trailers with other people who have the same interest for
it which creates more of a hype and widespread knowledge of it.
• This has increased the fan culture for films and has made the release of a trailer almost as important as the film
itself. Dedicated fans are now prepared to wake up early or alternatively stay up late just to be one of the first
people to view and then discuss it with people who have done the same. Previously this was only done for the
actual film itself not for trailers which shows the extent to how much has changed.
• New trailers are now almost dissected second by second by fanbases to find out clues as to the plot of the film and
are then able to make their own interpretations of what will happen in the film. They often make fan art, fanfics
and trends discussing these ideas on social media with other people who have done the same which once again
allows the hype to reach more people.
• The proliferation of technology has also made the editing of the trailer so much quicker as using a computer
makes it easier to add in graphics and move things around compared to when trailers were produced using a film.
This means that the trailers can be produced and released a lot quicker in the lead up to the film and also means
more effects and graphics can be used to make them more exciting.

Contemporary Continued
• An example which helps to show how trailers have changed and become more contemporary over the years is
through the Titanic trailers.
The first trailer was made in 1993 which you can see here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCy5WQ9S4c0
The most recent trailer which was released in 3D in 2012 can be
seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIxY42OuJrg
• As you can see there is a massive difference between the ways in which the trailers are presented in just the
difference of around 20 years. Both tell the same story but the trailers essentially couldn’t be more different which
is down to how the intake of how media is now accepted by our audiences.
• It is also noticeable of how shorter the newer trailer is which shows the extent in which trailers are no longer
revealing the main plot and are just leaving it down to the audience to create their own interpretations. If you
hadn’t seen the original film you probably would not get much out of the more modern trailer of the actual plot
itself which links to the ideas of trailers becoming more contemporary.
• The quality of the film has also improved vastly between the two different trailers. There is a noticeable difference
between the first and second in terms of HD, effects and acting which goes to show how much has changed
between the two releases.

What makes a good trailer?
• First impressions  This is the first time the potential audience are going to be introduced to the film and it is
important to create the “I need to see that” feeling. The best film trailers find the centre between giving too much
away and leaving it too cryptic and this is what creates the hype for the film as the audience have a base as to
what the film is about but it leads them onto wondering what is going to happen create social media discussions
and creating more awareness of the film through word of mouth.
• Don’t give too much away  It is important to capture the audiences attention by revealing perhaps the main
characters in the film, the genre of the film and some of the “best” parts of the film. However, one of the most
important things is to not say exactly what will happen as if the audience know what is going to happen in the film
it may put them off actually watching it. It is best to build up suspense by showing things that are happening but
then cutting them so you don’t see what happens next as this will encourage the audience to see the full length
film.
• Sound  Having non-diegetic sound in the background helps to set the mood of the film which once again helps
with establishing the genre. It gives the audience the impression as to whether it is a fast paced action film, a
horror film or a rom-com. In the sense of a horror film it helps to build up the tension and is one of the easiest
ways to create fear as you know something is going to happen but it is just a matter of when, this works just as
well with silent pauses.
• Capture the mood  One of the main things the audience should be able to capture from the trailer is the mood,
is it light-hearted or not? This is usually easy to tell through the sound, colours and clips shown but it is important
that as soon as the trailer starts the audience have an idea of what to expect.
• Names  If there are any well known actors/actresses in the film it is important to show them off as it
automatically creates a response of people believing that the film is going to be good. It also encourages people
who are already fans of them to watch the film creating a wider audience.

Independent and Conglomerate
companies
• Larger conglomerate companies are obviously going to have a much larger budget and so are able to spend
money on the best HD equipment, special effects and actors which independent companies will no have the
opportunity to do. This automatically gives them the higher advantage as people are going to be more attracted
to these trailers compared to others. If there are well known actors/actresses in the film and it is produced by a
well known company the audience are going to assume that is already a good film giving it an automatic
advantage.
• Although this gives conglomerate companies the advantage, special effects and HD quality alongside with well
known actors are not enough to attract an audience. The main focus should always be on the content of the trailer
and expensive equipment does not solely make this possible. This gives smaller independent companies a chance
to prove themselves with their content. As long as the content of the trailer is exciting for the audience to watch
they are going to want to see the actual film whether it is from a larger company such as Warner or not.
• It does make it difficult for independent companies in the sense of making the film seem “real”. For example, if
they wanted to make an action film it would be difficult for them to create realistic looking explosions and fights
which gives them a disadvantage against conglomerate companies that have the money to create these special
effects.

Scenario Films – Delight
• I found an independent film company called scenario films which have created a trilogy of films which look to
explore the ideas of creativity.
• I looked at the trailer for the second film in the series called “Delight” and will compare it to a film trailer that has
been produced by a well known company. The trailer can be seen below:
• http://www.scenariofilms.com/films/delight/
• The plot of the trailer is that an ex war photographer goes back to a small village in Wales to look for an old
lover but ends up in a relationship with his son. During her stay in the village a lot of her past is brought back up
causing her to relive painful memories and put her in danger.
• The trailer follows a different structure to the way a larger company would produce theirs.
• Firstly, they do not have an opening green screen with the films titles, certificate etc. This is mainly because the
film is now going to be distributed in any cinemas meaning it is not a legal requirement to include this.
• On a first viewing of the trailer it is difficult to pick up some of the key parts of the plot which could put an
audience off from watching the full length film. However, after reading a brief synopsis of the film the trailer
made more sense. This is a massive disadvantage to this film as it does not instantly grab the audiences
attention so their audience would most likely be people have a keen interest in independent films.
• There are also no well known actors/actresses in the film to show off in the trailer making less people aware of
the film.
Even though the actors/actresses in the film are not famous they
have still given the main characters names a shot on the screen on
their own. This is a device to used to emphasise the significance of
the main characters as they don’t have the high profile actors
names to speak for themselves.

