The document provides an analysis of three film trailers: James Cameron's Avatar, Annabelle, and Into the Woods. For each trailer, the author analyzes elements like target audience, distribution platforms, atmosphere, music, special effects, props, backgrounds, camera angles, logos/companies, and characters. The overall document is assessing how different components of each trailer would appeal to and attract audiences.

1. Level 2 Film
Trailer
Presentation
and Analysis
By Ashley Norman

2. Film Trailer 1: James
Cameron’s Avatar
Target Audience
 The age group I think the product is
targeted for is teenagers and young
adults aged 14 – 25. The sci-fi,
adventure side appeals to the males
of the audience. While the drama side
appeals to the females. It not only
creates a new environment new to
the viewer but also shows it in such a
way as to gain a larger audience.
Platform & Formats
 The product could be distributed by
TV, which is quite common. Most likely
be placed near show that are similar
as people who watch that show are
more then likely going to watch
Avatar. Another method of TV
distribution would be placing the trailer
near popular shows, the cost is higher
but for such an original idea it could
play out well. Another means of
distributing the product would be
advertising in the films produced by
the same production company. A
chance to advertise in the cinema
and DVD.

3. Film Trailer: James Cameron’s Avatar
Atmosphere
 The atmosphere presented in the
trailer tells me it’s something new and
adventurous. Humans are filled with
curiosity, it’s one of our strong emotions
that plays a part in everything that we
do. From this, it’s curiosity that plays a
part in seeing something new that
plays a key role in gaining its
audience. Lots of areas of land are
shown that are unfamiliar to the
viewer. Our curiosity makes us want to
know more. This alone is great for the
trailer.
Music
 The music is placed as to give a more
lively feel. As a sci-fi this can’t be taken
literarily. However, giving something
emotions or an emotive side can
make it seem more real to watch.
While Avatar takes the sci-fi role in the
genre of its convention it does not
initially suit the proposed genre. The
music rivals between drama and
adventure. It gives the audience the
sense that it’s something new to be
accurate, they are unable to
determine weather or not it’s a drama
by looking at the trailer. However, can
easily relate to it being a sci-fi.

4. Film Trailer: James Cameron’s Avatar
Special effects
 Exterior areas of the landscape are
bright but not so bright, as to give it a
sense of realism. It allows the audience
to relate more easily to the trailer.
Giving that sounds such as plane crafts
landing or various forms of machines
operating is mostly aimed for a target
audience rather then applying it to the
characters. Reason to use these
effects are to again give it a sense of
realism for the audience as the brain is
able to understand what is happening
and relate it to events more easily.
Props
 The humans use various forms of heavily
armored advance technology such as
space stations, crafts, robot suits and guns.
Also machines such as genetic cloning.
The aspects confirm they are a military
compound. Heavily armed, this confirms
hostility is followed for them on the planet.
The landscape is mostly computer
generated and less prop for the most of it.
This can be confirmed by the amount of
detail. The Na’vi are shown using more
primitive forms of weaponry such as bows
and knives to do their work. It gives the
audience a sense that they are an
intelligent being and the can lead and
learn.

5. Film Trailer: James Cameron’s Avatar
Background
 The background is green screened
computer terrain as no location on
earth comes close to representing the
proposed environment. Not to mention
that earth locations are much more
easier to relate to for the audience a
new environment works better.
Camera Angles
 There are quite a lot of long shots and
extreme long shots used throughout the
trailer, put there to give the audience
something catchy to look at. Various shots
of the computer generated content from
the distances makes the audience
curiosity spike, Emotive shots are used with
close ups for the audience to understand
how they feel, as conventional for films.
The shots from behind the hub is most likely
used to signify ‘Out with the old, in with the
new.’ The frame shots slow once the
Avatar is shown. Gives the audience a
longer time to observe the effects used in
the production of the film.

6. Film Trailer: James Cameron’s
Avatar
Cast/Company Logo
 “Twentieth Century Fox Film
Corporation.” From films such as willy
wonka, liked that? Try this! Made by
the director of Titanic. Confirms drama
included in the film. Also gives the
audience something to relate to.
Given that those who watch Titanic
are going to watch for the directors
work and the sci-fi genre attracts an
audience of its own, it reached to a
vast area of profit.
Purpose
 The trailer was made mostly to
promote the actual movie. It was
developed in a sense of already piling
up an audience/ fan base for the film.
The more hipped the people got, the
more audience it would deliver.

