2. Film trailers are used to promote or advertise an upcoming film, traditionally
they were shown at the end of the film, but this was seen ineffective due to
crowds leaving after the film, hence the name trailer. The first was shown in
1913 for the film musical The Pleasure Seekers.
Film trailers have many different conventions, for example, a voice over or a
soundtrack, snapshots of the actors involved, or if they of a high enough
profile names of the director/producer/actor/actress will be shown to capture
the audiences attention. These names will also be shown for example if
Tom Cruise was shown the audience would immediately affiliate the actor
with an action film due to the previous genres and successful films the actor
has starred in.
The genre of films I am going to look at are crime, famous directors of this
genre include Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino. The films I am going
to study are The Departed (2006), Dead Man‟s Shoes (2004), and Harry
Brown (2009).
3. The trailer is 2:31 minutes long, making a fairly long trailer. The Departed, one of my films
I have chosen, focuses on the crime genre. But there is also a very strong theme of
identity, it "affects one's actions, emotions, self-assurance and even dreams” Stanley
Kauffmann the film critic quotes. In the trailer all the main themes are portrayed, such
as action through gun fighting, sex and relationships, and betrayal. Special effects are
used such as slow motion as the gangsters move from their car, this is used to signify
their importance and malice. Transition between slides cuts to a black out to show a
slower and more effective change of scenery and actors, most of but not all screen
shots are of an action such as loading or shooting a gun or of a conservation and then
it is usually a mid-shot, close ups tend to be used more on scenes which want to show
you something, either typing on a phone or once again, loading a gun.
4. Captions such as Sacrifice is a test give the trailer a break from its vocal and more confrontational style. The trailer
features 4 different soundtracks, ranging from The Rolling Stones‟ Gimme Shelter to Dropkick Murphys‟ I'm shipping to
Boston. However, the music soundtrack only features as a background track as vocals (mainly conversations) take the
main part in the trailer, mainly conversations about “killing” or crime. Supporting and emphasising the genre of the trailer.
Caption placed for
deliberate effect to indicate
the themes and to indicate
death and loss, which
features heavily in the
movie.
This director is renowned for his “gangster” and crime type
movies, this indicates to the audience the type of film. Also
the colours used for the forename and surname seem to
indicate that the blue colour indicates the police force and
the white the crime. Another subtle hint to the films theme.
The final slide in the trailer shows the release
date and the films website along with al the
The list of very popular and well
films institutions, this is a fairly traditional end
known actors will catch the
to a trailer for a big budgeted movie.
audiences attention and realise
this is an “all-star” cast.
5. The opening of the trailer shows one of the main
characters – Jack Nicholson – as the voiceover
and in the scene smoking in a part of a town,
giving the effect of his superior role in the film.
Themes of the trailer are portrayed early on, for
example, action, through the image of a gun
firing. The camera is showing a close up of the
gun , this shows that guns and violence is a
main theme in the film.
The depiction of violence is
demonstrated through the anger of the
attacker and his fist about to omit paid in
to the victim.
These connotations of action and screenshots show the stereotypical action shots. This gives off the genre of
the film and the trailer. The trailer starts off with slow side transition to set the motif and also with longer
scenes to let more vocal and peaking patrts from one of the main characters, then as the trailer gets into the
depth of the pot, action shots tart to appear followed by a screenshot with some text on it. The slide transition
speed up and so does the amount of action and the trailer comes to a close after an action pcked 2:31
seconds.
6. The trailer for Dead Man‟s Shoes is 1:39 seconds long, making for a medium length
trailer. The film is about a disaffected soldier who returns to his hometown to get even
with the thugs who brutalized his mentally-challenged brother years ago. Richard
returns home from military service to a small town in the Midlands. He has one thing
on his mind: revenge. Payback for the local bullies who did some very bad things to
his brother. At first his campaign employs guerrilla tactics, designed to frighten the
men and put them ill at ease. But then he steps up his operation, and one by one
these local tough guys are picked off by the terrifying angel of vengeance that Richard
has become.
