This document summarizes the analyses conducted by the author on various romantic films and trailers as part of genre research for an upcoming trailer project. Analyses included annotated videos of trailers examining elements like camera work, editing and mise-en-scene. Frame-by-frame analyses of trailers identified conventions for representing romance through shot length and camera angles. Additional research covered magazine covers, posters and content analyses to understand effective promotional materials and pacing. The research provided insights into romantic conventions to apply to the author's own trailer and ancillary products.

2. The first feature on this page of my blog is the annotated video of the vow trailer. This
video was made on movie maker and it is part of my build up of genre research towards
the romance genre. The video plays ‘The Vow’ trailer through once and on specific scenes
I have talked about either the use of; Camera Work, Editing, Mise En Scene and Sound .
I have also addressed the use of high key lighting which I have learnt connotes happiness
which can represent the couples relationship in the trailer. This trailer uses strong mise en
scene to represent the femininity and masculinity of the characters by having a wedding
scene where the female is in a feminine dress and the male is in a suit.
The trailer also uses long
scenes which captures the
romance between them.
These scenes are faded to
the next scene with a soft
transition fade which
connotes femininity because
of the gentle transition. This
looks extremely effective and
is conventional which is why I
am using this in my own
trailer.

3. This is an analysis of an ancillary
example of a romantic film magazine.
I have analysed the features; camera
work, layout, mise en scene, font type
and the route of the eye and
positioning of the couple.
This magazine is a prime example of
use of colours and house style to keep
a feminine and romantic feel across
the cover. The font type is sans serif
which is unconventional for a
romantic movie but it allows it to be
flexible toward both genders.
This analysis shows me looking in depth at a product that I will have to produce for my own
trailer and by analysing a successful magazine, I am able to take the research I have learnt
and take this to enable me to create my own ancillary product in a similar way.
I am planning on naming my magazine ‘Premiere’ which is conventional for a ’film magazine’
and it is similar to this title ‘entertainment’. I also plan to use light pastel based house style
colours to continue with the gentle feminine tone. I also want to produce a similar image to
this one because the mid shot two shot really expresses the intimacy and romance.

4. This slide share word document I have screen
shot frames from ‘the Notebook’ trailer and have
analysed them giving description on each shot.
There are six different shots all together of my
choice which I believe are most conventional for
genre. I have looked particularly at camera and
mise en scene and also editing as in some shots
they have used a graphic match fade between
each character to represent the romance and
intimacy between them.
This analysis has allowed me to look specifically at separate frames of the trailer instead of the
entire trailer and has enabled me to understand the specific use of mise en scene and camera
work that produces successful outcomes in a romantic film trailer. The notebook is an extremely
successful romantic film and this is why I have chosen to analyse a lot of this film in my genre
research page of the blog.

5. This is another ancillary product analysis on a romantic film magazine. I chose this
film magazine to analyse because of its layout and the picture that looks very
effective. I have analysed this magazine so that I can look at this analysis when I am
producing my own romantic film magazine.
I have looked at the image and in my analysis I have explored why this looks
effective. Foe example; the love and hate triangle between these three characters
causes an issue within the relationship of the two main characters and that is why
they are positioned in this way, because the male in the middle is the catalyst.
When I produce my own ancillary
product magazine I want to create a
similar product to this twilight magazine.
The image represents the issues within
the relationship and the text and font
are relevant to the genre. The colours
stand out against one another and are
conventional to the hybrid genre
because the romance is dangerous and
is based upon fantasy. I want to use a
similar layout for my magazine as well.

6. When I create my own trailer I am going
to have to produce an ancillary film poster
for my trailer and so I had to research into
what previous films have produced for
their film posters.
This is the official film poster for ‘Friends
With Benefits’ which I decided to analyse.
This power point covers the analytical
features that have been used on this
poster such as; the editing of the image
such as the high key lighting and the key
light between them which draws attention
to the couple.
I have talked about the route of the eye and have analysed the optical and terminal
areas. I have also studied the use of house style colours across the poster and the
positioning of the models. As well as this I have written about the use of text and font
and the positioning of the black line down the centre with the text along it.
By analysing this poster it has given me an insight of how to plan my poster and to how
the colour scheme, positioning, route of the eye etc. can all be used to produce a
successful piece of work.

7. The content analysis was a word document
consisting of columns including; shot no. shot
type, shot length, scene no. and description. I
based my content analysis on the trailer ‘The
Lucky One’. This took a long time to complete but
it was a huge insight into the detailed work of a
trailer such as the length of each individual shot
which allowed me to really study the length of
the important scenes which highlight the
romance between the couple etc.
By completing this content analysis, I was able to refer back to this and plan how long
each scene of mine was going to be. For example, scene number 11 from this trailer,
this is the scene where the couple meet for the first time and this is a particularly long
scene switching to four different camera shots. This scene is important as it represents
the first time they meet. I used this in my trailer as I think this is really symbolic in a
romantic trailer as it reflects the beginning of the relationship.

8. The final analysis on my genre
research page is the ‘Dear John’
trailer analysis which reflects a
detailed understanding of the
trailer and by looking so in depth
at the; camera work, editing, and
mise en scene really enabled me
to learn a lot.
The ‘Dear John’ trailer is a successful contemporary film trailer which was very
successful when released. The trailer is really reflective of the predicaments within the
relationship and it uses the contrast of the strong admiration they have for each other
to create an engaging final product. I think this is really effective and I am going to use
this is my stimulus for my own trailer. The non-diegetic music over the trailer builds up
as the trailer goes on which is mirrored by the use of particular scenes during the
trailer. This is in order to produce a dramatic trailer and in return an emotional
response from the audience by the end which will make the audience want to see the
film.

9. Overall, I believe I have analysed the most successful contemporary romantic film
trailers available and therefore I have allowed myself a clear understanding of the
camera work, editing and mise en scene used to represent the genre. Additionally, I
think I have learnt a lot about how to use conventions within my trailer. For example;
the conventions of female and male- the stereotypical female appearance and vice
versa. I think this creates a more effective and aesthetically pleasing trailer and
therefore I want to use this within my own trailer.
I have also looked in detail at the length of each camera shot and the camera angles
used to represent specific things such as when one character is attracted to another.
This is really important as this is what enables the audience to feel the emotion and
understand the plot of the trailer. I have also looked thoroughly at ancillary products
such as film posters and film magazines which I have analysed and will use as stimulus
for my own ancillary products. By looking at existing products, I have been able to
identify conventions of form in order to make my products as successful as possible.