7. Film Trailer: James Cameron’s
Avatar
Characters
 The roles portrayed in the trailer are
scientists and military. Suggests a
research and development
compound. They all look quite serious
in what the do, each well trained and
armed. The Na’vi seem more flexible
and relaxed then the humans. May
have to do with the fact they are more
adaptive to the environment.

8. Film Trailer 2:
Annabelle
Target Audience
 The audience I think this product is
suited for is both males and females
age 16 – 25. A vast amount of
teenagers currently watch horror, it’s a
great demographic audience to
target for profit. So it makes sense to
provide conventional content suited
to the vast amount of audience.
Platform & Formats
 The product could be distributed by
TV, similar shows or ones that will gain
an audience. Similarly, it could be
placed in cinemas which are a great
way to promote the film. Giving the
amount of teenagers that watch
horror it could stand to reason for the
trailer to be placed near shows
teenagers are likely to watch.

9. Film Trailer:
Annabelle
Atmosphere
 The atmosphere is very unpredictable.
What we can’t predict scares us.
Once the trailer has done this the film
has done its job. People like being
scared and given a taste of what the
film offers is all it tales to build its
audience. It doesn’t have to show any
major plot twists, it only needs to
provide the basics and the audience is
already hooked.
Music
 The music presented in the trailer is a
visual yet non-diegetic sound that is
used in a manner to give it a sense of
normality for the viewer. Made of
before or after event. The main
associations that present in the genre
are mostly done through visual effects.
The music is suited to the genre in this
manner as it isn’t initially new to look
at. When you think of the audience
the music sounds like it would belong
to a drama which in horror in this sense
makes sense and is conventional but
only in the manner of which the film
trailer was produced.

10. Film Trailer: Annabelle
Special Effects
 A clock ticking gives us the
impression that it’s quiet. In this
scenario it’s night. The sound of the
door moving suggests a presence
of paranormal activity. As this is
abnormal to the viewer it don’t fit
right in a realistic plot. However, for
this it fits well. Various things that
happen without explanation can
scare an audience which is exactly
what these kind of films do. Most of
the sound used throughout the
trailer is diegetic and can be heard
by the cast. However, given the
convention. Most of the sounds are
ignored or unheard for various
reasons.
Props
 The doll is given a menacing look as
an appearance. This allows the
viewer to easily identify Annabelle
from the other dolls. The reason why
they chose this instead of a normal
doll would be because it needs to
be separated from the others, they
could have picked a more natural
doll. Which would have been scary
given that you wouldn’t have
known it was dangerous. In a video
game normal looking dolls work well
scaring the player. However, in films
knowing who the antagonist is grips
the audience in to something to
watch instead of spending their
time thinking it through.

11. Film Trailer: Annabelle
Background
 The area chosen gives an almost
natural feel to the film. It’s based in a
real environment housing district. Just
added effects to give it a more sinister
feel to work from. The horror is a
prequel to ‘The Conjuring’ so in this
sense it would be in the same
environment. It also scares people
more to bring it in to real life events
then fantasy as people can relate to
real life events more the fantasy. The
film is set around the modern times
possible 1990’s – 2010. Evidence
supported would be the level of
technology, clothing and props.
Camera Angles
 Close up of the doll used quite
regularly even knowing it doesn’t
express any emotion. The reason this is
used, is to make the doll the centre of
attention. The camera is also facing a
slight up shot on the doll giving use the
impression that it is powerful. It’s a way
of informing us that the doll is most
important to this film and more
powerful then any of the others. Quite
a lot of long shots are used when
filming paranormal events, these play
a part in that they are conventionally
used to display changes in the
environment.

12. Film Trailer: Annabelle
Cast/Company Logo
 Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line
Cinema’s logo promote and give an
audience for the film. “From producer
James Wan.” Seen any of his other
films, come and see this kind of thing.
A list that gives credit to the
developers and promotes them for
future projects. “New Line Cinema
presents an ATOMIC MONSTER/
SAFRAN COMPANY production
“Annabelle”
Purpose
 The trailer was developed with the
intension of gaining an audience
before the release of the product. It
gives short glimpses of the film that
makes the audience want to go and
see it.

