The Research Task for Media Studies A Level; Task 5

1. Marco Pasquale Petulla’
9132
Task 5: Pace of trailers
Start:
The trailer starts off slowly, calmly; this in effect creates a calm and satisfying atmosphere, making it
welcoming and intriguing. The pace is swift, and the slow-motion tracking close-up of the ocean denotes
ambience and calmness within the world/story, intentionally to be broken through the increase in dramatic
intonation and more intense trailer score. The crescendo increases dramatically to intensify the dramatic and
upcoming fast paced story. This allows the trailer to feel action packed, relating to a predominant male target
audience, and due to the film being a 12, it aims itself to a younger male audience (12-20) in which this film
would be viewed by. Young male audience members tend to enjoy fast paced action. The pace starts with a
soft instrumental score, and gradually progresses to a faster pace. This in effect helps to suggest how quickly
things will get out of control for the protagonists. Leonardo DiCaprio was shown within the first 5 seconds of
the trailer with a longer shot (due to him being instantly recognisable). The longer shot establishes the idea
that his life was once calm (like the ocean), but gets more dramatic and intense, through the fast paced music
and editing composition.
Middle: As
soon as we see the protagonist in a sense of shock through the handheld close-up, the music suddenly grows
faster; we feel the tension and shock of the character, visually, but mainly through an intense choice of sound.
The sound doesn’t reveal the story, but does expand themes of danger. The pace is effective in creating an
atmosphere that grows intensely along the way, and as it grew to a much faster and deeper beat within the
middle of the trailer, this was effective in marking the moment of important clips from the film, bearing in
mind that the middle of a trailer tends to give greater detail about the story/plot of the film, and more
important clips to see. The pace throughout was very effective in creating an action filled atmosphere, and is
highly acceptable to be seen by 12+ years old males (the presumable target audience). The trailer intended to
impact the viewer, and through the progressing pace from the start to the middle, it grows on the viewers,
making it much more memorable; more likely to be remembered in exhibition. The trailer edited the speed of
the clips in accordance to the speed of music.
End:
Towards the end, the music expectedly became slower with its pace, creating an effect that there is more to
the story; due to the intensity and pace of the music being faster and greater in the middle of the trailer, it
goes alongside the increase in clips that hold vital importance to the film. At the start, the music is slower as
the audience don’t know much about the story. In the middle, it becomes faster with its crescendo in order to
create an impact on the viewer, especially with the introduction to more vital pieces of the story being shown.
At the end of the trailer, the music is the same pace like the start, possibly with the effective intention to
cut/hide the rest of the story.
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2. Marco Pasquale Petulla’
9132
Start:
Due to this trailer being made twenty years
before the likes of Inception, the pacing of
the trailer is much slower. This is quite a nice style to
have in trailers that fix itself around a film that has
a range of stories compiled into one, considering that the
film is based over thirty years. There were many more shots within this trailer, and the pacing was fairly
slow, depending on the music as well. The music also changed from time to time, quite frequently. The
pace was effective in creating a personal appreciation to the film; it didn’t feel as rushed some trailers
may be. The trailer from the start was also able to enlighten the viewers with a bit more detail in terms of
the story/context of the film itself, and the pace also dramatically speeds up within the music used,
creating the effect that in this film (with themes of Mafia and genre of Crime), things can get out of
control quickly; like the editing, rapidly.
Middle:
The middle is when the music eventually starts to change, creating an effect that the tone of the content
has changed, due to the introduction to greater violence and confrontation. This in effect allows the
viewers to identify that the film will contain violence and disruptive behaviour to it. The pacing of the
shots and scenes were actually longer, as with the narration/voiceover of the main character, in order to
give greater detail to what was shown. The pacing was longer to make it seem calmer, as with the softer
music; this effectively created juxtaposition. The trailer’s soft pace made the violence feel welcoming,
personal, and more enjoyable to watch, making us like the characters, even though they are dangerous.
End:
The climax at the end was like the Start; it was fairly slow paced, yet used longer takes in order to add
greater detail, impacting the viewer with the incredible and unique story. At the end, the pace of editing
becomes a little bit faster at some points, in order to reinforce the viewers that even though this film
seems quite fun and smooth, it is one with caution; the caution being the large amount of violence
throughout. With these faster paced shots, they also had controversial objects within the frame, including
a gun, a fight and also blood. This contrasts the relaxing music, effectively creating the idea of how
twisted the mafia characters are. Overall though, the pace was very effective as it established a sense of
calmness within the context of the film, which is asynchronous to what content was being shown in the
longer and shorter range of shots. The pace tells me that the film will have moments of calmness, but
also sudden unexpected changes of tone to it; violence and danger.
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3. Marco Pasquale Petulla’
9132
Bearing in mind that this film is also directed by the beautiful Martin Scorsese, it holds similar forms of
editing and pace within this trailer as well. In terms of the music used, it isn’t just from one soundtrack,
and the tone of the music will also dramatically change, unlike the consistent crescendo of the Inception
trailer. From what I can tell from the trailer, the film will have moments that are fairly calm, but will
dramatically change into a danger. The music is quite fun, to create juxtaposition to films themes.
Start:
At the start, the music is quite slow and welcoming, as though to engage to the antagonist of the trailer.
What he says helps to add detail to the story, as well as compare two sides; The Police and The Criminals.
The tone changes through the speedy parallel editing, showing the comparison between good and bad
characters. The shots quickly change to create seriousness, enhancing these characters as being serious
within the film. Eventually after the Distribution company logo is shown, the speed of the trailer gets
faster, as well as the shots used. This is in order to suggest that the film holds a lot of story and plot to it.
More has to be shown, and the tone feels more serious, in context to Mafia and Law. The music then
starts to slow down, and has a happier tone to it. The pace is slower to suggest that the story of the film
starts of quite slow, but will eventually progress into a faster pace, reinforcing the sudden start of danger
inflicted upon characters against one another.
Middle:
The pace is slower at some parts, feeling quite welcoming, especially when more characters have screen-
time, and are introduced. Also, more of the story is told, and a fast pace would feel confusing. After a few
moments, the speed suddenly gets deeper and faster, adding even more detail of the story (between the
antagonist as with the protagonist). The slower pace also reinforces that characters aren’t aware of one
another’s truthfulness, but as soon as the text ‘Lies’ comes up, the editing gets faster, suggesting anger
and an unexpectedness turn of events (a twist), acting as though a sudden shock, also for the audience.
End:
The pace is slower for certain parts, suggesting a smooth storyline in contrast to the clips being shown (of
murder, violence and destruction). The music is also classical and slow, used as juxtaposition to contrast
the storyline as it is far from soft, friendly and desirable. The pace is also quite welcoming to make the
audience feel more determined to see the film. The pace eventually gets faster to suggest that (bearing in
mind, trailer is in chronological order), in the end of the film, sudden and intense scenes will occur within
the story, making it seem fast, thrilling and masculine to watch, as with the fast and uncontrollable music.
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