The document discusses research and development for a movie trailer project. It will be a horror/thriller genre targeting an audience of 15-40 years old of both genders. The student analyzed similar successful trailers like The Descent and Chernobyl Diaries to understand conventions of the genre. Feedback from questionnaires showed their target age group was most interested in horror and thriller films. The trailer will aim to attract this audience by including frightening elements common to the genre.

1. Research & Development
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. The Descent -
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435625/
I chose this trailer as it shows a good representation of convention of horror
trailer. 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.

6. 388 Arletta Avenue
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1767272/
388 Arletta Avenue is a trailer based on a stalker. The camera shots are filmed
from his 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.
The stalker within my trailer will film to show people and 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.
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.
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. 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

8. 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. 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.
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.
Sound effects are also used through out the trailer, e.g. Music and 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 final technique I wish to replicate within my own trailer is the use of including
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.

10. 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.
Conventions that have been used include one of the characters taking a
picture at the site of the nuclear explosion, and then when she re 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.

12. Target Audience – Gender and Age
Based on my trailer being that of a horror/thriller genre, the age of my film
would be a 15+. As the trailer is a horror, during the two to three-minute
clip it may contain scenes which are scary therefore my trailer would have
to be broadcasted on TV on certain channels and after a certain time
period. Although 15 years of age is the minimum age for someone to view
my film, there will also be a upper age limit of roughly 40years old. As my
film is a horror/thriller, stereotypes show that the elderly are less likely to
watch film like the one which will be represented in my trailer. This does not
mean that if you are above 40 you can not watch the film, it just means
typically between the ages of 15-40 this age group will draw in more
people from a wide audience to watch the trailer/film.
During the trailer I will specifically be using younger characters around the
ages of 15-18 who are students and one older character around the age of
30-40. who will be the mysterious stalker. If younger characters are
included within my trailer, this makes it more likely for people around the
same ages to be more inclined to watch the trailer and then go on to watch
the film. Recently horror films have included young children, e.g. Paranormal
Activity.

13. Including younger children allows the film to add more shock, mystery and
overall adding a more creepy effect. People around the ages of 15-18 are
also more interested in watching horrors or thrillers to gain a thrill and see
how scary they perceive the film to be. People want to see how scary the
film is that's’ why they want to watch horrors. This therefore means I must
distinctively show that my film is a horror/thriller, to draw in the correct
audience.
The gender of the film would also be both male and female, as it is intended to
be viewed by anyone based on the content of the trailer. Both male and
female characters would be included within my trailer therefore it would be
viewable for any gender. For example if I were to create a romantic film, the
focus would be more so for females to watch the film, based on the themes
of love. Contrasting from this horrors include any genders and ages,
meaning anyone can watch them. Therefore there will be a 50:50 ratio of
men to women who will watch my trailer.
The trailer I am going to create will be a on a large independent scale, with
British characters. My trailer will be created to become a independent film
as anyone, anywhere will be able to watch it. My aim is to successfully
create a trailer which can be broadcasted world wide.

14. Feedback
I have created a series of questionnaires which I will use to gain feedback
from a wide audience. This will allow me to find out people's preference to
genre, what they found interesting about the film and why they chose to
watch the film and their ages. Based on this feedback I will then gain a
greater insight into different perceptions of films and trailers. This
feedback I can then enrol into my own creation of my trailer and instead of
basing my trailer strictly upon my opinion I will have gained greater insight.

15. This is an example of the questionnaire I will be using to gain
feedback on the genre of trailers, ages and advertising.

16. Feedback
Once I collected the questionnaires in from the students within my school, the
feedback that I gained showed that between the ages of 15-20 most people
were interested in watching either horror films. Another popular choice was
thrillers, action and science fiction films. Based on this feedback and my
target audience being around the ages of 15-30 I decided to stick to a horror
and thriller genre. This is based on the audience being most interested in this
genre, meaning I would gain a greater audience as it’s a genre that they find
most interesting.
Feedback from other questions showed that the most popular form of
advertising was trailers. The answers I received stated that they found trailers
a good advertising form due to trailers always being broadcasted on TV and
the internet. Their age group spend a lot of time watching TV and Internet
therefore they continuously see film trailers. Participants also stated that film
trailers give you a greater insight of the storyline and characters. Without
these two key things, the audience will be less inclined to watch the film
without the brief knowledge of what the film is based on.

17. Feedback on why the participants liked horror, thriller genre’s was based on
the fright they gain from watching the films and the popularity. Answers
stated that if their friends or social networking sites state the film is “scary”
or “leaves you on the edge of your seat”, they become more inclined to
watch the trailer or then proceed and watch the film. Horror films that
included zombies, children, mysterious people/creatures, being filmed from
a characters perspective e.g. A camcorder and exorcism’s and were popular
choices based on why people liked horror or thriller movies. Answers stated
that including these things was important within a horror or thriller movie to
show the genre clearly to the audience.