13. Film Trailer: Annabelle
Characters
 The cast represents your typical normal
family. The mother and father move
homes and settle down with their
young. There is nothing abnormal
about this family based on the trailer.
However, events may change whom
they currently are.

14. Film Trailer 3: Into the
Woods
Target Audience
 The audience I think the trailer is aimed
for is teenage girls 15 -20. Mostly
because of the content, its fantasy
based with a dramatic feel. The
content although admired by a small
audience of guys, the content was not
specifically developed for guys.
Platform & Formats
 The platform the product is suited for
currently as a new production film
would be cinema as the most
dominant. It promotes the cinema and
allows to gain immediate profit from
the audience. TV advertisement is an
alternative for promoting the film as it
reaches out to a wide audience.

15. Film Trailer: Into the Woods
Atmosphere
 The atmosphere is very predictable. It’s
magical and understandable. It
resembles a much darker version of
the children's stories, Jack and The
Giant Beanstalk, Little Red Ridding
Hood are examples of this and
recreate them in a more realistic
manner. The audience would think this
as a new concept on already thought
ideas and interests them to want and
go and see it.
Music
 The music uses a variety of instruments
and confirms it’s a musical by the
voice synced to the beat. This informs
the audience it is in some way musical
and consists of drama. The audience
would easily be able to identify this as
a musical by listening to the trailer
alone.

16. Film Trailer: Into the Woods
Special Effects
 The lighting is quite bright in the trailer. This
suggests it is appropriate for a younger
audience and that it takes a less
dangerous side to the story. The sound of
the door braking informs the audience
that its linked to the ‘I wish’ reference
previously said in the trailer. It informs them
that something in going to happen. Bright
lighting in used from the door to create a
presence of hope /to reference ‘light’ as
an element. The music is diegetic and
non-diegetic at the same time. The
characters are aware of its being,
although it isn't really there. They even
interact with it in groups. This could very
from scene to scene depending if an
instrument is present on screen.
Props
 Fantasy based clothing suited to the
fairy tales. Red Hood, Magic Beans. So
on… The cloths along make it a less
serious thing to watch. Its slightly
unrealistic and unnatural. The level of
technology looks very primitive, castles
governed by kings who rule over cities.
Suggests knights, catapults, spears,
sword, any form of medieval
technology and weaponry with a
slight twist of magic.

17. Film Trailer: Into the Woods
Background
 The areas chosen green screened and
natural areas that display content
appropriate to the film. Various effects
are used such as the growth of trees
which can not be physically done, this
can only be done by editing it in. This
helps the audience to easily relate
and understand the genre.
Camera Angles
 Long shots are used when traveling
from one area to another. This allows
the audience to make sense of what
they’re doing. Lots of medium shots
are used when the cast almost faces
the camera but instead looks past it.
This references that they are talking to
someone else personally. Long upper
shots used to give it a mighty and
powerful appearance when door
brakes. Gives the audience the
impression that that person is powerful.

18. Film Trailer: Into the Woods
Cast/Company Logo
 Use of the Disney logo alone promotes
the film to a large audience. People
believe Disney to be a good
developer and for this reason alone,
not to mention the success of previous
production work. Cast members
promote the film from people who
recognize the actor and to see more
of his/her films. Credited support at the
end of the trailer gives credit and
reason to go and see more of these
peoples work and promote their work
in the process.
Purpose
 The trailer promotes the film to an
audience before the release. This
allows an already supportive fan base
to be set up ready for the release.
Once one person has heard about it
they will tell others and an even bigger
fan base will rise.

19. Film Trailer: Into the Woods
Characters
 The characters dress unrealistically and
fantasy like. Their personalities are
quite comical and straight to the
point. As a musical this is not
uncommon. You can expect lots of
emotion and over exaggeration as the
trailer is for a musical. It doesn’t have
to be exactly as if it was real, also in
musicals people can wear colours that
mean various things. Red Riding Hood
wears a red cape that signifies
danger.