My media A2 trailer evaluation

1. Trailer evaluation
By Ross Alden

2. Camera shots
For my trailer, It’s important I show a range of camera shots to help reveal some of the
diversity of the film but without the audience actually realising it. What I’ve noted from other
trailers, is that the more camera shots taken, the more funny the trailer looks. If the trailer
was filmed in one camera shot, the trailer would look very plain, boring and serious. I used a
mix of shots to show humours moments; for example, when Jonathon fell over, I had the POV
camera view looking up at the other 2 boys to show a close up of the funny facial expressions
shown. This is also a diverse shot and is usually neglected in films, so the variety used in my
trailer will help the humour used. I also used an extreme close up of Jonathon’s hat and slowly
zoomed it out into a long shot and span it around him 360 degrees. This camera angle is also
very neglected in media at the moment, which will again, help bring humour to the clip. This
also helped me show a clearer difference between the representation on when they were
uncool, and when they were trying to be cool. Another good camera shot I used is the close
up on the sign on the toilet which then filtered out into the clip. This informed the audience
of the background of the clip from the film.

3. Music used
The music in my trailer is very important due to it setting the theme for the trailer and helps
the audience with first impressions of the real film. I needed the track to help the trailer flow
through all the funny clips which have been used to advertise my film, and it needed to be
extremely happy so it would contrast with the negativity, nudity and discrimination in my
trailer creating a comedy touch. This will also reduce the meaning of the discrimination, as
the film shows it as a funny thing making the film less personal to some viewers.
I also needed another track, that was very hip, young and had strong bass to show the
difference in the boys’ social reputation. This song contrasted very well with the other, as
whenever the boys were about to do something cool or naughty, the song would change and
the audience immediately knew the mood and the comedy was about to begin. This allowed
me to use more binary opposites as well with clips. For example, the clip where Jonathon is
stood outside the toilet has a nice happy song to it, and then the opposite song was played
allowing him to change his mood completely. This had a comedic affect as it took the
audience by surprise and was almost the trigger to his bad behaviour.

4. Narrative theorists
My film trailer is 3 minutes long, making it very hard to follow a clear theorist and
his theory with detail. I did however, like the theory of Claude Levi-Strauss. I believe
that his binary opposite rule can be used for great use in comedy trailers. An
example would be my songs I talked about in my last slide. Binary opposites can
clash to work better than clips that match. For example, at the start of my trailer, I
have the 3 6th form nerdy boys stood around and then 2 year 7’s attacking them and
robbing them of their money. This is a binary opposite to the original stereo type
that year 7’s are picked on by older kids, and the fact that the scene went from
peaceful to chaos in 2 seconds.
I tried to apply Todorov’s theory of the 5 stages of equilibrium to my trailer, but as
comedy trailers are usually a montage of jokes that tell the story and plot of the
film, I felt this would almost ruin the comedy used in the film. Todorov’s theory is
used a lot more in serious trailers such as action films or horror films. Comedy trailer
usually bend the rules and go the complete opposite to his theory just to show a
different and diverse affect to show comedy. In my actual film, I think that it would
briefly follow his steps of interruption to the equilibrium, but would often break
some of the stages and rules used.

5. Mise en scene
The mise en scene used in my trailer needed to make the film and show off the backgrounds
of the film to help show the audience the location. I did my filming in Marlwood School to
help show everyone the surroundings and what the background is like. To help get this point
across I decided to create a work based feel to the classroom scenes such as the art room
where one of the boys gets detention. I’d placed a sheet on the table to with scribbly
drawings on it to show that the boys are in class and are suppose to be working, but they’ve
gone against the rules and tried to be cool by not doing it and scribbling instead. This is one of
the reasons he gets a detention. Most viewers wont see this mise en scene added, but this
little piece of work can really help create a scene and a background of where they are and
what they are doing. The audience may also subconsciously realise the work they’re not doing
and presume that’s why they’re in so much trouble. I also added in another piece of mise en
scene on the staff room door. This was a notice saying when the teachers were available for
help. I decided to make a joke of this by focussing the camera on it so everyone will read
it, and then to say they can t get help as it’s the wrong time by a minute. This piece of mise en
scene created this joke. So I’ve used it as a comical affect and also to help the audience’s
representation of their surrondings.

6. Editing
In a film trailer, editing is one of the most important things needed to make it eye catching
and memorable for audience so they’ll go and see the actual film. Comedy trailers are mainly
about the editing you add to footage, to create a more intense feel and makes the joke bolder.
Whereas action films are heavily based on fast editing with explosions. An example of where
I’ve used editing to help enhance the comedic affect is where Jonathon falls over and knocks
himself out. I’ve added in a cloudy affect with a spaced out volume to give the dazed affect
and to suggest that he’s hit his head. Another instance in where I’ve edited a clip for affect is
the scene where he dresses up in lots of cool clothing and the camera spins around him. In
this, I’ve added lots of cuts to make the clip look more slick and stylish. I’ve also added in a
black and white sheet to cover the clip; this makes the whole hard and cool look contrast a lot
from the normal attitude making a clear separation on the audiences representation of the
boys. Another good way I feel I’ve used editing is the bathroom scene where he destroys the
toilets. In this scene, I placed 6 cuts where it fades in too almost mock the stereo type of
action films. This is what is placed in action films to make it dramatic, so I’ve used it in mine
but in a toilet, with happy cheery music. This is mocking the action films, making this funnier
than it would normally be.