2. CREATIVE IDEAS THAT WORKED WELL
The character development works really well. You see how she
acts like a normal teenager, we watch her get bullied, we see
how this affects her behaviour and how she changes her image
by cutting her hair. Seeing this in a short amount of time makes
you feel as though you want to find out more about what’s
happening. You want to get to know her more to see if she’s done
something to receive the bullying.
We see how other characters change towards her. The first time
she walks down a corridor in school she gets bullied, the second
time it’s almost like they’re afraid of her. This shows development
within the storyline leaving viewers wanting to know what
happened.
The variety of different camera shots used makes the trailer
visually interesting to view.
The editing is done in time with the music drawing emphasise
towards character actions.
The changing of lighting works well. It’s bright at the start of the
trailer and then changes to night time scenes reflecting her
personality changing for the worst.
The storyline was well thought through. They have taken sections
throughout the narrative to show in the trailer which grabs
viewers attention well.
3. EDITING
There aren’t many transitions used in the trailer. Fades to
black are mainly used between the changing from footage to
intertitles and then a fade to black to then cut back to the
footage. This helps keep a smooth flow between the change
from footage to text and then back to footage. The fact that it
is used each time makes it look professional and not just put
in for no reason.
At the end of the last scene the footage fades to black taking
viewers away from the story which they were watching leaving
them wanting to find out more.
The majority of the clips cut in time with the background score
which helped to bring emphasise on the change of scenes.
Some of the actions were also don’t in time with the
background score such as the character throwing a bottle in
the tunnel. As this was done on a strong beat the violent
action was emphasised.
Some of the scenes are fairly long which isn’t conventional for
film trailers but it does show parts of the narrative and leaves
viewers wondering what will happen to the girl.
4. CAMERA TECHNIQUES
The first shot shown is a close- up of the girl. This brings viewers face to face
with the main character so we can see what she looks like. This is important
as we can then visually see how the character develops, for example cutting
her hair shorter in the second section of the trailer.
I really like the long shot of her walking down a road with the camera tracking
her to the left. This shows the location in which the character is. The camera
movement isn’t jolting creating a professional feel to the scene.
A long shot is used when she is walking through a corridor of teenagers the
first time. This allows viewers to see her timid body language in comparison
to the other teenagers relaxed body language. It also allows us to see the
different bullying actions they do towards her such as tripping her up.
5. CAMERA TECHNIQUES
The close- up shot of her fist clenching is good. It connotes her anger which
is the first indication we get that she is possibly going to try and get revenge
and turn violent.
The long shot of a group of teenagers beating up someone on the floor whilst
the other girl is sitting on a bench is effective. It shows that she isn’t brave
enough to interfere whilst the group of teenagers are around. There is also
the comparison between the group of teenagers who can rely on each other
and the girl who is sitting by herself with only herself to rely on connoting she
doesn’t get along with the others.
6. CAMERA TECHNIQUES
The low angle of the girl looking down into the camera works well at this stage
in the trailer. It indicates a change in her personality and social status. It
provides her with power as it feels as though she’s looking down on the
viewers. It suggests that she is going to do something bad to get back at the
bullies.
A close- up shot of the girl cutting her hair emphasises the action and
connotes a change in her personality which is vital towards the storyline. It the
cuts to the camera being on the floor filming the hair falling to the floor. This
symbolises her nice side disappearing and changing for the worst. Again, the
close- up is emphasising the action.
There is a medium shot through a door frame showing the girl having a
tantrum in her room. As the camera is placed just outside of the door frame
we feel as though we’re spying in on her. It makes us feel like we want to find
out what is making her act like this. Is it just the bullies or is there more to it?
7. CAMERA TECHNIQUES
A tracking medium shot of the girls legs is used as she is walking holding a
knife. The shot draws emphasise towards the knife and the tracking
movement makes it feel like we are involuntarily following her and cannot stop
her from what she’s about to do.
