The document analyzes several movie trailers and discusses conventions they use. It notes how the "Paper Towns" trailer uses slow motion shots of Margo to portray her as beautiful and establish intrigue. Transitions create mystery around her character. Relatable settings like suburbs and schools build verisimilitude. The "Hitman: Agent 47" trailer opens with a dramatic zoom on a barcode on the main character's neck, setting up intrigue. Costumes distinguish protagonists from antagonists. The "Maze Runner: Scorch Trials" trailer uses CGI to create a futuristic dystopia. Flashbacks transition with fades, and costumes distinguish the statuses of adults versus teenagers. Powerful voiceovers

1. 6-10
Conventions of Trailers
Isabelle Blake

2. The trailer for ‘Paper Towns’ is a chronological sequence, edited to create
the idea the boy has been living his life shy of the character Margo who is
established by the slow motion mid shot’s which are in slow motion to add
the effect she is beautiful and possibly to convey the idea the other, main
character who also the voiceover, may like her backed up by the opening
statement ‘she was inarguably one of the most gorgeous creatures that god
had ever created’. The slow motion also creates the idea he has spent a
long time admiring her and the fade transitions create the idea that there is
mystery to this character along with the mise en scène of her costume,
which mainly includes darker colours showing her personality and style. The
non-diegetic piano creates a romantic setting of a stereotypical american
love story and a cheerful tone to the trailer. The trailer creates verisimilitude
by using relatable settings like the establishing shot of a suburb, the
bedroom, a school and some local shops, places teenagers can relate to.
The establishing shot of the suburb has deeper meaning as the film is about
how the character margo wants to escape from this ‘paper town’ which is
like an epithet for the suburb. The over the shoulder and two shots show the
instant friendship that is created in the one night they have spent together.
The distinctive change in the non diegetic music signifies the problem or in
Todorov’s theory terms, the disequilibrium; Margo is missing. The boys
friends then group together to go on mission to find Margo, which is shown
in a sequence of events that occur on their travels including a scene where
the car spins out of control, heightened by the fast pace cuts making the
scene more exciting and realistic. The different sections of the trailer are
segmented by titles which are black and white, that have the effect of
handwriting to convey the idea of ‘paper’. I like the overall feeling you get
when watching this trailer however this is not the sense that I want to create
with trailer as it will be of a different genre. However, the verisimilitude
created in this trailer is something I would like to recreate in my trailer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFGiHm5WMLk

3. ‘Hitman; Agent 47’ trailer opens with a depth of field zoom focused on a gun aimed at the camera, as it
zooms out further a bald man raises his head so he is facing away from the camera in slow motion, towards
the suited man who is out of focus. As this happens the non diegetic music intensifies creating a dramatic
scene and suspense, the guitar creates an intense atmosphere and signifies the importance of the character.
The music is the kind of music I would like to create for my trailer as it is edgy and suites an action
adventure film. The way the man is positioned means the shot becomes a close up of a bar code that is
imprinted in the back of his head. Also during this movement it is visible the man is wearing black leading
us to stereotype from the mise en scène that the man sitting in front of the gun is the antagonist. I loved the
opening to this trailer as it was extremely effective and engaging, leaving questions that encouraged you to
give your full attention, the shot types used for this were interesting and different and I hope to create
something similar when creating my own trailer. The sound bridge of the voiceover explains to the audience
the man with the bar code is ‘Agent 47’, this is followed by a close up of his suit jacket being pulled way
revealing a belt loaded with guns and a red tie, indicating danger, death, blood and action. The idea of death
is continued with the point of view shot of a bullet being put on the table, heightened by the pleonastic sound
followed by the same bullet being loaded into a gun pointing at ‘Agent 47’, suggesting the man in the suit is
interrogating ‘Agent 47’ and potentially wants to kill him. This idea is backed up by the location of an
interrogation room, possibly underground suggested by the low key lighting and grey tones to the scene. The
titles for the trailer are metallic, red and silver, conveying ideas of death and imagery of cars and guns, key
items to an action adventure. Another key item for this genre is CGI, which is used a lot throughout this
trailer, for scenes such as fights explosions and car stunts. These have been used to make the trailer exciting
and packed with action, imitating what the film is going to be like
✤ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alQlJDRnQkE

4. The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials trailer is heavily edited to create a futuristic dystopia, further created by the non diegetic music made by electric piano and
drums which sound postmodern and build suspense. CGI is used to create unrealistic landscapes and props. The trailer opens with flashbacks to the previous
film ‘The Maze Runner’ with a voiceover explaining the previous film’s outcome and closes with ‘Now it’s time for phase two’. The transitions were fades to
create suspense and low key lighting was used to further create the idea of flashbacks. The next scene is transitioned by a cut of an extreme long shot tracking
as the camera follows a helicopter, both of which have been created using CGI. As this appears on screen the music fades slightly and a voiceover of a man
declares ‘ Welcome to the Scorch’ who is shown in the next clip walking in a long leather jacker symbolising power and wealth. Underneath he wears a clean
white roll neck, this contrasting with the dark colours the group of teenagers are wearing and heightens their dirtiness. As the trailer goes on it is established
that the teenagers and adults have a very different mise en scéne as there is a divide in the colour scheme and types of material used for their clothing. The
adults are wearing black, signifying death, possibly danger or evilness, some are dressed in protective clothing and are carrying guns, whether this is keep the
teenagers under control or whether it is to protect them is not established. The teens are wearing greys and browns covered in dirt at the beginning of the
trailer, they are shown showering and then in clean greys and blues as they are seated in a cafe, which has blue lighting and looks clinically clean, suiting the
environment and idea of a scientific organisation that runs throughout the trailer. The statuses of the two groups (adults and children/teens) are shown through
the angles of the camera, there are high angled, low levels panning of the group of teenagers running showing empowerment and freedom. However when
inside there is a low level camera shot on the children tracking to a high level on the adult, standing in a powerful stance overlooking them all. He is standing up
and they are all sat down, making him look powerful and the children look obedient but with innocence. The voiceover is extremely powerful in this trailer (
something that would be good to recreate in my own trailer) as it matches what is on screen without giving away too much of the film. The woman who spoke
first goes on to say later in the trailer;‘The course of your lives will determine the rest of humanity…into light or darkness’ – as she says the word ‘light’ a
romantic scene with light shining from behind is shown and the word ‘darkness’ is a dark scene in a run down building at a high level and angle of the group
running away in a long shot, making them look small and powerless, signifying this is a dark time for them and things are not going their way. The titles for the
trailer consist of a dusty background that the titles fade out from, matching the theme of a desert location, the words made to look like building blocks or stone,
giving the idea that they are man made and therefore could be foreshadowing that the environment the film is set in is not intact real and is all a set up.
Trailer Link:

