1) The document analyzes techniques used in successful movie trailers such as Dunkirk, Wonder, and The Book of Henry. It identifies techniques like using voiceovers, non-diegetic music, and montages of clips. 2) Common trailer techniques discussed include starting with a voiceover to introduce characters, using music to set the tone and heighten emotion, and including dialogue to emphasize feelings and plot points. 3) The analysis found that voiceovers help audiences understand fast-paced trailers, and that non-diegetic music is most effective when it matches the trailer's tone. Intertitles can be useful for some genres but not others.

1. Identifying and
analysing trailer
techniques
Ellie Hawkes

2. Identifying trailer techniques
Purpose of research-
To see commonly used techniques to see what I would want to include in my
trailer.
To see how the techniques used by professional editors give the film a chance of
being sold.
To take away ideas of narrative techniques I might want to use in my trailer.

3. Analysing trailers
Purpose of research:
To understand how trailers can effectively get the audience engaged with the film from the outset.
To observe which techniques are conventional throughout trailers and how they are effective.
To acknowledge what works well in trailers which evidently makes them successful.
To gain a understanding of how music can enhance the atmosphere of the trailer.
To take tips from successful trailers which can be transferred into my own work.

4. Dunkirk-2017
The trailer begins with non-diegetic eerie music to set the scene. We see
continuous shots of various soldiers to indicate what the main part of the film is
about.
The screen fades to black for one second before turning back to soldiers in the
sea. This creates tension and suspense.
Dialogue is used to fully introduce what the film is about, the eerie music
continues. The screen fades to black after two long takes, with the dialogue
continuing.

5. Wonder- 2017
The trailer begins with a voiceover of a young boy, introducing himself so the
audience understand he is the main character.
After his voiceover at the beginning, the screen swiftly fades black and back to
him and his family.
Dialogue is used to emphasise emotions and the soft tone of voices highlights the
tone of the trailer.

6. Dunkirk
After the third time the screen fades to black, enhanced sound of gunshots and
bombs power over the non-diegetic music. There is a montage of full action
packed shots which adds suspense and adds emphasis to the horrific sounds.
The screen fades to an intertitle to trigger the audience, as it states ‘shaped our
world’ showing that these events changed everything.
The date/season of the film increases excitement.

7. Dunkirk
Half way through, the non-diegetic music turns slightly upbeat and busy to
emphasise the action-packed nature of the film.
The last shot of the trailer fades to black with the title fading away.
There are continuous montages of clips to highlight how action packed the trailer
is.

8. Wonder
Non-diegetic music builds up when text comes up on the screen to set out what
the film is about.
The voiceover of the young boy starts again so the audience sympathise with him,
reinforced by the non-diegetic music.
The trailer begins with long takes. Typically of trailers, they get shorter as it goes
on.
The date/season of the film is shown to increase excitement.

9. Wonder
Non-diegetic music heightens with very fast takes to increase emotion and shows
how the young boy becomes happier, like the music.
The screen fastly fades black with the title fading into it.
A final take is shown after the title (a coda) to highlight the humorous side of the
film.

10. The Book of Henry-2017
The trailer begins with slow eerie non-diegetic music and dialogue from a young
boy, who is presumably the main character.
The company name fades in and out after the first long take.
The music is balanced by and is a lot quieter whenever someone speaks.
As the music heightens, the takes become faster and shorter.

11. The Book of Henry
Half way through the trailer, the music changes, becoming more faster but staying
eerie.
The takes get even faster to highlight the tense feeling.
Intertitles are used near the end of the trailer when it is emotional and not really
action packed so that it is more sympathetic and the audience is more likely to pay
attention.

12. The Book of Henry
The non-diegetic music has lyrics in it near the end for even more sympathy.
The title is shown at the end with various drawings surrounding, the non-diegetical
lyrics continue.

13. Life Sentence-2017
The trailer begins with upbeat non-diegetic music where we are introduced to
main characters. You would think it is a happy story because of the music.
A voiceover and dialogue is used over the top of takes to highlight that the main
character is suffering, which emphasises sympathy towards her.