Scenario Films – Delight
Like most larger companies they have included the institutions name
that created the film right at the beginning to familiarise the
audience with the company which is especially important for
independent companies.
• You can tell from the quality of the trailer that the cameras used does not have as high quality that a larger company would
have. Most of the camera work is handheld which is visible by a couple of shaky moments of the trailer. However, on their
small budget this was unavoidable.
• There are also no special effects when it comes to the editing. The majority of the shots are separated by the use of fading
which I think ruins the idea that she arrives in the village as a mysterious character. It also slows down the speed of the trailer
which could lose people’s interest.
• The sound used in the background is also quite simple and is not a well known piece of music that larger companies would
have the rights to use. I also think the music does not fit the style of the film well as the film is presented to have quite a
complicated plot but the music seems to suggest otherwise.
• Despite the simplicity of this trailer, like larger companies they have used a variety of different shots and angles to show
significant characters and props as well as enhancing the use of setting. Some examples are below:
Close up emphasises her
as a mysterious character.
Wide shot helps us
to establish the
setting of the film.
Our focus is moved to
the character talking.
It ends with the title of
the film so the audience
can familiarise themselves
with it.

Warner Bros – If I Stay
• Warner Bros is one of the most well known conglomerate film companies and produces films of all different genres
and styles.
• I looked at the trailer for a new film called “If I Stay” to see the difference between this and what the independent
company produced.
https://www.warnerbros.co.uk/movies/if-i-stay
• The plot of the story is that a young girl called Mia who has a musical talent falls in love and has to decide whether
to follow her musical career or go to college to stay with him. However, there is a massive family carcrash and she is
balancing between life and death and has to decide her own fate.
• This film similarly to “Delight” follows quite a complex storyline however it is easier to understand on the first
viewing, this is probably down to the better money, actors and editing.
As you can see both types of
films have given full screens to
their main characters to
highlight their significance.
As this film is made by a larger
company they are able to use more
powerful editing software. This can
be seen here where they have
inverted the colours and made it
slightly blurry to show the
differencebetween reality & fantasy.
This company also has more
money to hire extras such as
the audience here. “Delight”
was only able to use the
main characters.
• There is also a obvious difference between
the quality of both of these trailers. This
one is of a much higher quality as they
have been able to use better cameras and
equipment.

Warner Bros – If I Stay
You can also see here that this
was not just made by Warner
Bros but in fact three big well
known companies. This shows
the scale of the film and how
much money was clearly put
into it.
Both films end with the
title of the film so it
makes an impact on the
audience.
• This film also uses a much wider variety of settings compared to “Delight” such as the house, the park, the auditorium, and the
hospital. This all shows that it had a much larger budget to hire out these venues.
• The soundtrack to this trailer is a popular song called “Say Something”. The fact that they have the rights to this song once again
highlights how much of a bigger budget they had as “Delight” had to use a simple royalty free song. This means that the song for
If I Stay fits the theme of the film much better.
• The budget for If I Stay was $11 million and the budget for Delight is not recorded but it is obviously going to be a lot lower
than this.
• This larger budget obviously helps with the quality and advertising of the film meaning that If I Stay is going to be a lot more
well known.
• This film also has an official age rating of 12A as it is shown in cinemas.
• It also had an hashtag on twitter of #IfIStay where people could discuss the film and write their opinions on it which
furthered the hype which is something independent companies would not be able to generate as they do not have a big
enough following.

Why do people
watch horror
Horror films are usually used by an audifence asi a sensle of esmcapisms and to? gener ate adrenaline. The uses and
gratifications theory suggests that there are four main reasons as to why we watch media texts, they include:
• Surveillance: This is based on the idea that the audience feel safer and somewhat happier with their lives because
they do not have to face the problems that the person on the screen has to. In horror films this is the idea that
they are not the ones facing the villain nor are they the ones being hurt making them feel secure.
• Escapism: People use media as a way to forget about the problems in their own lives. It is easy for horror films to
provide this comfort as they are often so far from reality that the audience can rely on them as a form of escape. It
also can free their imagination as the audience could if they wanted to pretend that they are one of the characters
in their film to give them a sense of strength and belonging.
• Personal Identity: This relates to the idea that the audience may be able to connect with some of the characters in
the film as they hold similar traits, problems or personalities. This is often likely in horror films as they like to use
the idea of having an “ordinary” family involved to make the audience able to connect with it more.
• Personal Relationships: This is the idea that an audience may watch a particular media text in order to participate in
social activity with friends etc. It can bring the audience together and provide a sense of inclusion as everyone can
talk about their favourite parts of the films and what there favourite parts were. In horror films many groups of
friends (particularly teenagers) enjoy watching them together as they are able to see who the most scared of them
is and all share the viewing experience together.

