The document analyzes how the film trailer follows conventions of real film trailers. It discusses how the trailer includes fast flashes of shots, production company logos, film ratings, quotes, and other typical elements of trailers. It also summarizes how the trailer uses techniques like shot reverse shot, subtitles, flashing shots set to music, and establishes characters to engage the audience, build tension, and set up the storyline. Overall, the document demonstrates how the student's trailer challenges some conventions while developing and adhering to most conventions of real film trailers.

1. FILM TRAILER
In what ways does your media product
use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?

2. My trailer...
My film trailer generally follows the forms and
conventions of a film trailer as I wanted to create
a realistic trailer
Trailers include:
 Fast flashes of shots at the end
 Intuitional references WARNER BROS. Always
shows their logo at the beginning
 Name of film/coming soon at the end
 Quotes/star ratings of the film are included
 Location is set up at the beginning
 Music changes with shot types

3. MAIN INSPIRATION
 The house at the end of the street
 Red Riding hood
 The Pact

4. THE HOUSE AT
Production companies and THE END OF THE
STREET
filmratings.com
The film rating audience information ALWAYS appears
at the beginning of the trailer. After looking at a
variety of trailers I have also noticed that generally
the production company information appears at the
end. On the other hand Warner Bros. Pictures; the
company I am using shows theirs at the beginning.
Furthermore, both my trailer and red riding hood a
Warner Bros. Pictures production has the production
company logo at the beginning much like “e one”
whereby they have shown theirs at the beginning of
“The Pact”. On the other hand the house at the end
of the street has the production companies shown at
THE the end.
PACT
THE GIRL WHO
CRIED WOLF RED RIDING HOOD

5. quotes
Typically quotes are used to encourage an audience to watch the film.
If a newspaper has rated a film five stars (much like this film) it
creates the idea that it has to be good if they say it is. It creates the
idea in your head that the film is something you need to watch.
“ONE OF THE SCARIEST MOVIES THIS YEAR” for an audience
interested in horror this would encourage them to watch the film as
they may feel they are going to miss out.
Both The Pact and my
trailer feature quotes

6. THE
PACT
Bad characters
Typically in horror movies the face of the evil
character is not shown as it builds suspense and
makes them appear scarier.
I too have doneHere into try andTHE 13TH my audience
this the FRIDAY make trailer only a quick
scared. glimpse of the silhouette of the bad character is
shown. Not showing his face builds up tension and
makes him appear more scary. In the second shot you
see a quick shot of the bad character but he is wearing
a mask which again scares the audience into watching
the film.

7. Conversations
When a conversation is taken place the typical
shot to use is shot reverse shot.
I have set up the scene using a two shot so that
my audience can establish the conversation
that is going to take place is between two
characters. I then have used shot reverse
shot to show the different characters emotions
whilst speaking. I think this particular part of
the trailer is very important as it sets up the
storyline of the film and links with the title.
In THE HOUSE
ATTHE OF THE
STREET they have
also used a two shot,
and shot reverse
shot to display

8. Title and “coming soon”
These two things generally appear at the end of the film.
I too have placed the title and “coming soon” at the end of the film
to encourage a viewer to watch the whole trailer in the hope that
they like the film, keep watching and become more interested
because they have been exposed to more and then want to wait
till the end to see the name of the film because they want to
watch the film.
=both my
trailer and
the house
at the end
of the
street
feature our
titles and
“coming
soon” at
the end of
the trailer

9. blackouts
Blackouts are used regularly in horrors to build up
suspense and tension. Including lots of black
flashing shots makes the trailer “jumpy”, scaring
the audience into wanting to watch the film.
For my trailer I have included a mass of blackouts
to create a scary effect and also make my trailer
more realistic and conventional.
BLACK OUT FROM THE
HOUSE AT THE END OF THE
STREET AND THE GIRL WHO
CRIED WOLF

10. subtitles
Conventionally subtitles are used to help the
audience understand what the film is about. They
give information about the film that will enable the
audience to understand the trailer better BUT the
audience is never given too much information as
otherwise it seems pointless to watch the film if
you are given all the facts therefore the the film and also leaves the
This sets up
trailer/subtitles must leave the audience in why the character
audience questions
needs a fresh start.
question.
Subtitles
from THE
PACT

11. Use of flashing shots/music to match
Generally, most horror have fast flashes of shots
and dramatic loud music to match.
I have created a series of dark shots (to meet the
conventions of a horror and to meet my target
audiences wants and expectations) these shots
are snappy and are accompanied by scary
dramatic music.
Here are fast
moving shots
accompanied by
relevant music
in both THE
PACT and THE
GIRL WHO
CRIED WOLF

12. The main character
The main character of the film is introduced at the
beginning of the film so that the audience is able
to easily recognise who that person is. By
introducing them at the beginning shows that they
have a important and main part within the film.

13. GENRE CONVENTIONS
 Darkness
 Weapon (Knife)
 Running shots
 death
 Bad and good character
Stereotypically horror films are dark and gloomy as black
connote evilness. A weapon is often a key prop for the
killer. Running shots and death are key events and there
are binary oppositions. I have used these conventions to
make my film more realistic and conventional. Practically
all of my shots are dark, I have used a variety of running
shots, I have implied death with the teddy bear and also
stated in a voice over of a news report that three people
have died and have also presented my main characters.
I have challenged the stereotypical idea that the bad person
has the weapon. In my trailers case, the good character
has the weapon for self defence and to put a stop to the
killings before someone else dies.

14. CHARACTER CONVENTIONS
Many modern horror films of today have been
approached in a modern way to make the film
appear realistic which helps an audience relate
better to the film and also become more scared
by it.
THE PACT and THE HOUSE AT THE END OF THE
STREET have both been popular films in the
cinema that have opted for this modern approach
creating (mainly the main character) a person of a
younger generation who looks like a “typical”
young adult/adult.
I too have created a character that dresses and
behaves the same as any typical young adult to
try and connection with my target audience of 18-