Making a Trailer - Key Features of Noir Genre & Trailer Creation
1. Making a Trailer
Donald LaFontaine
http://www.soundtrack.ne
t/trailers/
2. Task 1
• Watch and create a PP or Prezi that presents
the key features of Noir:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
G2_wWc99g88
• Cinematography (shot composition)
• Mise-en scene (settings)
• Editing (juxtraposition of images/sounds/text)
• Sound (music/dialogue/momologue)
3. Define these terms
Genre Story
PlotSetting
Characters
Voice Over
ThemeMood
On-screen
graphics
Editing
Post
production
Events of the whole narrative
Type of film e.g. noir
Aural effects added
Key fictional people
(age/gender/ethnicity/class etc)
Words used superimposed/intertitles
Narrator (objective/subjective)
The tone(s) of the trailer?
Shots juxtaposed using transitions
Location, e.g. interior/exterior, urban/rural
The order of events
Visual effects added after shooting
The message(s) of the film?
Aural medium
4. Definition of the form
• Trailers consist of a series of selected shots
from the film being advertised. Since the
purpose of the trailer is to attract an audience
to the film, these excerpts are usually drawn
from the most exciting, funny, or otherwise
noteworthy parts of the film but in
abbreviated form and without producing
spoilers. For this purpose the scenes are not
necessarily in the order in which they appear
in the film. A trailer has to achieve that in less
than two and a half minutes, the maximum
6. Trailer Conventions
• Ratings advice (BBFC)
• Studio logo
• Montage of clips
• Fades/other transitions apart from cut
• Voiceover
• Dialogue used to convey narrative
• Text for narrative and credits
• Music
7. Film Noir Trailers
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzuaR5YuOdY&2
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=B70_R1igohw&list=PLEE0B887DCB0F943C&
index=6
8. Neo Noir Trailers
• LA Confidential -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
G0qgbccDS78
• Mullholland Dr
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=PqxxMljN5_Q
• Batman –
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
HlsM2_8u_mk
9. Task 2: Written Analysis
Write a written analysis of a neo noir trailer
(1500 words) – To what extent is the trailer for
XXXX conventional of this media form. Think
about what the audience is shown and why.
Use the following terms:
• Credits and intertitles: these are words on
screen that give information to the audience
• Dialogue: any conversations between
characters
10. Task 3: Comparative Analysis
• Compare two noir film trailers, one classic, the
other noir.
• What are the key similarities?
• What are the key differences?
• Account for these: time, audience, type of
trailer etc
11. Task 4
• Create your own trailer for a classic noir film
• Use Stream Clip/Final
Cut/Garageband/LiveType
• Beginning/Middle/End
• Pace
• Techniques
• Voiceover
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?
12. Task 5
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oytYLm1OTcM&UUSFAYalJ2Q7Tm_WmLgetmeg
• Present a timeline Prezi on the history of the
movie trailer
13. Stages
1. Choose sequences using log sheet
2. Import using MPEG Streamclip
3. Paper edit
4. Edit in Final Cut
5. Create and add titles in Live Type
6. Export as Quicktime
15. Stage 2
• Import the clips using MPEG Streamclip
16. Stage 2
• Import the clips using MPEG Streamclip
17. Stage 3
• Paper edit – This allows you to plan the trailer
logically (this stage could be bypassed but
think of the learning you are missing) If you
miss this stage, please add a table of the pros
and cons of this decision.
18. Stage 4
• Edit in Final Cut/Premiere: import, move,
audio, speed up, colour correction, transitions
21. Task 6 - Evaluation
1. What specific techniques did you use in your
trailer?
2. Who is the audience?
3. What have you told the audience in terms of
plot/characters etc?
4. What have you not told the audience in
terms of plot/characters etc?
5. Document your new technical skills with
examples.
23. Task 7 - Noir Lighting
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
jsmVL7SDp5Y
• Using still and moving images, create a video
that explains your experiment with three
point lighting
24. Task 8 - Dolly Zoom
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
Amj6RiGiTOE
• Using still and moving images, create a video
that explains your experiment with a dolly
zoom