Codes and
conventions –
All horror films tend to use similar loLcationos as ac way oaf provtoking ifear. Tohey tennd to use isolated and dark settings as
they are considered to be unsafe and so correspond with this being where the majority of events take place. An
example being the woods/forest. Other popular choices include graveyards and churches.
The Blair Witch
Project:
This was a film that was
situated mainly in the woods.
The woods even in children’s
books are considered
dangerous places where we
should not go so it makes
sense for the danger to take
place here as the person will
be on their own with no one
to help them. It is also easy to
get lost in the woods which
adds to the disorientation and
fear of the characters of the
film as well as the audience.
Paranormal
Activity:
Alternatively some modern
horror films such as
paranormal activity like to go
against this normality and use
everyday locations such as
houses and schools. This is said
to heighten the fear for the
audience as these are locations
that are normally considered
safe. It makes them feel more
involved and makes the film
appear to be more “real”.

Codes and
conventions –
Within the majority of horror Cfilms thhe chaaracterrs tenda to folclow Prtopp’setheoryr of thes speci fic character types in every
media text. There tends to also be a “princess” which is the weaker female like a mum or a daughter, she tends to be the
one the villain is after and is usually the most fearful character. There also tends to be a “hero” which is usually a male
character who tries to save everyone, most horror films follow a family structure so it will be the dad who saves his wife
and children.
There will then also be one main “villain” who is the catalyst of all the problems in the film. He is sometimes disguised as
an ordinary person or more commonly follows a physical deformation. Physical deformations can include scars, blood,
masks, unhuman faces (different eyes etc) and they often wear dark clothes such as a black cape/robe so as to hide
most of their body thus keeping their identity covered. Although the majority of villains work alone in some horror films
the villain is part of a group all working towards the same thing however there tends to always be a “leader” who is the
most dangerous and once they’re dead the others stop too.
In Scream the villain
wears a mask and a
dark cape so the
audience can identify
him as the villain
straight away.
The other characters in
Scream resemble your
typical family which gives
the audience something
to relate to.

Codes and
HorrorC films aore knonwn to vplay one the aundiencets fearsi and moake thnem lifeslike by applyi–ng them on sFcreen. eBy havaing everryday
characters in the film it exaggerates the reality of them. By playing on the audiences fear it gives them the adrenaline rush that
they are looking for. Although horror films scare the audience by using their fears it also provides a sense of relief, escapism and
excitement for them as they are glad that they are not in the same position that those on screen are.
Some common fears include:
• Drowning  This plays on the idea of what lurks beneath which is what films such as ‘Jaws’ play on.
• Supernatural  This is the idea of anything that is not human such as ghosts, vampires, zombies etc. The majority of films
use this as a way to create fear. Films include ‘The Blair Witch Project’, ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ and ‘Art of the Devil’.
• Open Spaces  This is the idea of being completely alone and away from civilisation and not being safe. Most horror films
use woods and empty forests as a main location to help get this idea across. Once again ‘The Blair Witch Project’ is an
example.
• Dark  This once again plays on the fear of the unknown as you never know what is lurking beneath the shadows and round
corners.
• Death  Almost all horror films have their main theme as death with people either getting brutally murdered or coming
close to it. The majority of people are already fearful of death and seeing it made to come across as such a scary idea helps
this fear. Some films also play on the idea of the afterlife which once again creates more fear.
• Animals  Films that use this as a way of promoting fear usually use animals that many are already afraid of such as snakes,
wolves and spiders. This a way of confirming the audience that their fear is something to be afraid of.
• Children  Most horror films especially modern have began to use children as a method of fear. This is because children are
usually seen as innocent and so nobody would expect this behaviour from them. They also tend to use children’s toys,
specifically dolls, to create this fear as they are an ordinary household object which makes the fear it creates more realistic to
the audience. An example of this is ‘The Conjuring’.

Codes and
Conventions - Sound
Sound is one of the most important ways for a horror film to portray the fear it needs to. It has the ability to use both
diegetic and non-diegetic sound to create this fear. Sound is the best way to help portray the audiences and the
characters emotions. For example, a slow pace piece of non diegetic music is usually faded in and slowly builds up until
it is fast paced and loud. This is the way the audience know that something is about to happen but they just are not
aware of what, as the music builds up the tension and fear in the audience also builds up which makes it a whole lot
more effective.
Alternatively, films such as paranormal activity use long silent pauses to create the tension as it makes the audience
look out for something but have no indication as to when it is going to happen. It is effective way to create fear
alongside the more diegetic sounds used.
Diegetic sounds usually includes the sound of rain and/or thunder as horror films typically are set in bad weather and
this can be used as a pathetic fallacy to create a more sombre atmosphere. Other diegetic sounds can include
whispering, loud bangs, heavy breathing, creaky stairs and footsteps all of which indicate another presence (the villain)
and make what is appearing on screen become somewhat more realistic.
In a trailer I believe the most important type of sound is the non-diegetic as it automatically gives the potential
audience an impression of the genre of the film. As a trailer does not give the entire plot away the music can help build
it up to the point where something will happen but not show what is happening which once again creates anticipation
for the film alongside a glimpse of the fear the film will generate.

