2. What is the narrative of the feature film being
advertised? What is the genre?
The narrative of the film is that the mom in the film finds herself wanting to
adopt a child. Esther (the orphan) is assigned them as Esther is described
as different and un-usual. Esther goes to school although she gets teased
on the first day due to the way she is dressed therefore indicates that she
wouldn’t fit into that environment. She gets bullied which results in Esther
getting angered and wilder. The women that assigned them Esther realises
that “something is wrong with her”. She is always involved in trouble. The
mom tried to do some research on her background although the
orphanage where she came from has no record of her. She feels as
though her mom doesn’t love her and attempts to kill her family in clever
undercover ways. When home alone she attempts to seduce her father.
Through the series of events; it is indicated that the film follows a horror
genre. Throughout the film tense/sinister music in the background is
played. In one scene the swings squeak. This makes the audience feel on
edge as they wish to see how and who is moving the swing in order to
create such a sound although through the use of the camera; that part is
hidden therefore making the audience feel on edge and wanting to know
more. Also towards the end the pace increases as the events become
more sinister while still using low deep sound effects.
3. How much of the narrative is revealed? How is
this achieved? (Voice over/ shots)
Unlike other horror films; the orphan does give out a lot of
the narrative. The trailer includes the introduction of when
the mom adopts Esther and most of the events that occur
in the home. Although some events are left out. The reason
to why the mother choses to adopt is missing also the
ending of the film is missing therefore some parts of the
film is still left to the audiences imagination. The trailer
does not use a voice-over instead uses dialogue from the
film. One of the quotes that stick out is “There is something
wrong with Esther” this saying keeps being said therefore
makes the audience wonder what actually is wrong with
her.
4. What is the narrative order of the shots? How
does it differ from the order in the movie?
In the trailer the starting events are in order similar to the
film. Although; when the actors in the trailer realise that
something is wrong with Esther, the events differ to the way
that are in the films. Events that happen towards the end
are showed in the middle of the trailer which could create
confusion. But through this method; it would make the
audience feel unease and question what is wrong with
Esther. As Esther is described as being different the
narrative differs in the trailer therefore fits in together.
5. How many shots are used?
There are approximately 93 shots that are used in the
trailer itself.
6. What pace of editing is used? Does the pace
increase/decrease at any time, if so when and
why?
The pace of the trailer is continuous towards the start of the film.
Although when Ester pushed the little girl down the swing the music in
the background increase as a way of increasing the tension and drama.
Also when the car is rolling down the hill the music increases in the
background. This would cause the audience to feel at unease also as
dramatic music is being played it would make the audience act in a
dramatic way towards the visuals therefore this could create the effect
that gets the audience involved in the movie. Additionally scenes in
some horror films cause the audience to speak to the film while
watching it. During the scene of the car rolling down the hill’ the
audience would typically shout to the screen as a reaction. Therefore
this effects makes the audience interested and wanting them to find out
what the consequences of her actions are.
In the trailer when the mom realises that there is no record of Esther
from her previous orphanage the pace of the trailer increases
dramatically. The music in the background increases while the shots
change a lot quicker which makes the trailer look longer as a lot of
short clips are played while the trailer pace increases.
7. Are any specific transitions used that you
wouldn’t expect in the movie itself?- wipes/fade
to white/black etc. What effect do they have?
Why do you think they have been used?
The trailer uses a lot of transitions in between scenes. Just
before a quote is shown up; the scene fades to a white
background. This is used in order to break down the events
of the films in order to give the audience a chance to take
in the writing on their screen. Although in between other
scenes; the scenes transit to white to black following on to
the next scene. This is also another useful method of
breaking down the events of the trailer in order to give the
audience time to reflect and relax before they are hit with
another increased paced of events.
8. What does the voice over/ text says? How does
this link with the visuals? How does this set up
the narrative of the film?
“There’s something wrong with Esther” links into the
dialogue that the audience hears as the Church Sister is
saying the same line that is being viewed on the screen.
That makes the audience read the text and think what it
can be that is wrong with her. It also sounds much more
serious when it is on text therefore could indicate that
something serious is wrong with Esther.
“You’ll never guess her secret”- This doesn’t really link into
anything that is displayed in the film although it does give
the audience a chance to think about all the possible things
that can be wrong with her so at the end of the film the
audience can feel as though they knew something other
people didn’t
“Orphan”
9. How does the soundtrack help create the genre
and or narrative?
At the start of the trailer when the mother is introduced to Esther
upbeat piano music is played in the background to give the
audience a sense of normality about Esther. Although slowly the
soundtrack slows down and a mystery soundtrack gets played
making the atmosphere tense. The mystery tense soundtrack
gets played alongside the visuals of when Esther is getting
bullied from her classmate. When she has her tantrums; the
soundtrack of her screaming gets played in order to show the
audience the impact of her bullying and how wild she can react
to a situation. In addition; when the women from the Church is
describing Esther to her mom; the soundtrack of heartbeats can
be heard in the background this helps inform the audience that
they would be watching a horror due to the typical horror films
sounds that is being played within the trailer.
10. What specific camera shots are used? When/
Where/ why?
A lot of the same camera shots are used throughout the trailer. A Medium
shot is used right at the start of the trailer when the car drives up to the
orphanage. This shot allows the audience to see where Esther comes from
but also shows how many other children are also there but she was
assigned Esther. A close up is used of Esther’s face when she tells her
adopted mom that she may be different. This gives the audience a chance
to properly look at Esther to find out if there is anything wrong with her
although she just looks like an innocent normal child at that time. Another
scene of where a medium shot is used is when Esther is holding her moms
hand while next to her dad. This shot makes the audience think that they
could be a normal family and that nothing can be wrong with Esther. An
establishing shot is used when the family arrive home. This gives the
audience a chance to see where the family would be living and notice that
the house is isolated from other homes therefore anything is possible to
happen without anyone finding out and to help if something was to happen.
Another close up is used of Esther face when she get bullied. Esther face
completely changes from being the innocent little girl to being evil and full
anger. This close up of her face shows the audience that she does have a
sinister side to her allowing the audience to think about what else she may
be capable of doing.