The long shot of her walking away down a path connotes that she’s walking
away from home and her school life. She’s walking into darkness connoting
her complete change of personality.
The last close- up shot brings viewers face to face with her again like the start
of the trailer, only this time you feel a bit weary of her as you know what she’s
capable of.
8. MISE- EN- SCENE
The lighting at the start of the trailer is bright representing the innocent side of her.
Towards the end of the trailer after we see her having a tantrum in her room,
cutting her hair short and then holding a knife to a teachers throat she is filmed
outside at night. The darkness now represents her personality which has changed
for the worst.
She is never filmed with a group of friends suggesting she doesn’t fit in with other
people.
The choice of location suits the scenario. Bullying tends to start at school and then
spreads to out of school hours, for example in parks.
At the start of the trailer she doesn’t wear her hood up but towards the end she
does. Stereotypically, the public are scared of teenagers who wear their hoods up
as it hides their identity so they assume something bad will happen. It symbolises
she has changed and had become a more violent individual compared to the start
of the trailer.
Alcohol is captured in the scene at her home in the kitchen. This suggests that
either the daughter or the mother could be an alcoholic. This leaves audiences
wanting to know more about the girls home life.
A scene shows her carrying a knife and then holding it to a teachers throat. A knife
connotes violence and possibly death. It strongly suggests that the girl needs help
and support as we can see how her personality is changing a lot. The object
suggests the film will be a crime or action film genre.
She wears dark clothing throughout. This makes her stand out when she is filmed
in the brighter locations showing she doesn’t fit in at the school. When she is filmed
at night walking down a path she blends into her surroundings connoting she has
now adapted into a person she wants to be.
9. SOUND
The background score sounds like a song on a album. It plays
from beginning to end. This creates a feeling that it’s almost like
a music video if you take out the little dialogue and sound effects.
I think to make it seem more like a trailer they should maybe
have chosen a different background score at the beginning to
represent her innocent side and then used this sound track
towards the end connoting her character development.
Sound effects were used effectively, for example, when the
alcohol bottoms fell off the kitchen side and when the girl through
a bottle to the floor. The sound effects appeared realistic and
added a realistic feeling to the footage.
A siren is heard when the girl is sitting on a bench by herself.
This connotes the film genre crime and possibly action. It
suggests something bad has happened and emergence
assistance is needed. It suggests that this environment isn’t a
safe place to be.
There was only a small amount of dialogue throughout the trailer.
I think conventionally there is normally a bit more with quotes that
capture audiences attention. The teacher says “Who are you?”
when the girl holds a knife to her throat. This again connotes
character development and change.
10. WHAT DIDN’T WORKED WELL
I think the main thing that didn’t work well was having
the same background score throughout. It didn’t reflect
the character development as well as the footage did.
I also think most film trailers include an age certificate so
viewers know if they’re old enough to view it. Also, age
certificates also indicate as to what sort of content to
expect in the film. Viewers would probably want to know
if it’s something which would be alright to bring a child to
or if the film shows a lot more violence than the trailer.
I think they could have included a bit more dialogue to
take away the music video feeling. Including some
dramatic quotes would really grab viewers attention
making them think the script is just as interesting as the
footage.
11. HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS IT?
I think the trailer is really good. I loved the narrative which is
shown and I think the best part about it is the character
development of the girl. Mise- en- scene and lighting are
elements they took into consideration to think about how this
would reflect the characters personality.
The intertitle fonts were realistic and suits the genre of the film.
They included institutional references at the start of the trailer
which is conventional.
There was a huge variety of different camera shots used and
some different camera movements. The framing looked well
thought out and there didn’t appear to be anything filmed by
mistake.
It portrays it’s film genre crime and action well by the scenes
shown.
I just think the background score for the first half of the trailer
could have been more effective if it was something different and
reflected the characters personality at the start of the trailer.
Looking at what they did well and points I’ve picked up on for
improvements, we’ll consider these elements in our own
production.