Codes and Conventions
– Mise-en-scene
Mise-en-scene is one of the most important things to consider in a horror film to help enhance fear. The term is French
for “placing on stage” which refers to props, lighting and in general everything that we see.
Some of the most general things we expect to see in horror films involving mise-en-scene include:
• Low key lighting
• Dangerous household objects (knives, scissors)
• Stormy weather
• Blood
• Dark clothing
Other conventions that we expect to see in horror films:
• Something going wrong before hand indicating danger (car breaking down, flickering
lights, pets distrubed)
• Characters going towards danger (go to investigate a sound that they have heard, go back
to save a friend)
• A child
• Time jumps (“x years before/after”)
• Based on a true story

Codes and
Conventions –
The use of different cameraC shotsa, anglmes ande movermentsa is ess ential Wto capoture thre audkience and to emphasise the
emotions on screen. Some typical ones you expect to see in horror films include:
• Extreme Close Ups  This helps to emphasise the fear of the characters on screen. Commonly used to show tears,
sweat or screams.
• Tilts  This helps create disorientation making the audience feel more part of the action on screen.
• Establishing shots  These are typically used in horror films every time a new location is introduced as it allows the
audience to familiarise themselves with it.
• Dolly  These are mainly used to emphasise when the characters are being followed by the villain. However, it can
also be used as a method of making the audience feel as though they are part of the what is happening on screen
as they are seeing it from the characters perspective.
• Handheld  This makes the shots appear unsteady making the audience feel as though they are a part of what is
happening which creates fear.
• Focus  It often switches our focus from the character to the villain by blurring one out and then focusing on the
other. This helps the audience to recognise who they should be watching at that point. Also, for example if we are
concentrating on the main character and the villain is blurred out in the background it gives him the ability to do
something evil and make us jump.

The Quiet Ones
Trailer (2014)
The Quiet Ones was released on April 10th 2014 and is a supernatural horror film directed by John Pogue. It is about a
student who attends a class of a professor who wants to prove that there is no supernatural. He shows the class a video
of a boy who is possessed and says that they will find the cure to this “disease”.
A few students are invited to film the experiment process and their subject Jane Harper who generates strange
phenomena is left abandoned. Jane is kept in a locked room with loud rock music in the hope that her not being able to
sleep will increase psychological agitation.
The professor and his assistants settle in an empty house so nearby so they can keep an eye on Jane. Jane’s negative
energy takes the form of “Evey” which is a doll like creature that only she can see. Jane is then given a physical doll to
store her negative energy in to destroy it. As the experiment goes on the stranger things get.
A mark is carved into Jane and one of the assistants discovers that this is from a cult which worshipped a Sumerian
demon. Everybody in the cult died of a house fire set by Evey and the assistants become certain that Evey is a demonic
presence that is possessing Jane however the professor denies it and says it must be a figment from Jane’s past causing
her to act in this way.
After an argument all the assistants and professor are marked with the same symbol and Jane discovers she is the child
who was supposed to die in the house fire, Evey isn’t a demon but she is Jane’s real identity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB2IcXA41uQ

The Quiet Ones
Trailer (2014)
Like the majority of film trailers, it
opens with this screen informing the
audience of important information
such as the age rating of the film.
We are then introduced to the main
institution that created the film. Lionsgate
has recently become well known for it’s
production of horror films such as Saw. As
this company is well known for it’s
production of this genre it will encourage
the audiences interest.
We are then introduced to a much less well
known company. The fact that it is shown
after Lionsgate shows this. However, it begins
to familiarise audiences with the company as
it will be seen as a good to be working with
Lionsgate. Therefore in “Hammer’s” future
productions people will be more familiar with
the company.
This is a convention of trailers
in general not just in relation
to horror films.

The Quiet Ones
TOrnce thae instiitutionls havee fadedr off (2014)
screen we are immediately introduced to
repetitive, slow paced music which
establishes the atmosphere and genre of
the film. This is accompanied with an clip
of a young boy in a field with an “old film”
effect on screen. This from the beginning
raises enigma and builds up tension as
children are seen as vulnerable.
It then cuts straight to a black
screen making us question what
has happened to the boy. As it
changes we hear a banging
sound suggesting that
something is about to happen.
We here a narrator over the top asking “what is the
supernatural?” which introduces a theme to the film but it is still
very vague. Once the screen fades into the university we can
establish the setting and realise the voice to be that of a
professor. A university is normally considered a safe place but the
fact the repetitive music is still playing suggests otherwise.

The Quiet Ones
Trailer (2014) As the professor is talking we keep
getting flashbacks suggesting that
this boy is part of something but
we are not sure what creating
enigma. The old fashioned effect
on screen makes it clear that it is
something to do with the past.
The screen is then dropped back to
another black screen. This starts to
build up the impression that the boy is
part of the supernatural as this is the
second time this has happened when
he is on screen perhaps foreshadowing
later events.
We are then given information such
as the year and location. This allows
the audience to familiarise
themselves with basic information
and is the turning point of the trailer.
The repetitive music is still playing
leaving a lasting impact on the
audience.

The Quiet Ones
Trailer (2014)
The repetitive music that we have been hearing then stops and
becomes a thudding which is significantly louder, once again bringing
in the idea that something is going to happen soon. We are introduced
to all of the main characters and now have an idea of what they are
trying to achieve.
When the professors says “welcome to the experiment” on screen we
see doors being locked giving a trapped sensation making the
audience feel inclined to watching but also raising fear.
We are constantly changing between old video clips and the present
day which gives the audience a sense of what the film is about but
raises enough questions as to their significance that it will leave them
wanting to watch the film.
The hand held camera work makes the audience feel more a part of
what they are seeing.

