The document outlines the narrative structure and technical codes used in a trailer for a psychological horror film. It follows classic trailer conventions like establishing shots of the location in the beginning to set the scene, then introduces the main characters of the villain and victims. Tension is built through enigmatic shots of the villain and shots that tease problematic events without showing the full extent. The climax further complicates things through short, teasing shots of victims being attacked. Finally, the "convincer" at the end leaves the audience with a question to encourage viewing the full film. Technical elements like camera angles, editing, sound, mise-en-scene are described to maximize suspense, tension and identify characters.

1. NARRATIVE STRUCTURE AND
TECHNICAL CODES IN OUR TRAILER

2. NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
Our trailer follows the Narrative Structure Film Theory by Julie Green showing the
narrative structure of trailers;

An opening of establishing shots of the road to set the scene and show our location of a
ordinary street. This is also where the equilibrium is established.

Intro to main characters: the next shots are enigmatic close ups of the villain, and mid shots
of the next door neighbours, showing the relationship between the two as well as the shot
of the girl from the window. This is where there is the shift in an equilibrium, because of the
creepy over the shoulder shot from the window, and the enigmatic man.

Teasing shots are used in the middle and end to create problematic events but never show
full extent of the problems. This is done when there are parts of the victim and villain
meeting, and the build up to these.

Climatic ends and further complications: this is achieved when the shots of the victims are
shown, with dragging and being grabbed by the villain is taking place, because the shots are
short and teasing.

The convincer: this is at the end, after the title screen comes up, where the shot of the girl in
the cupboard creates a questioning from the audience, because she says “kill them”. This
makes the audience want to know why, and convinces them to see the film.

3. TECHNICAL CODES
Camera shots, angles, movements and distances
What shot will you use to establish the location in which the action takes place?
We will use a few establishing shots, firstly a pan left of the street, which will be a long shot, at a
slow pace to show the ordinary and common location of the street. We will also use a pan up of
the house the film is focused on, which will be a mid shot giving a sense of importance and focus. It
will be at a low angle to give the house a important and powerful sense.
How will you make the villain seem imposing, menacing and frightening?
We will use close up low angle and eye level shots, where you can only see parts of his face and
body, creating enigma and making him seem more scary because you cannot see all of him at once
or his whole facial features because of shadows or the hat.
How will you make the victim seem weak, vulnerable and in danger?
We will film the victim through the trees and from different angles as she jogs through the forest,
making it seem as if we are watching her, and it will create suspense because we can tell the villain
is following her. We will also use over the shoulder shots from the villain's point of view, to make
her seem more vulnerable.
How will you ensure the audience is able to identify stock characters in your trailer?
We will use over the shoulder shots for the villain, and a prop of the hat which will be a character
motif so we can recognise him. We will use sound, as screaming will show the victim is scared. We
will also use low angles to show the power of the villain. Cutaway editing will be used to show the
demented mind of the villain, making sure we know it's him.
What P.O.V will the trailer be filmed from? It will be from the villains p.o.v, because there will be
shots from behind the trees and watching the victims.

4. TECHINCAL CODES
Editing and transitions
Pace
our editing will be a slow pace in the beginning, while there is an equilibrium and build up,
and the pace will be faster with more jump cuts and short teasing shots towards the end,
when the main events take place and the problems are occurring
Effect on the audience
We want our audience to feel tension and suspense for most of the trailer, created by
enigmatic shots such as over the shoulder, close ups, pauses, through the trees and more. We
also want there to be more of a fear element towards the end when teasing shots will be
used of events of danger. We also want a slight confusion, because of the demented mind of
the villain; cutaways and distortion will be used to convey his alter ego mind, where the flash
of the two characters being the same person will appear. The end shot also has an element of
this, when the girl says “kill them” because it shows she has a part in the killing.
Other
We will also use fade in and out for the transitions, through a lot of the trailer, because it
creates suspense. It can be used in the slower establishing shots to create a sense of
suspense, and nearer the end with the faster shots and more frequently fading in and out,
because this will create a fast pace and fear, where the audience can only see a small extent
of what is happening and it will create enigma for the audience.

5. TECHINCAL CODES
Sound
Diegetic
We will use diegetic sound in the trailer in parts. Firstly, heavy breathing will be used when
the girl hears something (the snap of wood she hears will also be diegetic) and turns round,
as there will be a pause in the non diegetic sound for effect, and this is where we will hear
her heavy breathing as the camera has an eye line match where she was looking behind her,
as if the audience is looking with her, in which the heavy breathing will give an effect of
realism because she has just been jogging. There will also be diegetic sound when the victim
screams, because she turns around and sees the villain, and screaming will also be used when
she is being dragged along the floor. This shows she is being forcefully taken and creates fear
in the audience.
Non-Diegetic
We are using copyright free music for our trailer, and the music is low notes with a sense of
suspense to them, with the conventional horror trailer sound. The slower pace music will be
used at the start to create a longer suspense, where the louder, faster paced music will be
used nearer the middle and end of the trailer to create adrenaline and sound as if your heart
is beating faster along with the scary events that are happening. There will also be parts of
music with a distortion/distressed sound, to fit with the parts of the trailer where distortion
and cutaway editing is used which will fit with the psychological genre.

6. TECHINCAL CODES
Mise-en-scene
Props & Costume: we will use a bowler hat that has a brim, tilted towards the face which will
cover the main features to create enigma in the villain and makes them recognisable
throughout the trailer. The victims will wear ordinary teenager clothing, with the girls having
some low cut tops to enforce the male gaze in the trailer. The other props used will be a
water bottle and headphones, to show the girl is going for a jog, and a car, for the villain.
Lighting: we will use natural lighting in the forest scene, just before it gets dark because this
will mean we still have enough light but it is beginning to look slightly scary in the forest. We
will also use some artificial lighting, like in the cupboard when we use flashing bright light to
create a sense of insanity. We will also use shadow, from lighting things above and behind, to
create fear and enigma around the villain.
Locations: the location will be a street which looks quite ordinary, creating a sense of unease
because everyone lives in their own house and on a street. The house used will be quite large
and Victorian, making it slightly spooky. The forest will be a main location as well, which is a
stock location in horror films, often where characters feel like they are being followed. This
creates a sense of suspense in the audience because they will have a feeing something is
going to happen.
Iconography & weapons: we will have iconography in the hat the villain wears, as it will make
you recognize the character and is reminiscent of Freddy Krueger in Nightmare On Elm Street,
as it is one of the things that are his character motifs. The villain will only have his hands as
the weapon, because it is a psychological horror and weapons aren’t usually a main focus in