Elise Daniels is researching and developing a movie trailer for a horror/thriller genre film. She has viewed several similar film trailers, including The Descent, 388 Arletta Avenue, Silent House, and Chernobyl Diaries to analyze conventions used in the horror genre. Key conventions she identified include low lighting, shadowy figures, wide shots showing isolated settings, mysteries characters, weapons, and injuries. She also researched other genres like romance to understand differences. Her research will help her create an effective horror trailer that draws in audiences and leaves them wanting more without revealing the entire plot.

1. Research And Development
TRAILER RESEARCH
Elise Daniels

2. Genre Of The Movie Trailer -
The genre of my movie trailer will be horror/thriller. I have chosen a
horror and thriller theme as this is the type of films I am most
interested in and other people around the same age as myself. My
questionnaire also gave me feedback which indicted this. I have
watched a range of movies and trailers to be certain that I will be
able to create a trailer of this genre.

3. Similar Products -
During the research and development stage I have researched a variety of trailers similar
to the type of trailer I want to create and also to find what aspects of the trailer are used to
show the film is that of a horror/thriller genre. By viewing a range of trailers it has allowed
me to decide what I will include when creating my trailer. E.g. For example low
lighting, shadowed figures, wide range of scenery leading to problems, mystery
characters, weapons, injuries etc. All these things are typically included in trailers of a
horror genre. Including all these things into the trailer adds a greater sense of mystery to
the audience, making them want to learn more about the story line.
Some of the film trailers I have chosen which would be similar to my trailer include
•The Descent
•388 Arletta Avenue
•Silent House
•Chernobyl Diaries
All these trailer include similar storylines or techniques I wish to use which are typical of
horror or thriller films. The next slides explains the conventions within the trailers and why
I chose these trailers.

4. Other Film Genre‟s -
During my research of trailers, instead of focusing on just horror and thriller I also
researched genre‟s such as; romance, comedy, drama, Sci-fi and action. By researching a
wide range of conventions within different genre‟s, it has enabled me to understand what I
needed to include and what I shouldn‟t include.
An example of a Romance/Drama Trailer I chose was a filmed called Dear John.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0989757/
Audio - The conventions of this trailer were typical of a Romantic genre based on the audio
used. Both characters equally show emotion when speaking to each other. Evidently we
see that John, who‟s a soldier on leave, falling in love with Savannah a college student
during the summer. The music used relates to romance. The sound of a guitar relating to
love and the setting of the beach and summer. It makes it seem to be the perfect love story
with a twist.
Shot Types -The shot types within the trailer show extreme close up‟s of each of the main
characters faces to show the love and emotion. Also long shots show the characters
closeness which is an important feature in the film. The main focus is on the character
John and Savannah. During some scenes everything is blurred out but the focus remains
on the two characters.

5. Advertising techniques – TV/Cinemas/Posters/Internet/Newspapers.
Audience – Mainly females around the age of 15-40. Romantic genre is more
appealing to females of this age. Although, males around the same age may watch the
film with their partners. During the opening scene this becomes apparent that it more
suited to females from the cute love story where they both fall in love. Other aspects
of the trailer involved males when John has to go back to the army. Both aspects suit
both males and females.
Impact – Trailer draws the audience in. Also features a lot of the storyline, but doesn’t
give away the whole story which is what makes people want to watch the film. People
want to know what happens in the end.
Appropriate conventions of a Romance Genre have been used within this trailer, but
based on these conventions I wouldn’t be able to include any aspects based on my
film being a complete different genre. Overall by analysing a romance genre trailer, it
has become apparent to me the variety of conventions used within different genres
and how important it is to include the correct conventions in my trailer.

6. The Descent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5I1q4KhKNU
I chose this trailer as it shows a good representation of convention of horror trailer and it is
also British. For example low light is included through out the majority of the trailer. This
makes the movie seem instantly scary as the audience are unaware of what lurks within the
darkness. The trailer is also set in the middle of no where with large scenery. This is
something I want to include within my trailer to show endless possibilities that anything can
happen and anyone can be lurking. The trailer shows that something that was supposed to
be fun, turned wrong.
This is the same theme I want to include within my trailer also, as most horror and thriller
films include a storyline where something unexpectedly goes wrong leading to something
bad happening. The characters are also unaware of what‟s about to happen putting them at
a disadvantage within the situation.
Audio –
Characters speak clearly to enlighten the audience of the outline of the story. This shows
what their doing and what goes wrong. As the trailer progresses struggle appears in the
voices of the characters to show something is wrong. Silence and screams are used to
increase anticipation within the trailer. Leaves the audience on the edge of their seats and
makes them want to watch the full film. Based on the audio it‟s evident that the genre of the
trailer is horror.
Advertising & Effect of trailer–
Internet, TV, Cinemas and Posters. After watching this trailer i would watch the film due to
the suspense that is created.

