1. Film Trailer
In what ways does your media
product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media
products?

2. Film Trailer Definitions
‘A trailer or preview is an advertisement for a feature film that will be
exhibited in the future at a cinema, on whose screen they are shown’ -
Google
Trailers consist of a series selected shots from the film being advertised -
Wikipedia
‘A short promotional film composed of highlights of a movie
due to release in the future’ - Dictionary definition
Advertise (a movie or program) in advance by broadcasting
excerpts or details. – Google

3. Trailers (Forms and Conventions)
• Theatrical trailers last between 1 minute and 3 minutes.
• Suggestion of the storyline. This is usually told to the audience through 5 transitions in a
standard trailer with no more than 4 words per slide as well as voiceovers.
• Draws the interest of the audience by displaying attention grabbing footage. Close-up and
medium shots are the most interesting shots unlike a continuous amount long shots which can be
classed as boring.
• Includes the film title and opening date at the end.
• Quick build up to high tempo music or if the trailer is of a smaller duration, a consistent high
tempo during all of the trailer depending on which genre the trailer has.
• Introductions to some of the main characters. Sometimes the actors names appear on
screen.
• Mise-en-scene will help the audience determine the genre of the film.

4. The Theory of Trailers
Tzvetan Todorov’s Theory of Narrative
Todorov suggested that conventional narratives are structured in five stages:
1. a state of equilibrium at the outset;
2. a disruption of the equilibrium by some action;
3. a recognition that there has been a disruption;
4. an attempt to repair the disruption;
5. a reinstatement of the equilibrium
This type of narrative structure is very familiar to us and can be applied to many
‘mainstream’ film narratives.
My trailer has stuck fairly well to Todorov’s narrative. At the start of my trailer, the
equilibrium is set with people playing poker. But with the help of transitions, a
disruption is set as you find out my characters are actually conmen. The attempt to
repair the disruption can be seen as the characters are actually good-guys instead of
bad. The last scene re-instates this with my characters holding bags full of, what you
can assume as money.

5. The Theory of Trailers
Vladimir Propp’s Theory of Narrative
Vladimir Propp suggested that characters took on the role of narrative 'spheres of action' or
functions. From a comprehensive study of folktales Propp came up with different character
types.
•The villain — struggles against the hero.
•The dispatcher —character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off.
•The (magical) helper — helps the hero in the quest.
•The princess or prize — the hero deserves her throughout the story but is unable to marry her
because of an unfair evil, usually because of the villain. the hero's journey is often ended when
he marries the princess, thereby beating the villain.
•Her father — gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, marries the hero, often sought
for during the narrative. Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father can not be
clearly distinguished.
•The donor —prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object.
•The hero or victim/seeker hero — reacts to the donor, weds the princess.
•False hero— takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess.
I see my trailer to include 2 villains (Scott and Lewis), this is because of the role they play as con-
men. I see Beau to be the ‘Princess’ because of her elegant status due to her long dress, high
heels and glamour.

6. Thriller Trailer and Film Conventions
A thriller trailer must include a high tempo soundtrack in the back. This is apparent in such trailers like
Oceans 13 and James Bond.
Smaller length of footage create tension which links in well with the high tempo music.
Sets the thriller genre of the film and creates a feeling for the setting.
Sudden jumps in the music.
1 to 3 main characters – Usually only one female
‘Goodies and baddies’
A twist to the storyline

7. Film Conventions of my Trailer
• 3 main characters – Beau, Scott and Lewis who play the 3 con
men in the storyline. Scott as the ‘hard-man’, Beau as the
‘charmer’ and Lewis as the ‘boss-man’.
• Twist with the scamming from the ‘roll of the dice’. This is a one
highlight from the many that I would involve in the film
• High tempo music throughout the trailer. David Holmes – 160
Million Dollar Chinese man starts of medium but gradually
increases towards the end.
• Cuts in the music. I have included 2 cuts in the trailer followed
up a voiceover then a drop in the music to give excitement to
the viewers.
• All scenes are no longer than 6 seconds to keep the tension
high. This works well with the music because they excitement
levels high throughout the duration of my trailer.

8. Film Conventions of my Trailer Cont.
• Action packed which allows the audience to recognise it’s a thriller. The image on the left is
one example which shows Lewis carrying a bag which the audience can assume to be full of
money
• The trailer itself doesn’t show any storyline really, only highlights from the film which is a
conventional structure for trailers.
• Transitions including text giving the audience a basic storyline in 15 words and end credits.
These transitions relate to the scenes shown in the trailer

9. Similarities Casino Heist
When researching into trailers, I enjoyed the style Ocean’s
13 portrayed which is why my trailer is similar or of a
pastiche to it. Other trailers influenced my work as shown..
Ocean’s 13 Casino Heist
Casino Royale
From my research into trailers I have become fond of many
shots. For example, I have tried to re-create the over the Casino Royale’s trailer has a close-up of
shoulder shot that was shown on Ocean's 13. I thought this was cards to give the audience a feeling of
a very interesting shot so I used Lewis as 'the boss-man' in the the storyline. I have used this shot but
image below. changed it slightly to add more tension.
Ocean's 13's shot includes an upper class background with the To do so, I have zoomed in from a close
use of a swimming pool. I could not create this but the glass in up shot to an extreme-close up. This shot
the background was the closest I could get to a 'rich look'. could also be seen as a point of view
shot which makes the audience seem
more related to the situation.

10. What’s unconventional?
When planning my trailer, I made it so that it would mainstream in the sense I
took no risks. Therefore with this, my trailer includes little unconventional
features..
One unconventional feature I have included is the animation transitions. Unfortunately
the playfulness I am trying to show in my film can’t be easily shown but I am hoping the
transitions will give the audience a hint of it. The editing included also in this has a
transition which is unusual with the mise-en-scene of sophistication.