1) The document analyzes conventions used in film trailers for horror and comedy genres. It discusses techniques like lighting, shot composition, character archetypes, settings and more. 2) The film trailers discussed are for "Warm Bodies" (2013 horror comedy), "Jennifer's Body" (2009 horror comedy), and "Dark Shadows" (2012 horror comedy). 3) Common conventions highlighted include using isolated settings, contrasting dull and bright costumes, incorporating narration and music to set tone, and employing techniques like close-ups to convey emotion or establish importance of characters.

1. Assignment 6:
Conventions Of Film Trailers
Judy Ibelgauptiene
Katia Martins
Courtney Buabeng
Noor Naoum

2. ‘Warm Bodies’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07s-cNFffDM

3. The locations used within the
trailer are quite isolated and
abandoned.
A long shot is used to establish the
setting and show the audience there is
no one around.
Within the trailer the main character R narrates what
is going on and his thoughts. This is quite
conventional in a comedy trailer.

4. Shallow focus is used to show the abandonment
of the background but keep focus on the main
focus of the image which is R.
Quite often the character is
framed to the left or right
of the frame to have some
focus on the background.
The plot challenges horror conventions as the main character is
a zombie and the trailer is about his perspective

5. R’s character is a leader as the trailer is in his perspective.
Within this frame he stands out by his clothing as he is
wearing red and everyone else is wearing dull colours
such as browns, blacks, greys etc.
Usually in comedies the
main character has a
companion and in ‘Warm
Bodies’ it’s M/Marcus.
The costumes of the zombies are all
dull colours that are dirty.
Simple costumes are used to show
they are still human.

6. The lighting used is usually either
natural or white dark to make it creepy
and mysterious.
Score music used correlates with the mood of the scene. For
instance when they are being comical the music is light hearted and
upbeat but when its more horrific the music is tense.

7. Close ups are used to express
emotions the characters are feeling.
Shot reverse shit are commonly
used in horror films to show the
audience what the character is
witnessing.
Close ups can also be
used to show gore.

8. The font and style used is quite playful yet
serious which is conventional of a horror
comedy.
The colour red is commonly used
to symbolize pain and blood.
Both horror and comedies regularly use
text within trailers to help the narrative
flow.

9. Jennifer's Body
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCSzYioSeT0
(2009)-
(horror/comedy)

10. Audiences main
concentration is
on main character.
Main character is central image and clothing stands
out between other characters (shows importance).

11. 2 bestfriends stick together through a
journey. (1 blonde 1 brunette)
2 girl bestfriends usually 1
smarter and 1 more popular

12. A character who has a special gift or power and
can do things out of the ordinary which not
many people know about unless when its being
used in defence or attack.
Brave character who has
no fear and usually is the
evil one that nobody
suspects due to looking
innocent.

13. Isolated location
Bestfriends argue. victim is usually the weaker
bestfriend as she either believes too much or
gives in.

14. Simple colour palette (black and white)
Sharp simple font representing subgenre (vampire)

15. ‘Dark Shadows’ – (2012)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIeN5Co3HDc

16. Character Types
The main protagonist – Often the victim or
hero of the film. The undergo some sort of
challenges or obstacles and add the comic
events to the trailer.
The antagonist – The person
who is considered the villain or
‘evil’ character who is the binary
opposite of the protagonist
Prize – Often is a girl or some
sort of prize if the
protagonist overcomes their
challenges.
Group of protagonists – Cause
problems for the antagonist and are
often killed off before the end

17. Location/Settings
There isolated/deserted places in this sub-genre
with ‘dark’ history such as, forests, destroyed cities
and castles.
Pathetic fallacy is
used to bring a
sense of fear and
connote a negative
expectation of the
rest of the trailer.
The comical parts of the trailer are mostly
set outside and in public places such as,
towns and theme parks etc.

18. Lighting
Artificial lighting is used to establish the horror
genre of ghosts, the afterlife and the supernatural
world.
Natural light is used for the humorous
events in the trailer.
Low key and available lighting is used to
create a sense of mystery and an eerie
atmosphere.

19. CAM SAMC
Close –ups and establishing shots
show the emotions and time
allocation of the characters.
POV shots are used to show horrific
events and the non- diegetic world
through the main protagonists eyes.
High angles are usually used to show the
grandeur of the setting and the mystery.
Whereas, low angled shots are used to make
the character seem powerful and undefeatable.