2. Part 1- Introducing the film
Vanessa Ofereh-Mugbeh
The trailer starts with the logo for Universal Pictures,
while the background score is of the rain (that
becomes diegetic in the next shot) and we also hear
melancholy string music.
This is the first shot of the film that the
audience get to see. The audience immediately
understand what type of film it will be (genre,
setting, year) due to this camera shot.
Furthermore, it is of the star vehicle, Angelina
Jolie, who plays the film’s main character. This
shows her importance in this film.
3. Introducing the film cont... Vanessa Ofereh-Mugbeh
As opposed to film trailers set in the modern day, there
isn’t an establishing shot of the city itself. The location
and the year are simply written to show when this film is
taking place. There wouldn’t be an establishing shot of L.A
because nowadays, it looks very different to how it would
have in 1928.
THE EDITING so far is quite
slow and calm. While Angelina
Jolie’s character, “Christine
Collins”, is narrating her brief
story to the press, we see
shots that correspond to what
she is narrating. Various shots There is a build up as the story comes to the
fade into black and others climax, and the music comes to a halt. Before
dissolve into each other giving the ultimate climax of the story when she says
the audience time to digest “He was not my son”, the pleonastic sound of
the story. the camera flash is heavily exaggerated to
build tension.
4. Part 2- The story evolves
Vanessa Ofereh-Mugbeh
After a brief account of the main
character’s story is given, we are
shown in which season the film will
be released. The editing still
remains slow with the shots fading
in and out of blackness and
dissolving into each other, making it
seem very dramatic. More
characters are introduced, and also
more facts of what the story is
about.
THE MUSIC throughout the trailer crescendos,
becoming more and more dramatic, as this film is a
drama. As the characters’ emotions start running wild,
the music builds up the tension too. The composition of
the shots also matches the music.
5. The story evolves cont... Vanessa Ofereh-Mugbeh
There is some inclusion of
special effects to make
the film more appealing.
For example, these two
shots are in slow motion,
adding a dramatic effect
to the shots.
This trailer does not need the use of voiceovers, but simply just what the characters
say and key shots in the film.
Introducing the actors “I know my son is
out there... I can
As the actors are introduced, there a still feel him.”
up to 3 shots where their voices are
played over what we see; what the
characters say seems to be a
significant and impactful quote from
the film, also used to persuade the
audience to go and watch it. “Your son unfortunately
would not be the first...
But if you do it right, he
may very well be the
last.”
6. The Finale
Vanessa Ofereh-Mugbeh
While the editing still remains the same throughout, the shot duration by the end
becomes slightly shorter.
We see more controversy within the story arise too.
“I want my son back! I want MY son
back!”
The end the trailer finishes with
Jolie’s character yelling emotionally.
By ending the trailer this way, it
makes a big impact and stays in the
audience’s mind.
The title of the film is shown,
followed by when it will be
released and the production
that went into making the
film.