7. Shot types -
Shots are close together at a fast pace to show a lot of action and drama is included. This
again grips the audience leaving them on edge. Something that needs to be included in the
horror genre. The shot types that are included within the trailer include birds eye view
shots from above to show the scale of the area the characters are driving through. The
forest area is so much bigger than they are meaning anything can happen. Other shot
types include extreme close up‟s inside the cave as the spaces are so small. This shows
the danger and the emotion and struggle within the characters faces.
Symbolic Codes -
Injuries and struggles between the characters and creatures show horror. A red filter is
used on the camera, signifying death, blood, danger and violence. Lightening is extremely
dark as it‟s based in a cave so low lighting from torches showing little possibilities and
hope. Dark features are important aspects of horror films to add suspense. This aspect
also shows little opportunity for the characters to escape.
Structure –
The first scene show‟s the characters and how happy and excited they are for something
that‟s about to happen. Before the first cut is made a picture is taken of all the girls
together. Once the flash is on the picture freezes and then turn black and white. These dark
colour again show that something bad is about to happen and all is not as it seems. The
dark, colour less picture show‟s no opportunity.
Target Audience –
As it is a horror, the age for the film is 18 therefore 18+ is the target audience of this film. It
isn‟t suitable for younger age groups because of the content, e.g. It may scare younger
children.

9. 388 Arletta Avenue
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1767272/
388 Arletta Avenue is a trailer based on a stalker, something that I want to base my trailer
around.
Camera shots - Filmed from the stalkers perspective adding horror to the audience and
showing someone is always watching. This is a technique I want to use during the filming of
my trailer. This camera shot is known as „Point Of View‟. The stalker within my trailer will
film to show the audience the surrounding sceneries from different perspectives. During the
388 Arletta Avenue trailer its obvious that the stalker is filming from a video camera. This
technique is popular in films. For example films such as the Blair witch project, paranormal
activity, REC etc. This allows the film to seem more realistic.
388 Arletta Avenue leaves the audience viewers on edge as its a prime example of a thriller
leaving people guessing what happens next and becoming intrigued within the trailer. This
is something I also want to achieve within my film, to make people want to watch the film.
Audio - A technique that is used towards the end of the trailer is the use of sounds. A deep
fast breathing rate is heard and replicated over. This gives the sense of something bad that
is happening, and the fact that someone is distressed for some reason. As my trailer is set
in a forest, this technique could be used to show someone who is hiding, or running away or
that a person they are unaware of is present. Overall this technique can be used to show the
horror within my trailer.
Target Audience – The age of this film is 15. Therefore the target audience will be around the
age of 15 – 30. The age may only be a 15, based on the film being more of a thriller than a
horror. It‟s a film that grips the audience, not scares them.

10. Symbolic Codes – Most of the perspectives are always from the unidentified stalkers
point of view. During the trailer the audience are never aware of what the stalker looks
like or why he has chosen to focus on the man and women. This gives the sense of the
unknown, creating suspense to the audience. We see how the stalker has places
cameras within different areas of the house, showing he always knows where they are
and what they are doing.
During the trailer, there is always low light. This shows a lack of opportunities and the
fact that anything can happen. The dark shows that anything can appear, e.g. The
stalker at any time.
Structure – The structure of the trailer shows at the beginning how happy the couple
are and there are no problem, although the audience are aware before the characters
are that something bad is happening. This is based on the couple being watched from
outside their house, and even within their own home. The mystery then unravels as the
characters become apparent something weird is happening, the leading to the
woman's disappearance. The audience find that the suspense of the trailer, will make
them want to watch the film. People will want to know why they are being
stalked, where has the women disappeared too and who the stalker is.

12. Silent House
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1767382/
The trailer of silent house includes a range of techniques that I want to include within my
trailer.
Symbolic Codes - Another technique used within the trailer is within the house where there
is low light. The house is dark therefore torches and lanterns are used. The things that
produces light illuminate the emotion within the characters faces. This technique I want
to use within my trailer to show the terror. A technique that is used is the use of dark
shadowed figures within the background. This is a common feature used within trailers
to show something out of the usual and the sense of someone watching. The audience
are also unaware of what the dark shadows are.
Audio – Firstly when I watched the trailer the technique I first found successful was the
voice over at the beginning giving brief information based on the trailer making it seem
more genuine. For example, “One of the most shocking and twisted incident recorded”.
Giving a brief description adds more of a story to my trailer, adding more horror. The
audio that is used through out the trailer includes, ticking sound effects. The ticking
speeded up sound symbolises time running out and the music represents the build up of
anticipation within the movie. The lack of audio between the characters builds up the
anticipation also. It represents the race to figure out what is going on between the
characters and the conclusion of the movie. Although within aspects of the trailer there
is no audio. The affect of using no audio builds anticipation as the audience become
engrossed within the trailer and begin to understand before it actually happens that
something is going to make them jump. The silence consumes the audience, hence the
name „Silent House‟.

