The document discusses research on the intended audience and existing films in the genre of a dystopian sci-fi film trailer that the author is creating. It analyzes audience surveys that provided feedback on popular genres, what draws people to trailers, and suggestions for the author's trailer. It also summarizes existing film trailers like The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Maze Runner to see how they effectively set up their worlds and hint at conflicts without revealing too much. Production techniques for titles, color grading, and scene composition are also considered.

1. Research

2. Audience
Since I’m drawing a lot of inspiration from films predominantly aimed at teens
and young adults, that’s what I’m going to mainly tailor it to the young adult
age range. However, some of the other products I took inspiration from are
also popular with older adults too and teenagers so while the main audiences
are young adults but will also have a few things to hopefully attract some
members of other age ranges too.
As with some typical young adult dystopian sci-fi story in a kind of post-
apocalyptic setting, the story introduces a main character and a few
supporting characters, often during the point where the conflict or main plot
point is presented. This main character is often around the similar sort of age
for the main age audience, often 16, 18 or early twenties. In the case of my
film, my main character is a 17 year old, which could make the character
more relatable to the main audience as they’re probably around a similar age.

3. Audience Survey
Out of the twenty three
people that responded
to my survey, 16 of
them identified as
female, five as male
and 2 as being other.

4. Audience Survey
Most of the
responses were
aged between 16
and 21, with three
people just on
either side of this
age group.
This is really good
for my film as those
are the age ranges
that my product will
be aimed at.

5. Audience Survey
The genres of: action, sci-fi, fantasy,
superhero and crime/mystery all
got the majority of results for
popular genre. The dystopian genre
was chosen by five people. This is
still good for me however as my
trailer will fall into a few different
genre, some of which being the
more popular choices.

6. Audience Survey
When asking about
what draws a
person to a film
trailer, these four
results talked about
teasing the plot
points with clips
but not revealing
too much that the
movie is spoiled
while keeping with
typical conventions
of the genres and
type of film it
would be.

7. Audience Survey
These
responses
said that
seeing
familiar actors
and actresses,
how the
setting all
helps, as well
as the
characters
seeming
interesting
and the plot
is developed
and
captivating.
Music is
definitely
something I
need to look
into more
too.

8. Audience Survey
These
responses
also
mentioned
the
soundtrack
along with
what other
people have
said about it.
Humour is
mentioned
which is
something I
should try to
include, even
for a moment.

9. Audience Survey
These responses
also said similar
things about
being drawn to
the music,
characters,
popularity and
actors. The actors
won’t really be
possible for me
in that sense, but
I may give off
that impression
that it is.

10. Audience Survey One response out of
these last few said
that creating the
mood while staying
accurate to the
content of the film
was something that
drew them to
trailers. This is
something I should
be aware of but I
don’t need to be too
concerned since I’m
not actually creating
the feature film.

11. Audience Survey
From the responses
here, some suggestions
were to have a shorter
trailer too, as if those
would be for television
adverts etc. This could
be quite a good thing to
do. Social media related
content could well also,
especially to do with the
posters and shorter
trailer.

12. Audience Survey
Again social media
is often
mentioned,
teasing facts and
potential
occurrences
through short
videos or tweets
for example.

13. Audience Survey
One of these
responses
mentions making
sure that the main
point of the plot is
clear but not
spoiled so that the
audience isn’t
confused just by
the trailer and
therefore would
be less keen on
the film. The idea
of a short story is
interesting too.

14. Audience Survey
Voice overs and
slow motion
shots are good
suggestions to
use in my trailers.
They’re common
in trailers of this
style and the
slow motion
could be really
effective if used
in the right place.

15. Market – Existing Products
The Hunger Games is a well known film
series based from the books by Suzanne
Collins. The trailer for the first film, to
which was released in 2012, built up the
tension of what the world the main
character has grown up in. The trailer
doesn’t give away much, other than the
main plot point and introducing the lead
character and supporting characters. We aren’t actually shown any of footage when
Katniss starts to participate in the games except a brief moment right before the end of
the trailer where it cuts out to the title. This is a good way of drawing the viewer in
because they know that Katniss is going into the arena to fight to the death, but they
aren’t given anything about what happens once the games begin. The opening shots
introduce us to the main character where we are shown what could be the norm for her
until something changes. The shots get shorter to show the rush and confusion as as soon
as Katniss leaves the bright green of the forest, and blends in with everything else in a
steely blue shirt. The green of the forest represented her freedom whereas the blue was
to show the cold reality that she lives in.

