The document outlines the development of a plot idea for a film trailer project. It discusses refining an initial idea about a teenage girl searching for her twin sister who was abducted as a child. The summary develops the plot, focusing on the protagonist and decreasing additional characters to make it more manageable. It then discusses genre, editing techniques, shots, sound, title screens, camera work, props, locations, costumes, characters/actors, and targeting a BBFC 12A rating.

1. MY FINAL PITCH
What research has shown me

2. DEVELOPING MY PLOT IDEA
■ I had briefly outlined an idea within my short picth that I wanted to expand on:
■ ‘Idea 1:Teen girl finds out that her twin sister was taken whilst on a family holiday aged 7.
Decides that she wants to find out if she is still alive. Finds a picture of a girl that looks
like her online and sets out on a journey to find her. Plot twist that when she finds her the
girl already has a life and doesn’t want to come home etc.’
■ Make it manageable and accessible to me
■ Keep the focus on the protagonist in order to decrease number of actors needed and
make it easier for me to develop a rapport with the characters

3. DEVELOPING MY PITCH IDEA 2
■ Girl is set the English task at school to write about herself.Tries to find baby pics of
herself, can only find pictures of herself from age 6 onwards - character voiceover adds
to this with a monologue that explains how she has never felt a part of her family
■ Finds a box that is covered up –At the bottom of the box there can be a ‘missing child’
poster – picture of her as a child and some information – in this picture there can be
another girl that looks similar to this – reaction shot can justify her confusion

4. DEVELOPING MY PITCH IDEA 3
■ She can google the name – finds an online article about a girl that went missing,
details the story – a few shots can be used to highlight key sentences within these
descriptions – find an address – through editing this can jump cut to the location that
shows a Montage of shots and emphasises the
■ The plotline can then thicken when the ‘twin’ is brought in – could do this in a number
of ways – Facebook comment – picture of the two together – part of the text or
recognising her on the beach

5. GENRE
■ My genre will still be an independent coming of age drama that is targeted at a
teenage audience

6. TYPE OF EDITS
■ From my research, I found that it was common to use a montage of shots to develop a
storyline, I thought I could do this around the middle of my trailer by using close-ups
and long shots to highlight locations, pops and characters that are linked to the
storyline
■ To build this rapport and also reinforce particular plot points, continuity editing and
longer shots can be used

7. SHOTS
■ I have decided that I would like to use a large range of shots within my trailer as they
are effective for many reasons. For example, close ups can act as reaction shots –
building a rapport with the audience
■ Over the shoulder and POV shots will be used to add to this rapport by allowing the
audience to feel like they are involved within the action
■ As well as this, extreme long shots will be used to introduce locations and settings
which will allow dramatic themes to be emphasized

8. SOUND
■ An important element of a trailer which I noticed within my research was the use of
diegetic and non diegetic sound
■ Non diegetic sound was used in the form of a character voiceover that allowed
emphasis on the dramatic themes of the trailer as the audience will feel sympathy for
the characters
■ As well as this, non diegetic sound in the form of a soundtrack is used to add to the
mood of the trailer
■ Throughout particular scenes, diegetic dialogue is also used to give the audience an
insight into the action of the trailer – this is common to raise attraction to the
theatrical release of the film

9. TITLE SCREENS
■ As a trailer, I have decided that I would like to use title screens to advertise the ‘film’ to
the audience and give added information about the film
■ From my research, common and effective title screens that I found were the stars
within the film, film reviews, the film name and release date (towards the end of the
trailer) and a line that sums up or introduces part of the plot line
■ I have decided that I will need to design title screens that are simple yet effective for
the theme and appeal to the target audience

10. CAMERA ANGLES AND MOVEMENT
■ My research has shown me that tracking camera movements can be useful in
reinforcing a characters importance in the plot
■ These shots as well as tilts and pans are also important in focusing the audience’s
attention and slowly revealing important elements
■ I will mostly use eyeline angles as they establish that the characters and the audience
are on the same level which may add to the empathy that the audience have to the
characters and plot

11. PROPS
■ I have decided that I would like to portray a theme of travel within my trailer therefore
props such as as trains, cars etc will be useful
■ As I have targeted my trailer at a young adult audience, props that will appeal to this
age range are also important – including technology
■ Another theme that I have decided to highlight is abduction/missing person therefore
props such as photographs and missing person posters are also important

12. LOCATIONS
■ I wanted to include the location of a large open space such as the sea side or a
reservoir as it allows the audience to focus solely on the action through singleing them
out
■ I also want the locations to appear conventional so the audience are able to make
assumptions based on the stereotypical settings

13. COSTUMES
■ Like with the locations and props, costumes and makeup that are stereotyped to the
‘typical teenager’ are essential in allowing the audience to make a first impressions of
the type of characters within the two minutes of the trailer – this will allow the trailer
to attract the films target audience therefore ensuring that the film is more successful

14. CHARACTERS/ACTORS
■ I have decided that in order to appeal to my target audience, my actors would also be
young teenage females – the effect this has is that the audience will feel on the same
level as the characters and therefore more likely to feel involved with the plot line, as
well as this, the themes involved will also be more likely to appeal to the audience
■ Another important element I want to create within my actor is someone that isnt
steroetypical by pushing social boundaries in terms of fashion etc. – as it is more
commonly desired to be independent within the modern day cultural norms

15. BBFC RATING

16. SIMILAR MEDIA INSTITUTIONS