Main References to Preliminary Task (Research and Planning)

For our preliminary task we were asked to produce two short trailers, one representing our school in a good light and one doing the opposite and representing it in a bad light. During this time we learned many useful techniques and skills which can be encorporated into our actual coursework.

We know that to make a succussful teaser trailer the following elements have to be included. A brief idea of the cast, directors and producers as this acts as a major selling point of the film. Genre indicators which can use humour and parody to give a vague idea of the plot, or to switch it from one genre to another keeping it unpredictable to the audience. Lots of short, sharp shots which don't give away the plot and use fast yet simple editing. This is the main point and one definately worth mastering.

Including important pieces of information in quick shots and transforming these into a montage is something we found difficult but vital if we want to create a successful teaser trailer. Since there is less time for dialogue and action, the shots cannot be explained and spoon-fed to the audience, leaving much of the interpretation up to the audience. Consequesntly we have to make sure we deliever the desired effect through our mise-en-scene which includes lighting, make-up, costume, etc. We were able to achieve this in our preliminary task as the audience were able to distinguish between the two, but obviously with our main task we are dealing with an unknowing audience and will have to take great care in balancing the fluidity and cohesion of our piece.

Planning and Presentation

Alex,

Your analysis is exceptional and you have put a lot of effort into your blog page. Well done. To improve your marks I want to see more of what your production will become. I want detailed storyboards and commentaries and further details of who is involved in your production and what process that involved. There is enough theory here to press you towards top marks if you push yourself a bit further and show how you have managed your time and devised your piece. Well done.

15/20
Level 3

360 Degree Rotation shot

We have decided to atempt a 360 dgree angle shot of one of the main characters for our teaser trailer. Should we succeed then the quality of the production will be highly raised and there will be a certain 'cool' aspect included which is very valuable to our chosen genre.

We have no tracking equipment so it will be done completly by hand and therefore will not look as good as it could but if it is possible it shall be a huge personal sucsess.

Teaser Trailer Analysis of Adulthood

Adulthood represents and will for some time to come everything that is wrong about modern day society. It is a potent reawakening to the realities of the effects of gang violence, drugs and the ‘yob’ culture. Having been relatively cheap to produce, the film itself made a good profit and for a period swept Britain with an abstract craze for quoting lines from the film.

The teaser trailer for this film is a very effective and at the same time interestingly constructed production. The film was praised for its clever use of the camera on a low budget and the trailer certainly ensures the viewer knows this. Every emotion provoking shot is included in a montage of excitement and sounds that create a feeling of complete attachment to the film and its storyline. This is an effect we would like to transfer to our trailer as, even though I have watched the film in its in entirety its teaser trailer made me want to watch it again.

The thing I found most interesting about this particular trailer was how it used its sound, dialog and soundtrack all in convergence. It made sure that my attention was solely on what was happening on screen and therefore entails exactly what is needed to make it a successful teaser trailer. As I mentioned in a previous post this was already a plan of ours and viewing this has more than reinforced the idea. The dialog used throughout gives the outline of the story and has the typical effect of leaving you wanting more. There are also many changes in the pace of the trailer as it gives the different aspects of the storyline and this is a great factor in the absorbing nature of the trailer.

The opening and closing shots in this trailer are particularly memorable and this I think was done purposely to leave an image in the viewers mind with the motive of persuading them to look further into the film and therefore actually watch it when it comes out. This is an idea we intend to borrow and use to our own gain as it certainly, when I showed it to others who haven’t seen the film provoked the intended response.

Music Influences (planning and research)

The music we use has to be non copyright and this definately narrows down our options. We are looking to use something hard hitting and powerful to create an impact and reflecting the mood of the genre; highlighting the film as something not to be taken lightly.

There are many unsigned artists who use emotive lyrics with a deep bass which would represent this. We are also looking to make our music using a vinyl set to increase the originality of our teaser trailer and make it more effective. Different pieces of music are going to be used to help the audience recognize the switch in genre which we shall deploy in our teaser trailer. This will keep it lively and unpredictable, which I think is the best tactic as the curiousity of the audience is what the teaser trailer is trying to achieve.

Other diagetic sound such as gun shots shall be downloaded off different software and mixed in where appropriate to enforce the realism of our trailer.