5. ✤ https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=bLGFwkRx2HA
American Ultra is an action comedy shown by the upbeat pop music contrasting
with the violence and explosions taking place on screen. The mise en scène of
costume establishes the protagonist of an adolescent retail worker - distinguished
by converse, jeans and a checkered shirt (the female version of this outfit is given
to his girlfriend to help continue the idea of the indie/grunge look they achieve)
vs. the antagonists of some kind of military/army organisation, shown by the
costume of either suites for important high in common characters and the others
shown in armoured vests in black or in camouflage army costumes accompanied
by the props of guns. This is also continued with the props of tanks, helicopters
and the locations of army bases. I really like that you can distinguish each
character just by their costume in this trailer and I hope to learn from this and
achieve this in my trailer. The action genre is continued in the titles of the trailer
as they are filled with the image of fire/an explosion drawing the attention of the
action/adventure audience. The woman dressed in stereotypical ‘agent’ costume
(brown tie up coat and black sunglasses) is shown as the catalyst in the trailer as
when she places items down on the counter the music stops with a voice bridge
to diegetic dialogue. This is to attract the attention of the audience in the same
manner it does the characters on screen as the camera tracks from the items to
the protagonists face. This is to signify the change in the man as he is ‘activated’
by what she says to him, the trailer builds up pace from here showing that she
causes the action to happen. Editing has been used for effect in this trailer as lots
of scene include slow motion CGI as they wouldn't be able to be achieved in real
life such as the explosions or ‘the old frying pan bullet trick’.

6. ✤ The 5th Wave’s trailer is a chronological account following Todorov’s theory. First
there is the equilibrium; the high level establishing shot of a suburb city and the scene
of sending the children of the school. The non diegetic music featuring a guitar
creates a happy tone to the scenes and the disruption is signified by the change in
this music as it cuts, allowing the pleonastic sound of the lights and power going out
to be heightened, as the point of view shot of a phone displaying the news is shown
stating ‘mysterious object in atmosphere’. Through the use of CGI a plane is shown
to fall from the sky causing an explosion which has also been created using CGI. A
voice bridge is used of a news report as the realisation is shown, the transition of a
fade break up the reaction of the characters and the announcement on the news to
show devastation as it mimics slow motion and builds up tension.
✤ The non diegetic music intensified as the tracking of a low level shot shows the family looking up at the ‘mysterious object’
which appears to be a spaceship. The idea that the family are split up is shown through the close up of the brother and sister
holding hands as the dialogue voice bridges to a voiceover of the dad telling his son; ‘stay with your sister’. The next part of
the trailer is split up into the ‘stages’ in which the earth is affected by the spaceship and therefore suggested aliens whom
which are referred to as ‘The Others’. The four stages are established by titles that are made to look like the metal on the
spaceship. The stages are talked through by the voiceover of the character ‘Cassie’. Her and her brother are shown trying to
escape from the destruction in the world, as different scenes flash up with an uncomfortable sci-fi sounding noise increases
in pace. The restored order is shown through mise en scéne as the army training is shown by the location of a training room
is shown with people in army costumes. This is followed by an establishing shot of people in blue builders suits as the
character Cassie dressed in an army camouflage suit is in-between them standing out suggesting there is a divide in the
people hence why her and brother are split up; ‘The others took my brother and I’m going to go get him’. The 5th stage; the
equilibrium isn't shown but instead more scenes of destruction and fighting, using the props of guns and more use of CGI to
create explosions and floods which ruin iconic landmarks. The final scene in the trailer shows the character Cassie meeting
someone who is hiding in a a room at the back of a shop, the location and the characters are both dirty to show the
destruction of world. Point of view shots and close ups are used to add suspense and to convey emotion. As the man puts
the gun down a pull focus is used to show that Cassie is only focusing on the gun. The non diegetic music changes here and
becomes more serious to build tension as the man states ‘I know your human…because if you were on of them…’ the music
then cuts to allow for the pleonastic sound of the gun being loaded to be a focus to match the action on the pulling of the
trigger in the point of view shot, which is follow by an extreme close up of Cassie’s eyes, allowing the audience to see the dirt
on her face to give the connotations that she has been fighting for her life. As this is shown the man continues ‘you would
have already shot me by now’. This then cuts to the title of ‘The 5th Wave’ which is animated to grow bigger as the non
diegetic music climax’s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmxLybfGNC4