Trailer Analysis

3. The beginning of this trailer starts with a green MPAA splash screen for trailers which states
that 'The following preview has been approved for appropriate audiences by the motion
picture association of America'. The next shot of the trailer opening was a typical code and
convention and was of the production company: Artisan Entertainment which was
considered to be one of the biggest mini-major film studios until it was later bought out by
Lions Gate Entertainment in 2003. All film trailers show the productions label to increase the
companies popularity and also to advertise, its a written law in the film industry.
Additionally, some production companies mainly specialise in a certain genre, which then
allows the viewer to have some sort of idea before the trailer has even begun. In this shot
sound is introduced, a quiet humming noise which you would find in the woodlands, this
may have been used to set the scene.

4. The following shot is a black screen with typography with the plot of the film allowing an
insight into the beginning of the narrative. It states the disappearance of three film students.
This use of text increases the anticipation in which the audience will be experiencing. It is
written in a documentary style, and the fact that a lot of full stops adds to the tension and
dramatic feel. This introductory shot to the teaser trailer would play in the viewers minds
and creates instant enigma, and make them feel scared before any visual images are shown.
There is non-diegetic buzzing noise, which plays throughout the trailer in the same tone.

5. There are a lot of 'pitch black' screens within this teaser trailer, this helps to convey to the
viewers that they were feeling vulnerable and scared, and it helps connote the insecurity the
creepy fears everyone has about being lost in the woods, especially at night. The black shots
could also convey a sense of emptiness and isolation in which the protagonists felt. An
echoing, hollow noise is played throughout the trailer, making it more intense along with the
heaving breathing of the actor. The character in the trailer is using a whispering voice as
which illustrates the dangerous situation as well as her fright. The Blair Witch Project goes
against the usual codes and conventions of a trailer as no background music is used – this
allows the audience to gain the sense of how silent and isolated the forest is additionally
adds makes the atmosphere seem more eerie.

6. The intensity of the piercing background sound increases to create a build up for the next
shot of the trailer: the Title. This is shown with a cut edit so it is abrupt and could potentially
cause the audience to react as it is a sudden change from the black screen. With the use of
editing a glow effect has been added to the title which connotes the idea of supernatural
behaviour, below this is a stick figure which symbolises the Blair Witch: this is a five-pointed
compound symbol with a centre triangle pointing down. The five lines resemble the
microcosmic man with arms and legs outstretched inside a circle (with a pentagram in the
background)- a magic symbol or charm among medieval alchemists and wizards. (sourced
from - http://www.crossroad.to/Books/symbols1.html)

7. A cut edit it again used to revealing a close up of the female character allows the audience to
enter the character's intimate space, illustrating certain characteristics in which would
otherwise go unnoticed from afar. This bright light shining onto the students face intensifies
the feelings of the character as you can see the use of non-verbal communications such
as the terrified, vulnerable look in her eyes which was paired with the dialogue stating that
she was scared. This hand held two thirds shot is to add to the dimension of the film and
creates the sense of realism, which is typical of a horror found-footage trailer as it makes the
audience feel empathy towards the characters. The use of one character in this teaser trailer
and the lack of human interaction adds to the idea of being alone, isolation which would
therefore make the audience feel uneasy.

8. The end of the trailer then states the films release, which in trailer is typically at the end.