16. Market – Existing Products
The Divergent trailer is the first movie in
the series adaptations from the books by
Veronica Roth. The trailer starts with
opening to the world that the characters
live in and introducing the main character
Tris. The factions and society of living is
loosely explained so we have a basic
understanding but not so much to make it
not worth watching the film. We’re then showed that Tris has encountered a problem
that she doesn’t fit into the different factions and she needs to hide this from the people
in charge. That sets up to show that that is what the main plot will be about. As the trailer
gets closer to the end, the length of shots get shorter and the amount of action and
conflict shown increases, pacing the music between cuts to black to increase the tension
and including titles. This is something I should definitely use when it comes to my trailer
as it seems to be common with lots of film trailers but especially ones in this style, giving
enough information so that the audience have a basic understanding of the main plot but
hinting at other side plots and conflict the character will face and if they will survive it.

17. Market – Existing Products
The Maze Runner trailer is also the first film
in the film series adapted from the books by
James Dashner. Unlike how The Hunger
Games and Divergent trailers start, The Maze
Runner opens with quick, dark shots and
introduces the main character in this
situation. We’re then introduced to the other
characters as he finds out he’s now in the
Glade, surrounded by a maze. It then starts as a setup similar to how the others are
shown, showing how these characters generally live and what their normal is. Then we’re
introduced to the conflict and how our hero is going to change their normal for better or
worse. Then the clip lengths get shorter again and the music builds with titles splitting up
action and conversation that all add to building tension. We’re shown and told about
these monsters named Grievers as the main threat to the characters’ lives but also given
some speculation and questions that we’d have to watch to find out, which is a good way
of drawing viewers in and something I should definitely consider including in my trailer.

18. Market – Existing Products
The Fifth Wave is a science fiction film in a
post apocalyptic setting. The trailer sets
this up by explaining that it came from an
alien attack in waves that wipes out most
of humanity. Based on a book, as with a
lot of dystopian Sci-Fi's in this style, it is a
good inspiration of how to set out how
different life is from our normal one is.
However with mine, I’m unlikely to use a narration throughout all of it to explain
everything because I want to be able to convey some of the information through the
cinematography but have the narration as a confirmation and to give some extra clues as
to what the main character and other characters are like. But as the other trailers do,
we’re given a sense of what normal is for our main character before the plot of the film
begins. The stakes for the main character are raised from not just surviving but to rescue
her little brother and goes off on her journey to get to him with various problems and
side plots along the way, all of which are hinted at throughout.

19. Production Techniques
Looks fantastical/sci-
fi like? Would fit
with my genre,
especially if I lessen
the saturation the
colour a little bit to
suit the overall
colour gradient of
the film or to
provide contrast.
Has a
cinematic look
and could
work well for
the title
sequence in
my trailer to
show that
there would
be sci-fi
elements to
come if the
film was
actually being
released.
I’ll test this tutorial out during the experimental stage to
see if it is something I’ll be able to do and like for my
trailer.
I could always use a different font as I’m not sure if I like
the example font that was used in the tutorial.

20. Production Techniques
Definitely fits the
style of film
trailer that I’ve
decided to make
and has some
similarities to
existing titles of
this genre such as
The Maze
Runner,
especially the
Scorch Trials
sequel. I like the font and colour scheme that is used though I
will also experiment with different fonts and colours to
see what I like best and which I think will be most
cinematic and effective.

21. Production Techniques
A style of
colour
grading
that could
work well
for a
dystopian,
post-
apocalyptic
/sci-fi genre
of film
trailer.
With the colours having a very low saturation and
being dark, it really gives the impression that life is a
lot more desolate for these characters than it is for us.
I might not
use this
exact colour
grading
setting but
experiment
with this
kind of look,
using this as
a base to
see what I
like the look
of best.