The Quiet Ones
Trailer (2014)
The trailer by this point has reached its climax and now begins to speed up quite drastically. Especially when the
professor says “things start to happen.” We hear a thud non-diegetically creating tension.
From this point on nothing is really given away it is just a series of fast paced clips fading in and out with fast paced
music to accompany it.
When it appears on screen saying “inspired from actual events” it is a method used to create fear as it automatically
becomes more realistic. The music even becomes almost like the sound of a heart beat.
It also introduces other films that this company has made which makes the audience more likely to go and watch it due
to the success of the previous ones.
The trailer follows Todorov’s theory as we gradually build up to the climax. As it is a trailer not much is given away and
so we don’t see a decline in events leading to a conclusion however we can assume that during the actual film we
would. The speed of the trailer increases towards the end so we only see tiny clips of what is happening, this is
accompanied with fast paced music to show how quickly the events are occurring. The way that it happens so fast
creates tension and interest in the actual film as we have questions that we would like to be answered such as what the
marks on their bodies actually mean.
The way the writing flickers on screen relates to the idea of it involving the supernatural and links to the genre thus
creating enigma and suspense.
It then finishes with the title on screen so the audience can familiarise themselves with it increasing the likelihood of
them wanting to see it once it is released.

The Quiet Ones
Trailer ~ Shots
Establishing shot Medium shot Two man shot
Close up shot Close up shot Over the shoulder shot
Here are some of the main shot types that were used throughout the trailer to help create
the atmosphere of the genre. I think that the establishing shot and the close ups are the
most significant as they allow the audience to connect with what is on screen. I will consider
all of these when it comes to producing my own trailer.

Why do people watch romantic films?
Romantic films are often used as a form of escapism in the sense that the audience of these films wish for a relationship
like the ones presented on screen and as the characters are typically shown as ordinary people it makes it seem more
realistic. Other reasons people may watch horror films include:
• Mood: Romantic films tend to always maintain a “feel good” factor and end on a positive note so many people
watch romantic films as a way to cheer themselves up if they are having a bad day. Once again the fact that the
characters are ordinary people makes it easier for it to achieve this.
• Realistic: Romantic films are known to be quite realistic in the sense that the characters are relatable with normal
jobs and lifestyles and this makes the happiness shown on screen perhaps identifiable in real life. It gives the
audience hope that maybe something like this could happen to them.
• Escapism: On the opposite side, some may see what is being shown on screen to be unrealistically happy and
therefore watch as a way to escape their own relationship problems and maybe seeing a couple go through a lot
on screen and still stay strong could impact their belief that they can get through their problems.
• Social: Many couples watch these films together as a way of making themselves feel happier with each other.
Similarly groups of friends may watch the film together as a topic of discussion over their “dream” partner.

How they have changed
There is a noticeable change between old and modern romance films mainly in the plot. As society changes you begin
to see changes in the films made in order to make them more realistic.
For example, in older romance films you would probably expect to see some love letters and romantic meals etc
whereas in modern films it would be likely that they would stay up late talking on the phone all night or their idea of a
date may be something more adventurous like a long drive or a theme park. Although in the modern films there are still
some aspects of old chivalry this is mainly because it is seen by a female audience as being “cute” and “romantic”
The music in modern romantic films is also of great difference to what would be expected in older ones for example
nowadays we would expect a well known chart song to be playing in the background, perhaps the song being written
mainly for the purpose of the film whereas before it would have been simple, unrecognised music as this may have
been all that they were able to use at the time.
However, there are still some recognisable features such as kissing in the rain is seen to be a really romantic gesture and
has passed down through the generations of romantic films.

Codes and Conventions – Location
Typically we expect romantic films to be set in an ordinary location such as a town that we would recognise. They are
seen as ordinary people so would live in a regular house/flat and the audience would find a sense of being able to
relate.
The settings tend to be quite simple and natural however, some have differences where perhaps the couple will go on a
romantic holiday and so although this setting may not be familiar with the audience it gives them hope that perhaps
one day them and their partner could do something similar.
There are many different types of romantic films that aim to do different things when it comes to location. However, it
gives a lot away about the type of film that it is going to be. For example, we can assume that if the film is located near
a beach or in the countryside it is going to be quite peaceful and ideal whereas if it is set in the middle of the town we
would expect a lot more chaos and maybe more office type jobs and problems to deal with.
Here for example we have a large house
with loads of empty space surrounding it
suggesting it is away from the town.
Therefore we would not assume the
characters to have busy jobs or lifestyles.
Whereas here we can see it is
located in a busy town so we
would expect them to have
chaotic lives and to fall in love
unexpectedly.

Codes and Conventions - Characters
The main thing that we expect to see in the characters in a romantic film is relatability. This refers to the idea that they
have ordinary jobs and lifestyles that their main audience (females) can relate to. The reason for this is that it can either
provide a sense of escapism for people who may be having a rough time or it could be done to give the audience hope
that it could happen to them because they are similar to the characters on screen.
Often we see characters falling in love with the “wrong” person before they realise who is right for them as this makes
the storyline interesting. We also tend to see the girl as being the “hero” in relation to Propp’s character types which is
unusual in other genres. They tend to be heroes in romantic films as they stop the man from getting in with the wrong
crowd etc.
We sometimes see people we would not expect being together, for example perhaps a popular boy from a schools
football team falls in love with an unpopular girl who plays the violin. The fact that they are so opposite can either give
the audience hope that something similar will happen to them or it just gives the impression that real love just happens
and you don’t have a choice when it happens to you.
It depends on the plot of the film what method the characters take but it is usually one of these three or perhaps a
combination of both. All scenarios are made somewhat realistic to lure the audience in.