The film is part of the thriller genre but also drifts in and out of crime and drama genres.
The films motif is very much focused on revenge and I am planning to focus this as
my own main plot in my own trailer. Because the films motif is revenge and
vengeance, the film is basically a tragedy.
Towards the end of the trailer the main character (Paddy Considine) is heard to be
saying‟ God will forgive them and allow them into heaven, I cant live with that.‟ this is a
very sinister line and foreshadows the tragedy, drama and thriller in the film.
7. The trailer starts out very soft, the
soundtrack is soft and gentle under the
conversation between the two characters,
which is not in sync with the films genre.
This is still continuing the strange vary in
genre, representing the drama side of the
film, the technique used to show a lack
screen and a faded out use of text give the
impression of something being hidden and
subtext that will later be revealed.
This
screenshot is
placed before
this one
This gives the affect of how a brother will
do anything for his own, and the
„Vengeance‟ typeface is very aggressive
and explosive. It shows the anger and
violence intended throughout the trailer.
8. The scene is showing a struggle of a man being almost The creepy mask indicates that of a serial killer (again a
forced into something – he is being dragged by a rope code and convention of a thriller genre) which sends out
(almost animalistic) this gives off the traditional codes and the fear to the audience.
conventions of thriller.
The use of the axe indicates the violence in the trailer The stance of the character shows his confidence and
throughout the film, it also is a foreshadowing of the blood composure whilst holding an axe which makes the whole
and gore. scene look incredibly sinister.
Text is displayed in a dirty red colour (probably blood) and The review and quote from a famous correspondent gives the
shows the violence, horror and thriller aspect of the trailer. The audience a reassuring vote of confidence and shows the
text itself, „One Down‟, is a disturbing term which indicates the scary aspect of the text used, „Disturb‟ and „Gripping‟, give the
elimination and murder of people. quote a reminiscent to the thriller genre of the film.
9. Harry Brown is a 2009 British crime thriller film directed by Daniel Barber and starring
Michael Caine, Emily Mortimer, Jack O'Connell, and Liam Cunningham.
The film also features actor and artist Plan B who, with Chase & Status, is also
responsible for the film's theme music track "End Credits.”Harry Brown had its World
Premiere as a "Special Presentation" at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival
and was released theatrically in the United Kingdom by Lionsgate UK on 11
November 2009; the film was released in the United States by Samuel Goldwyn Films
and Destination Films on 30 April 2010.
The story follows Harry Brown, a widowed Royal Marines veteran, who had served in
Northern Ireland, living on an Elephant and Castle housing estate that is rapidly
descending into youth crime. Harry fights fire with fire after a friend is murdered.
The trailer is 1:48 long and
features varied slide transition,
different character voiceovers
and towards the end of the
trailer it features a song from
the director himself.
10. The early signs at the start of the trailer
show violence and fighting. This is a
foreboding factor on how the genres are
represented in the trailer.
The depictions of violence are
showing vandals and youths(the
main antagonists) are seen
throwing petrol bombs at a car
and starting fires. This is in tune
with the codes and conventions of
thriller.
Scenes of a man being brought
away by police, again coincide
with the codes and conventions
of thriller and crime and drama
genre.
11. The depiction of the threatening with a knife Another representation of weapon An explosion indicates the action side,
and the clothing chosen to represent the which shows that the thriller genre is it also is a good code of thriller. The
attacker is very much in sync with the codes ever-present throughout this trailer. fire is a great part of portraying
and conventions of the traditional „hoody‟. violence.
The scene with a character tied up The relaxed position the gun holder The quote from the well-known
with a bag over his head is a very is in proves his capability and ease at correspondent supports the idea
thriller-esque code and convention. It the situation, supporting the thriller for a viewer to watch the film.
demonstrates the struggle and fight genre. This also supports the trailer, as
people have to overcome in times like in it bolsters the strength from
this. numbers of the likeness of the
film.
