2. What Happened In Vegas
Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJGAsbcfuRs
I had looked closely at the trailer for “what happened in Vegas” as it is also
a romantic comedy and this is the type of trailer in which I am going to
go on to create. I have looked briefly into certain areas of the trailer to
see what type of features it uses. This trailer in particular only uses two
logos at the beginning of the film within 0.06 to 0.08 meaning that each
logo is only on for one second, baring this in mind I am only going to
use each logo for one second but I am planning on using three logos so
that it resembles that of a professional text. However, this trailer often
uses intertitles but they are very rare within the clip and are only
introduced when showing the productions once again for three seconds
exactly half way through the trailer. This therefore shows that not all
romantic comedies use intertitles to show some of the narrative or plot.
3. Sounds, Dialogue and Voice
Over
Throughout the trailer there is a lot of dialogue used with non diegetic music in the
background. However, there is a voice over used in which is revealing some of the
narrative and the plot. The voice over is in a male voice in which could suggest the
ideology that a male voice is stronger than that of a female. Often in romantic
comedies there is male voices used so that it is clear to hear and also it could be
seen as less soothing than a female voice, and this fits well with the trailer as it is
showing more the comedy than the romance. In terms of other sounds there is
non-diegetic music in the background to add more atmosphere to the trailer and
set the scene. There are not that many sounds in which aren’t dialogue but there is
a diegetic sound of the arcade and alarms in order to add realism to the setting.
There is constant dialogue used in the trailer to add more to the storyline and it is
revealing some of the plot without revealing the full plot.
4. Narrative Set Pieces, Themes
The theme of this seems to be love and romance which is constantly hinted at
throughout the film. It could be said that the voiceover is hinting at this theme
because it is recalling all the stereotypical views and vows that are said during
marriage. The shots however don’t constantly refer to this theme as they are
normally separate shots of the characters and they are not often sharing a frame
but the dialogue is often giving away that they are falling in love. The narrative is
clearly shown through the use of voice over as well as dialogue because it is
revealing the plot bit by bit in order to entice the audience it is aiming it’s package
at. The shots themselves do not actually refer to the theme as much as the sound
and dialogue does, however the thing in which shows this narrative theme is the
characters themselves. There are other themes in which are shown throughout this
clip also and these can include: Greed, Revenge, and eventually forgiveness. The
greed and revenge theme is shown by the characters in separate clips
jeopardising each other, for instance when the male character removes the toilet
seat it could be seen as revenge, and it is all for greed as they are both fighting to
get the money.
5. Characters (Amount, Types,
Costume)
This trailer tends to show the two main characters as an introduction to their lives, and
by doing this it also contains other characters in which play a minor part in the film
but are still important. This is due to the fact that they play a part in how the two
main characters have got into the problem. However, throughout the film it shows
the two main characters with extras who play the minor parts of being friends of the
two main characters. Both the male and female characters seem to be similar who
are just out for a bit of fun when they walk into trouble by meeting each other at
Vegas. The characters’ costumes change a lot throughout the film from a variation
of smart casual, to formal dress in order to suit the location of the film. For
instance, at 1.10 the two characters are wearing formal dress in order to suit the
location of being at court and to show they mean business. The characters in this
trailer tend to both have at least 7/8 costume changes in order to show the flow of
the clip, and the changing of day and atmosphere.
6. Location (Amount, Types)
In “What happens in Vegas” there tends to be a wide mixture of locations in which suit
the genre. The film starts off by over looking the city and this could have been done
in order to set the scene, and then it goes into showing the inside of a house
(which could have been in the city). There is about 10-12 locations throughout this
trailer and they include a large mixture and depends on what is happening at each
point dependant on what location it is showing. For instance, there is a mixture of
clips from both a field and a beach showing the lighter memories of fun whereas
there is a clip at court showing the negative side of the story.
7. Editing Pace
In What happened in Vegas the editing pace seems to vary a lot. At the beginning of
the trailer the editing pace was quite slow to show that because there was issues
in their life then the time had dragged. However, when the two characters arrived in
Vegas the editing pace had sped up and I think the reason for this was showing the
fact that they were having fun and things were going by too quickly to even realise
what was happening. Moreover, the editing pace then tends to slow down when
the characters both wake up the next day and this could be due to the ideology
that they do not know what has happened and they are just waking up and
realising what has happened. The speed then remains at a slow as time goes on
because it is showing all the decisions in which they have made and it could be
done like this to show how time consuming it is to make decisions and also it could
have slowed down due to the idea that because they both want a way out time is
going so slow because they want it to be over.
8. Friends with Benefits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJS-wWqVAyk
I had looked closely at the trailer for “Friends with Benefits” as it is also a romantic
comedy and this is the type of trailer in which I am going to go on to create. I have
looked briefly into certain areas of the trailer to see what type of features it uses.
This trailer in particular only uses two logos at the end of the as small images when
it is giving further information on the film such as the website and release date, but
I am not planning on doing this in my trailer as most professional texts use these
logos at the beginning of the text separately. However, this trailer often uses quite
regular intertitles throughout the trailer showing part of the narrative but they are
quite brief intertitles that show what the film is about yet they are only hinting
instead of giving away the storyline. This therefore shows that not all romantic
comedy trailers have the same conventions in unison or totally similar.