14. Life Sentence
Dialogue is also used throughout to introduce characters and show their emotions.
Intertitles are displayed throughout and at the end, the title of the film appears on
the same yellow/green background.
The takes range from fast and short to long and slow.

15. American Assassin - 2017
A close up is used to introduce the trailer in which the main character, a young
male, is presented, showing us who the film revolves around.
A voiceover is instantly used to highlight tension and sympathy. The main
character is not speaking here, it is a woman, who states “So, what do you
remember about your parents’ death?” This immediately makes the audience feel
compassion to the boy and clearly lays out some important back story.

16. American Assassin
The screen fades to black and a flashback then comes after, with the main character
answering.
The screen keeps fading back to the close up of the boy, to show how he is feeling, and
creates tension.
When the main character and female stop talking about the deaths, slow non-diegetic music
begins. Lyrics are used to emphasise emotions. They say “Here we are, burning up in our
cars, and in our hearts”

17. American Assassin
Enhanced sounds of guns and stabbing shows the violence of the film.
Near the end, the takes are fast and the screen cuts to black within each one.
After the last take of the main character, the screen fades to the main title.

18. Rush Hour - 1998
The trailer begins with dialogue with two men to introduce main characters.
A voiceover is used of a narrator, introducing one main character even more
“Detective James Carter” who “loved his job, just a little too much.” The narrator
keeps the viewers clearly informed as to what is happening during the trailer.
Dialogue is used to make the character’s main characteristics clear and to show
how he is humourous.

19. Rush Hour
Another main character is introduced by the narrator, who is another cop.
Non-diegetic music, being upbeat, is used to highlight the humour of the film.
The takes become shorter to build up the trailer and make it look a lot more action
packed.
The screen fades to black and the title appears with the narrator saying the title to
anchor it even further for the audience.

20. Baywatch - 2017
Suspenseful non-diegetic music is used to introduce the trailer. There is a few fast
takes before the music becomes more lively and upbeat.
We are introduced to one of the main characters, who is seen as a lifeguard. We
know he is a main character, considering he is in all the first takes, he introduces
the trailer by stating “Welcome to Baywatch,” almost if directly addressing the
audience.

21. Baywatch
There are long takes followed by fast short takes and back to a long take again,
when introduced to the second main character.
Dialogue is used over the top of the music to highlight suspense, action and
humour, “One of you will most likely die.” You don’t know if this is being said
sarcastically or seriously, so it creates tension.
The screen fades to black quickly and back to a fast-paced montage.

22. Baywatch
Intertitles are used to show who the characters are over a red background, which
the title is also seen on.
Juxtaposition is used at the end of the trailer to emphasise the difference in how it
started to how it ends, a good example of bookending or parallel editing.

23. Paper Towns - 2015
Non-diegetic music begins from the beginning with a voiceover from a main
character,
He introduces the second main character “margo roth spiegelman”
Emotional and romantic music is used to emphasise how he feels towards her- he
likes her.
The subtitle “based on the best selling novel by John Green” encourages the
audience to want to see it more as it is popular and best-selling implies the plot
must be good and engaging.

24. Paper Towns
Margo says, “My boyfriend has been cheating on me. The revenge plot begins.”
which outlines the key part of the story and what is happening – it is common in
trailers to have a key line which sets out the main idea of the film like this.
A montage of clips of what happens during the night is used to build the trailer up
and show how lively and action packed it is.
The screen fades to black in the middle of the trailer, when it is fades back, it is
day time and the non-diegetic music becomes depressing which increases
tension.

25. Paper Towns
“She’s gone” creates sympathy for the male character as he likes her.
Other characters are introduced when they help to find Margo.
The title is faded onto a black screen at the end as the non-diegetic music
continues.
Suspenseful music which builds up makes the audience wonder if they find Margo
and where she has gone.

26. Overall from analysing trailers
Altogether from analysing trailers, I found that having a voiceover over the top of
the trailers makes it a lot more effective because it helps the audience to
understand what is happening when the fast pace and lack of chronology might
otherwise be confusing.
Non-diegetic music has to match perfectly with the trailer to make it interesting
and set the tone of the whole film.
Intertitles are only effective in some genres as it can be seen as heartfelt
messages or give information to the audience.