Codes and Conventions - Love
Love is of course the main theme of the films as it is the core of the storyline and everything that happens. It can either
be presented as being simple and beautiful or it can be seen as being complicated but pure. Many modern romance
films tend to take the option of making the main couple go through something terrible that is a threat to the bond that
they have but because their love is so strong they make it out the other side. Romance films may use this to play on the
audience watching it for escapism as they may see that the couple on screen are going through something worse than
they are and if they can get through that then so can they.
Either that or romantic films take the idea of making love complicated by perhaps making the two main characters try
and resist each other because they may be “bad” for one another but in the end everything works out and they get
together.
I think that the reason romantic films tend to present love differently is because it is believed that love effects everyone
differently and they are trying to portray it as realistically as possible.

Codes and Conventions - Sound
In a romantic film we expect to hear a well known song throughout the trailer as it is recognisable and helps to establish
the genre of the film. However, during the film we might expect soft flowing music when the couple are out on a date
etc and then fast paced music if something action related was happening on screen eg a fight scene where the guy is
protecting his girl and acting like a hero.
If something sad is happening like someone dying or they have briefly split we expect slow paced music but it will be
soft and not repetitive as it still presents a calm mood and helps us to establish that everything will be okay in the end.
As for diegetic sounds their always tends to be scenes where the girl will be home alone after having a great day/night
with her partner and is just singing/dancing to herself to express her happiness. Perhaps also we expect to hear them
both talking to their friends about the other person.
Unlike horror films there tends to be no silent pauses as no tension is needed to be built up and if there were long
pauses it would make them awkward which isn’t good for a couple unless the idea was to make it awkward because
either they weren’t right for each other or because they are both nervous.

Codes and Conventions – Mise-en-scene
Because there are many different sub-genres to the romantic category it is hard to tell what we would expect to see in
ALL of them. However, there is almost always something with a sentimental value in the film whether this is a piece of
jewellery like a family air loom, an old love letter or ornament, there will be something that means a lot to either one of
the characters that they cannot bare to get rid of.
If it is a piece of jewellery it will tend to be a ring which will then get used as an engagement ring towards the end of
the film.
Because romantic films are meant to be quite light hearted we would not expect to see dark colours or eerie props.
Everything is most likely to be brightly coloured such as reds, yellows and pastel greens and blues. This is because they
are seen as calming colours which represent the freedom of love. If there are children involved it will tend to use the
stereotype of pink for girls and blue for boys.
Depending on the type of film, if it is one where the boy is typically in the “wrong crowd” it may have props such as
guns or motorbikes however this is unlikely in the most recent films.

Codes and Conventions - Camera
• Over the Shoulder: An over the shoulder shot is commonly used in romantic films to show the conversation
between the main two characters, it helps us to feel a part of what is happening on screen.
• Close Up: Close ups are used to help exaggerate the emotions that the characters are feeling. In this case it would
help to illuminate the idea of love for example if one had left the other a present of some sort a close up could be
used to show their happiness.
• Two Man Shot: This is used so we can see both of the characters on screen at the same time and it is often used in
romantic films to help establish the “cuteness” of the couple.
• Fading: When it comes to editing it is likely that one common transition will be to fade in and out between scenes
because this helps to show the happiness and the calm of the relationship. It makes it flow effortlessly giving us
the idea that the people are content with one another.
• Angles: It is unlikely that high angles would be used when the couple are talking with one another as it is more
likely that they will be shown to be on “the same level” and therefore neither one has more dominance over the
other.
Other key shots include:
• Long shots
• Wide shots
• Establishing shots
• Panning

The Lucky One Trailer (2012)
The Lucky One was released in 2012 and follows the of a boy called Logan who was a marine serving in Iraq. Whilst in
Iraq he finds a picture of a girl and he cannot find the person that it belongs to. An explosion occurs and when he
survives he believes that it is the fate of finding the picture.
When he arrives back in the states he makes it his mission to find the girl that this picture belongs to. He sees a
landmark from Louisanna on the photo and learns that the girls name is Beth. He finds her however cannot get the
words out to explain why he is there and so she assumes that he is there to apply for the job that they have been
advertising to work at their family business, a dog kennel.
At first she is suspicious of him but her grandmother gives him a chance. Logan begins to make a bond with her son
and much to the joy of her grandmother they begin to get close. However, her ex shows up and finds it shifty that he
had a picture of her before they met and threatens to take their son away from her.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htg8CHNkFtQ

Like all films, it begins with this screen
showing the audience that it is
appropriate for etc.
We then open with an establishing
shot so that we are aware of the
whereabouts of the film and can
adjust to them.
We are then introduced to a narration over the top
and a series of flashbacks shown on screen edited
together with the use of fading. This is so we can
learn about the character and create our opinions of
him straight away.

We are then introduced to where he finds the
picture and the narration still continues over the
top so we begin to feel like we know the
character. This is different to horror films as they
don’t tend to give much away but here we can
already learning major parts of the storyline.
We are then presented with the series of
companies that were involved in the production of
the film. Warner is shown first as it is the biggest,
most well known company and encourages people
to carry on watching.
We then have another establishing shot
showing that their has been a change in
time and location. The narration still
continues and by now we are familiar with
the character.

We are then introduced to who before we
even are told we assume to be the love
interest. The fact she walks through the door
with light behind her gives the impression of
an “angel”.
We are then shown them introducing
themselves to one another which we assume
to be the turning point of the film. From this
point on we are shown a series of scenes of
them together with faded editing used
showing them getting to know one another.
We are then introduced to the grandmother
who “sets them up” by giving him the job. We
automatically like her character.

We are then shown who created this
story and one of his previous best
sellers. This sparks interest as The
Notebook was considered popular.
We are then introduced to Beth’s son
with the quote “who is he?” This
suggests that he has more to him then
she is aware of, foreshadowing future
events.
We are then show him creating a strong
bond with the son as well as going on dates
and becoming close to Beth which brings out
the romantic part of the film.