9. Sound, Dialogue and Voice
Over
The trailer uses constant dialogue in which in itself explains the narrative from the
beginning onwards. There is however constant non-diegetic music in which sets
the scene and adds atmosphere. There is not a voiceover in this romantic comedy
so it shows that they are not always used. The only sounds in which are used in
the trailer other than music is diegetic sounds in which is making the scene more
realistic, for example the helicopter in which is moving the character. This shows
that a voiceover is not needed in order to show some of the narrative but non-
diegetic music is an important factor that helps to set the scene.
10. Narrative Set Pieces, Themes
This trailer shows acceptance, love, overcoming obstacles and trust as well as overall
friendship. These themes are all shown in different ways throughout the clip but the
main narrative theme in which is shown is friendship and this is shown in the title
“Friends with Benefits”. However, the way in which it then moves on into the other
narrative set is when the two characters look at each other and automatically
accept each other for all their faults, for instance when they are in the café talking
about their issues it is obvious they accept each other and are willing to overcome
this. However, the love is shown midway through the trailer when the two
characters start getting to know each other better and it is shown through the
dialogue and the way the editing pace slows down. There are many obstacles in
which the two characters have to overcome in order to succeed their love and this
is what happens in the end as the trailer ends in a shot of the two laughing and
joking, showing the end result.
11. Characters (Amount, Types,
Costume)
In this trailer there is two main characters, one male and one female. However, there
are a few more extras in which are related to the storyline but they only have minor
parts in the trailer. For instance, at the start each of the main characters have
partners but it turns out that the partners are only minor parts within the trailer as
they are only in a few shots each. This then goes on to continually show just the
two main characters with the occasional extra in which are playing their friends.
The two main characters however show two business people who are best friends
but are more focused around their careers and not wanting any attachments in
terms of relationships. The costumes of both the male and female are always
smart casual yet it changes throughout the film in terms of colours as the mood
changes and more of the atmosphere and storyline is revealed. Both the male and
female tend to have 5/6 costume changes within the 2.34 clip. I have taken from
this the fact that filming must be on different days in order for me to get the correct
effect and have the clip flow like that of a professional text.
12. Location (Amount, Types)
In “Friends with Benefits” there tends to be a wide mixture of locations in which
suit the genre. Once again this trailer starts by over looking the city and I
think the reason for this is in order for it to set the scene. There is about 8-
10 locations throughout this trailer and they include a large mixture and
depends on what is happening at each point dependant on what location it
is showing. For instance, there is a mixture of clips from both bedrooms,
next to the sea and also in café’s. However, the main number of locations
are indoors, and in a bedroom yet there is a mixture of locations to show
the time passing and also to show how things are moving on in the trailer.
Furthermore, unlike What happens in Vegas there aren’t any specific shots
in which have negative connotations such as court rooms etc, so this
shows that there does not need to be a lot of negative feeling in order to
have a twist in the storyline.
13. Editing Pace
The editing pace in Friends with Benefits is quite slow to begin with as it is showing
the beginning of the story and is hinting at how the two main characters are going
to meet. The speed remains on a slow until quarter way through the clip when the
two main characters make a decision to take their friendship further and the editing
pace then speeds up as it is showing the rush and emotion between the two
characters. The editing pace after the scenes in which the two characters are
together, then again slows down and continues at this pace until the end of the
trailer and this could be due to the fact that they want a steady pace to connotate
the idea that the two main characters will eventually want a steady relationship and
it could be seen as hinting at part of the narrative.
14. Shot (Types, Amount, Length)
There are at least 98-100 different shots within both trailers individually and they are
all of different lengths and types. I have looked closely at a few of the different
shots and see how each of them could have been put together. I have discovered
that a lot of the shots in Friends with Benefits are over the shoulder shots during
conversations between two characters and this method seems to be used
throughout the trailer. The other shots in which are in Friends with Benefits are a
few long shots and a few close-ups of the two main characters. However, in What
happened in Vegas there are a wider mixture of clips in which include a lot of over
the shoulder shots and close ups, with the occasional long shot. The reason in
which there are a lot of over the shoulder shots could be the idea that it makes it
more personal like you are there so it seems more realistic like you are the one
having the conversation. Furthermore, there are long shots in the trailer to show
the full body in order to see what the characters are like fully and some close ups
to make it a bit more clear and personal to see the expression more.
15. Conclusion
I am going to use the themes decisions, love, overcoming obstacles, dreams and
hope. I will do this by creating a complex plot where the characters will have to
give up a lot just to be together and hope for the best. I am planning on having the
female character having to make a decision between love and her dreams and she
would be hoping to overcome all obstacles that stand in her way, much like
professional texts I have looked at such as coyote ugly.
I am further going to discuss my plot ideas in further detail in another post but I am
planning on doing a plot in which shows two totally different people who meet by
mistake and end up falling in love, to realise there is a lot more to risk than to gain
and it will end with a choice. I am planning on using a mixture of shots due to the
fact that the trailers I have looked at use a mixture of 90-100 shots per trailer so I
am going to also do this. I have not yet full decided how my shots are going to be
composed so I will further discuss this is another post, probably one in which
contains my storyboards.