13. Towards the remaining minute of the trailer we also see no sound and a voice over of
music. This is another technique that builds up the tension of the film. The audience
are un-ware of the sounds of screams, bangs and what‟s about to happen next. The
music consisting of piano sounds shows the unfold of events, linking to the drama
and suspense of what will happen and will she get out of the house safe.
Camera Shots – Camera shots mainly consist of close up, and extreme close ups.
These type of camera shots are popular with horror and thriller genres, based on
conveying the emotion and to show how scared the characters are. Within „Silent
House‟, it‟s important that the characters emotion is conveyed to the audience to add
greater fright to the film. As there is very low and dark light within the film this can be
a difficult obstacle when filming extreme close ups. Although within silent house we
see how the use of torches and portable lights focus of the face expressions. This is
something I may wish to replicate within my trailer.
Other camera shots consist of over the shoulder shots. This shows the characters
from behind. This adds to suspense within silent house as within the opening minutes
we see the main characters enter the house from a over the shoulder perspective. This
builds suspense as she is entering first. The audience are unaware of what the house
consists of and what's about to happen. This will be a technique that grips the
audience, leaving them on the edge of their seats in anticipation.
Target Audience – This film is another example of a 15 rating. This therefore means
the target audience will be between 15-30. Silent House may only be a 15 based on it
only being a „jumpy‟ film. It does not contain much violence, explicit scenes or scenes
that include a lot of inappropriate language. Silent House simply creates suspense
and anticipation gripping the audience.

15. Chernobyl Diaries
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1991245/
Chernobyl diaries is another horror film based on a group of friends around the age of 20-
30, exploring an area where there was a nuclear explosion. Based on watching the
trailer, several conventions have been used to make It successful. These conventions I'd
also consider editing and using within my trailer to adapt to my storyline.
Symbolic Codes - Conventions that have been used include one of the characters taking a
picture at the site of the nuclear explosion, and then when she looks at the picture on the
camera a dark figure appears in the window. This is a technique I think would be good to
use during my trailer, to add more suspense to the audience. When I was viewing the trailer
the questions I asked were who is this mystery person and why are they there when the site
is supposed to be abandoned? If I include a similar convention, more horror and thriller will
be added to my film trailer. Mystery characters are used, for example the presence of dark
shadows and characters who are hunting the tourists. This allows the audience to know
before the characters that something is lurking. As the audience we are aware that these
suspicious figures are their, but we are unaware of what they want with the tourists. It‟s a
race for the tourists to get out of Chernobyl safe before they are hunted.
Audio – At the beginning of the trailer we see footage of the characters who look like their
about to go on holiday or explore somewhere they haven‟t been before. The music used is
fast paced with lots of beats to show this. Listening the music at the beginning is deceiving
as based on the first 14 seconds we are unaware that the film is of the horror genre.
Therefore from the start the audience would be unaware of what the film is about or consists
of based on the different conventions used. Other audio as the trailer progresses consists of
fast beats every few seconds.

16. This links to the build up and an interpretation of this may be the fast heart beats therefore
suspense and horror. A lot of sounds affects are used including, loud
bangs, screams, sirens and Geiger counters . These are typical for the horror genre to add
fright to the audience. Audio and dialogue also quietens out until the laughs of children are
heard. This gives a sense of someone else‟s presence in the area and the group of tourists
are not there alone. This also allows a creepy affect, as children are included.
Camera Shots – Shots within Chernobyl Diaries are fats moving, therefore camera shots
consists of long shots, close up, wide shots, point of view etc. These are the typical camera
shots used within horror films. We also see on close ups or wide shots how the main focus
is always on the characters when we aware that something is about to happen. Therefore
the surrounding area may be blurred out to show the focus on the characters or mystery
shadows and characters. The characters are always running from the presence of
something within Chernobyl, therefore wide shots, long shots and mid shots are used to
show this. Therefore we see the full perspective of the characters.
Target Audience - The target audience of Chernobyl Diaries is 15+. This is based on the
horror content, e.g. Is being made to make the audience scared and jump. This will be the
same age as my target audience. Appropriate for 15 – 40 year olds. This is based on children
below this age being to young to watch and elderly people being to old.