We are then introduced to the problem of the
relationship, her ex boyfriend and the father of
her son. He threatens to take away the boy
because he is suspicious of her new lover.
The grandmother is still a likeable character as she
comforts her granddaughter. Her ex boyfriend finds
Logan carrying the picture of her and says that it is
dodgy and that he doesn’t trust him. This is all part
of the conflict building up.
We are then given the name of the main actor in the
film who is very popular especially with a young
female audience. This will encourage people to
watch it.

The trailer uses two well known songs, one by Embrace and one by The Fray. The fact it uses these songs helps to
establish the genre of the film as we would not expect it to be eerie or repetitive music in a romantic film like you would
expect in a horror film. The narration over the top makes it slightly more personal and makes us feel more involved with
the characters on screen which is important in a romantic film as they are meant to be somewhat realistic. Horrors are
unable to really use this tool effectively as having a narrator would not build up tension or suspense as what is being
shown would be explained.
The colours used in this trailer tend to be quite summery and light such as greens, oranges and yellows which
establishes the mood of the film. However, when things become some what complicated the colours drop to blues as
this reflects a sad and sombre atmosphere.
Using well known actors in this film reigns in their target audience. Almost all young girls will have heard of Zac Efron
and just by him being in the film it gathers great momentum and demand for the film. Horror films may struggle to use
this technique as well unless the actors were well known specifically for horror films because it may attract the wrong
audience and therefore impact the success of the film.
The transitions are generally straight cuts which is what most trailers use as it creates a seamless transition between
each shot however the occasional use of fading helps to emphasise the genre of the film.
Unlike horror films, we get the main jist of the plot from this trailer and would not necessarily have to watch the whole
film as we know enough to assume what happens in the film however we want to know HOW it happens and this is
what creates interest for the film.

The Lucky One Trailer (2012) Shots
Establishing Shot Close Up Over the shoulder
These were the three main shots that were used in this trailer. They tended to be repeated over and
over which keeps the trailer somewhat simple. The simplicity is what makes us feel more involved
with what is happening on screen which is an important feature of any romantic film.

Why do people watch Sci-Fi
films?
• Escapism: Like the two other genres I have explored, sci-fi films are used as a form of escapism from people’s
everyday lives. This genre is particularly good for this as there are often very few signs of reality in them, for
example there will be imaginative weapons/gadgets, new places and different species that in the real world do not
exist.
• Social: They are also often used as a point of discussion in different social groups where people discuss what has
happened and how ‘cool’ it would be if things like this happened in real life.
• Mood: These films can often be used as a method of cheering someone up as the problems in the film will be so
much more dangerous and problematic than the ones they may be struggling with in their lives. It may also cheer
them up as it lets their imagination run wild and escape into another world.
• Technology: Sci-Fi films often use advanced technology and gadgets that do not exist in the real world however
because they tend to have a scientific base perhaps it is easy to wish that maybe one day things like this could
exist in our world. With the proliferation of technology advancing massively within the last few years who knows
where we will be in say another 10 years and these films allow the audiences minds to wonder to a better day.

Codes and Conventions - Location
Some sci-fi films tend to go with the idea of science and technology. This means that expect to see them located in
somewhere like an advanced science with loads of new gadgets and computers that we are yet to have in the real
world. They are often created with basic colours to give the impression that they are large and completely different to
‘our world’. Colours such as white, silver and black are common.
However, different types of sci-films use completed different worlds and galaxies as their main location. They tend to be
situated in large open spaces and have different life forms inhabiting them. Places that could be considered “perfect” or
on the opposite side, places that could seem like hell. It is this that makes them interesting because we are introduce to
different life forms and because they are so different to the world that we live in we become absorbed in what is
happening on screen.
This is an example from star
wars. The large open space
seems really peaceful but at
the same time unnerving as we
know something will happen. It
is not a sight we would expect
to see on earth.
This is the science lab from Captain
America and as we can see that are
norms that we would expect such as the
lab coats but the layout and all the
gadgets are completely new to us.

Codes and Conventions -
Characters
Typically when we think of sci-fi movies we automatically think of aliens and other life forms. They tend to exist from
another world and either want to inhabit “ours” or need our help but we are reluctant to give it.
It is very rare that sci-films base ALL of their characters on other species because this loses interest as the audience
cannot connect with anything. There tends to be either a group of humans or at least one who is the leader of
everything that happens. They often hold similar characteristic to those the audience hold such as the reluctance to
believe what they are seeing/thinking they are going mad, job and families. Even though it is still far-fetched from
reality the fact that the audience can connect with at least one character makes the experience easier to watch.
Sci-fi films tend to go one of two ways if they are based on new species. If for example the “aliens” are against us and
we are trying to kill them then there always tends to be one “good” alien or one that we sympathise for. This then leads
onto the main plot of whether we can trust them and whether there is another way to sort the issues outside of
violence. The other way is that the majority of the human race will aim to go against one but perhaps there is one
person who believes that there is another way to resolve the issue and therefore the plot revolves around whether he
can change other people’s minds.
The characters will always have some sort of advantage ie having a special talent, or a gadget that can help them along
the way of whatever it is that they are trying to resolve.