22. Production Techniques
I looked at this
because I
thought it
would be
helpful to get
some extra
advice on how
to set out my
scenes to
maximise what I
can include in
them.
While I’m not making the full film, I still have proper scenes
throughout and I want to hint at different potential plot points
without it having to be told or in the foreground which I might
not have time or want to include there.

23. Production Techniques
For my film
trailer, being
the genre that
it is, I
definitely want
to hint at the
action that will
be included.
With only
being a trailer,
I shouldn’t
have to create
a whole scene
but add bits in
throughout.
Having a series of fights throughout my trailer could
be a really good way of splitting up the clips, such as
using an incoming punch to cut the screen to black
and then back to a clip as a way of pacing the trailer
to build tension.
If I feel that it’s
necessary then I
may consider
using some
weapon props
but I will have
to be extra
cautious when
filming and
choreographing
so that my
actors and crew
members aren’t
in any danger.

24. Production Techniques
I found this video
on YouTube and
thought it could
be really
beneficial to have
some tips before I
started planning
and filming on
recording sound.
I don’t have
access to the
exact equipment
that is used in
the video but I
can still use the
tips with regards
to microphone
placement and
movement.
If I need a close up sound while doing part of my filming but the
main microphone I’m using is already recording, I could hide in
an earphone mic nearby connected to a phone with a sound app
to get some extra sounds or simply record them separately with
the main microphone.

25. Research Summary
After looking at various different products that already exist relating to what I have in
mind for my project, I’ve definitely found them to be a huge help in making decisions
on choices I should make when both filming and editing.
I’ve been able to get some opinions from my target audience on what they like and
don’t like. From my results for example, the sci-fi genre is popular among my selected
age range so I know that adding sci-fi elements or at least hinting that themes and sci-
fi film conventions would be involved in the film if I were to be making the whole
thing. Looking at different techniques helped too, finding out how I can subtly hide
references and direct the audiences eyeline without them realising so that I can
convey a message without just telling them and it’s definitely something I want to try
to include. Getting tips for colour grading helped too. I’m still not sure how heavy I’ll
make the colour grading, though I’ll see how my footage looks and what mood the
changes would set but I look forward to seeing what I want to include.

26. Bibliography
1. Lionsgate Movies. (2011). The Hunger Games (2012 Movie) - Official Theatrical
Trailer - Jennifer Lawrence & Liam Hemsworth. Available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfmrPu43DF8. Last accessed 6th Mar 2019
2. Summit Screening Room. (2013). DIVERGENT - Trailer - Official [HD] -
2014. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sutgWjz10sM. Last accessed
6th Mar 2019
3. 20th Century Fox. (2014). The Maze Runner | Official Final Trailer [HD] | 20th
Century FOX. Available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sutgWjz10sMhttps://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=AwwbhhjQ9Xk. Last accessed 6th Mar 2019
4. Sony Pictures Entertainment. (2015). THE 5TH WAVE - Official Trailer (HD).
Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmxLybfGNC4. Last accessed 6th
Mar 2019Effect For You. (2018). Cinematic Movie Trailer Title Effect | After Effects
Tutorial | By Effect For You. Available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sutgWjz10sMhttps://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=AwwbhhjQ9Xkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXe9RZ-Ot_8. Last
accessed 6th Mar 2019

27. Bibliography
6. Jd film & art. (2018). Premiere Pro cc Tutorial Cinematic Title Animation in
Premiere Pro cc 2018 - Download Free. Available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WugrFqnLphE. Last accessed 6th Mar 2019
7. YCImaging. (2017). Vintage/Faded Color Grade Tutorial (Adobe Premiere Pro CC).
Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHEF6lZSrIo. Last accessed 6th
Mar 2019
8. StudioBinder. (2018). Vintage/Faded Color Grade Tutorial (Adobe Premiere Pro
CC)Film Blocking Tutorial — Filmmaking Techniques for Directors: Ep3. Available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AGaECt9j4g. Last accessed 6th Mar 2019
9. Tomorrow's Filmmakers. (2015). How to Film a Fight Scene - Tomorrow's
Filmmakers. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Tv6EXSqyZI. Last
accessed 6th Mar 2019Cinecom.net. (2018). 5 SOUND RECORDING HACKS.
Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pTgSri7MAo . Last accessed 6th
Mar 2019