2. Semantic and Syntactic
Semantic is concerned with what communicates the audience with what's on
screen such as location, costume, lighting, body
language, editing, transitions, speed/pace, actors, props and sounds.
Syntactic focuses on the relationship between these fundamentals and the
structure of the narrative – What we expect to happen.
3. Semantic
My chosen genre to analyse is Horror. For my genre research, I analysed Scream 4 and Grave
Encounters. The opening scene on both of these trailers introduce the characters, as a group
or singular. This is so the audience can witness the characters before something terrifying
occurs. The locations of Scream alternates from the homes of the victims to different isolated
areas, however, Grave Encounters is based in one isolated area. Different camera shots are
used and merged together making the scenes have a fast pace, creating suspense. During the
chase and murder scenes, dramatic, orchestral music used to create anticipation. The props
used in Scream are used throughout the whole movie and even in the sequels, which are a
large butchers knife, the ‘ghost face’ mask and a telephone.
4. Syntactic
The Syntactic approach in a genre shows several different generic events, taking
from all sectors of the film. This usually starts by introducing the characters to the
audience, in a group or singular. Once the characters have been witnessed, the
trailer shows a number of deaths, to create a intense atmosphere. These deaths can
occur forty, fifty minutes apart in the film itself, but take place at the same time in the
trailer, making it seem more interesting. Trailers also contain numerous shock
scenes, additional killings, false scares and suspicion. The death of antagonists is
never shown in the trailer, as it would give away the ending, therefore keeping the
curiosity from the viewers and making them want to see the film. Deaths to the
antagonists don’t always take place, leaving a cliff hanger and possibly a sequel.
Selected shots and sequences including in the trailer don’t necessarily occur in
chronological order.