Codes and Conventions – Sound &
Technology
In sci-fi films we expect to see some aspects of non-diegetic sound and it usually has some kind of echo to it to
emphasises the new world that we are watching/experiencing. They don’t have a soundtrack that we recognise like
romantic films as the idea is that this is completely different to what we are used to.
Alongside the new gadgets and technologies that we become accustomed to there are often signs of a new language
or code that we begin to understand. It is usually the new life form that brings in the new language and customs and
the humans have to try and figure out what they mean. The aliens often give out a sort of message that we begin to
interpret.
The technologies power and possibilities seems to be endless and can do anything from tracking things down and
hacking other computer systems to find out crucial information that they need to solve what it is they need to solve.
This is what makes it interesting for the audience as their minds can escape and they forget about their own life because
they are so absorbed in watching someone else’s who appears to be more interesting.

Codes and Conventions – Narrative &
Mise-en-scene
They tend to follow the idea of good vs. evil and there will be loads of explosions and fast paced scenes to emphasise
the difference between this and reality. It tends to follow Todorov’s theory of narrative with it all building up to a climax
and then slowing down to a reconciliation unless perhaps they are part of a series in which case it may end on a
cliffhanger but then at the end of the series it will form some sort of resolution.
In terms of mise-en-scene we expect violent weapons such as guns and explosives in which will be used during the
climax of the film, probably in some sort of war or battle. We expect plenty of technological advances, medicines and
perhaps miracle cures to save lives if needed. There tends to be a love interest which is for some reason forbidden and
sometimes it can be this love interest that prevents the war because everyone realises that they can live alongside each
other in peace. There tends to be an omniscient character that everyone goes to for advice, they tend to be an old
character who has experience much in their lives but occasionally they use a child who for some reason is the “chose
one” and has a natural talent.

Avatar Trailer (2009)
Avatar is about a war veteran who lost his legs and he decided to take part in a project to mine for a precious material
in the world of Pandora that is worth a fortune. In return he is offered the money so that he can have the surgery he
needs to fix his legs.
He is turned into an avatar himself and enters the world where he is instructed to gain their trust and learn everything
that he needs to know. However, along the way he falls in love, there are fights and he realises he does not want to go
ahead with the mission of destroying Pandora.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRdxXPV9GNQ

Like all of the others this has opened
the trailer so it is definitely
something that I will use in mine.
We are then once again introduced to
the companies that are behind the
film. The big names are recognisable
and therefore encourage people to
continue watching.
We then have a close up of
the main character with his
voice narration over the
top. We become familiar
with the characters we are
going to see in the rest of
the film.

We are then introduced to the idea of it
being a “new world” which establishes
the genre of the film.
Through a series of faded flashbacks and the
characters voice narrating about himself and his life
we begin to learn about him and become familiar
with what is happening and what has happened in
the past making it easier for us to understand.
We then have flashes of being in reality
and then being in Pandora. This is to ease
us into the new world and to reflect us
entering it.

We are then introduced to the motive
of the film and their reasoning for
entering this new world which helps
us to establish the storyline.
We are then given the date of the films release
which is something we haven’t had in the
trailers I have previously looked at. I think they
have done this to make it stand out and to
make people remember it, especially as this has
a shot purely on it’s own in bold writing.
We then begin to get introduced to the idea of the
Avatar which is also the title of the film. The main
character is narrating over the top talking about how the
avatars are made and how they work. We begin to feel
like we are a part of what is happening on screen.

We are then thrown into the new world
with the main character which once again
makes the audience feel that bit more
involved.
He wakes up as an avatar and we realise that
this is when things are going to start
happening.
We then are introduced to who later becomes his love
interest and becomes a problem when focusing on
what their main aim was. There are currently fadings in
and out of what is happening in Pandora and what the
main character is being told to do so we are learning
at the same time as him.

We are then faded in and out of things that are
happening in Pandora but nothing is really making
much sense to us. This is a method used to
encourage the audience to want to watch the actual
film so they can find out answers about what is
happening.
After being shown various clips of the plot and
learning about the characters we are
introduced to the director of the film who once
again is very well known and this makes people
more excited about it because of his previous
work .
It then gives examples of his work so those
who may not necessarily be aware of him will
almost definitely heard of this film.

In between showing off some of his other work such as
Titanic and True Lies, there are clips of action
happening on screen from Avatar but because none of
it currently makes sense to us it is raising excitement
for the audience to see the actual film.
After this we are given the title of the
actual film it big bold lettering so that
the audience will remember it.
We are then shown the director of the film
again to make us aware of how big the film
is going to be and it raises more of a hype
for it.

The soundtrack of this film increases in speed and volume throughout the entire trailer (except when there is dialogue),
this helps us to establish what genre it is and helps us to follow the structure of Todorov as it is all building up towards
a climax. The sound is not recognisable which is symbolic for us not being able to relate what is happening to real life.
This follows a similar pattern in relation to the horror film trailer as it does not give much away, instead it gives us little
clips of what to expect but no explanation of what or why is happening. This is an effective way of attracting an
interested audience as people will want to find out the answers.
The fact the main focus is on the avatars offers the audience a sense of escapism which is a main reason to watch a sci-fi
film. Despite the fact it is evidently not real, the fact that real people build the avatars and are part of the film makes it
more enjoyable as it doesn’t seem quite so far fetched.

Avatar Trailer (2009) Shots
Extreme Close Up Close Up Over the shoulder
These were the three main shot types that were shown in the films trailer. The fact that most of the
trailer stemmed from these kind of shots and were all fairly close up is a way of making the
audience feel more involved in what is happening and gives them a greater understanding of this
new life.

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