The document discusses conventions of horror film trailers in terms of narrative, camera use, editing, and sound. It explains that trailers typically begin with an "equilibrium" to introduce characters, then depict a confrontation or problem through intensifying editing and camera techniques to build tension. While not revealing endings, trailers aim to leave viewers wanting more through an abrupt conclusion. Common camera angles and shots are used to reflect mood, and editing increases pace to showcase key moments in a short time. Sound is manipulated to emphasize scares, build suspense through silence, or signify important events.

1. Trailer Conventions - Conventions of Existing Media Texts
INTRO:
All horror films follow codes and conventions in order to ensure that the film is recognisable
within the horror genre. Conventions also ensure that the film features aspects that creators
know that audiences enjoy to watch. Over time Horror film conventions have evolved, similar
to horror films themselves. Horror films have evolved dramatically since the start in the
1930s where gothic themes were popular, and in the 60s where nuclear explosions in the
aftermath where societies fear, and then today where many films revolve around the use of
modern technology and ultra real storylines to scare the audience.
As these three entirely different types of horror films have evolved it makes sense that codes
and conventions evolve at the same rate. To ensure horror films stay modern and
recognizable to audiences.
Horror films are split into sub genres which hold their own very specific conventions within
the horror genre. Some examples of the top horror subgenres are Slasher, Supernatural,
Psychological, Splatter and gothic horror, to name a few.
Some Films contain aspects and conventions of two different subgenres, this leads the film
to be known as a hybrid. An example of a horror film that could be classed as a hybrid is The
Woman In Black, as it contains aspects and conventions of both the Gothic and
Supernatural Subgenres.
However, within this presentation , i will be discussing the broader conventions of the Horror
genre as a whole and what makes a horror a horror, other than the fact it is scary of course.
NARRATIVE:
Much like any other aspect of a horror film, there are narrative conventions that ensure the
audience ar able to follow the plot, keep them guessing but also at the same time, feed them
information that they will be able to recognise in order to keep them entertained and in the
know about what is going on.
All horror films start with a state of normality, known as an ‘Equilibrium’ a theory devised by
Theorest Todorov. This is where the characters and setting are introduced. This enables the
audience to understand what the characters lives were like before the unwanted involvement
of an evil villain. This is also one of the main parts of the trailer where the audience are able
to relate to the audience. What happens within a horror film is far from a reflection of reality,
(most of the tie anyway) however the equilibrium is just a overview of a characters life meant
to entirely reflect reality, to ensure that the audience can relate to the character, building a
bond and consequently sympathising when this character is troubled by the villian, which
often is where the horror within the film comes from.
Horror films and their trailers are often seen to follow a what is known as the Three-Act
structure, this is often incorporated within the trailer in some ways to give the audience a
more real taster of what the actual film is like, the equilibrium being the first act of the three
act structure, and the second being a form of confrontation or problem, this is where the
villain is introduced, and begins to play his role. This act is often significantly longer than the

2. other two and the majority of the film falls under this act. This is often the scariest stage a it
is where the murders happen and where the main characters are met with their obstacles.
Finally, third is the 3 act structure is the restoration or the conclusion, effectively the ending
where the audience are made aware of what the final outcome is, and what happened.
Sometimes this may be a happy ending as some of the characters survive, however at other
times this may just be as simple as giving the audience closure by informing them that the
character is dead and no longer fighting for their life. In a trailer, the ending of the film will
never be given away, however some may argue that the often abrupt ending of a trailer
substitutes the 3rd act itself. As it does the reverse of giving the audience closure but
hopefully leaves them wanting more. Much like the trailer could be seen as an ppoise of the
film itself, as the whole trailer give no crucial plot spoilers away however of course the film
clearly does.
CAMERA USES:
Various different types of camera work, (e.g different camera angles or movement) aren't
just used to visually tell the story. Of course this is their main role, however the different uses
of camera hold other uses as well. For example different camera angles can reflect different
moods, or how powerful a particular character is. This is the same within all films not
specifically horror, and if evident within all horror trailers. One of the most common camera
movements conventionally used within horror films nowadays is when the shot is achieved
by using want is known as a hand held shot. This is where the camera isn't on a tripod or
any piece of st up equipment and is simply being held in the hand of the operator. This
coincides with the commonly used point of view shot. This is used to make the film even
more scary as audiences find films more scary if they can invision what is happening to the
characters to happen to themself. By using a hand held point of view shot, this will bring the
audience closer to the action and make them feel as though they are actually there, in the
thick of it.
Something i mentioned earlier and another commonly used camera technique is the high
angle, low angle technique which is used to reflect characters in a position of power and
characters in a vulnerable position. When the camera in above a character looking down
upon them, this makes them seem smaller, therefore less powerful and more vulnerable, a
shot commonly used of the victim when under threat from the villian. If the camera is below a
character and is looking up at them, this makes the character seem larger, thus more
powerful as they are towering over the camera. This shot is commonly used with a point of
view shot from the victim's perspective. Looking up at the powerful villain before they strike.
The distance the camera is to a character or an object is also thought through by the director
in order to reflect a deeper meaning. A close up or an extreme close up shot is used to show
a character or object of important within the film, to ensure that the audience notice is as it
fills the screen. Close up and extreme close ups can also be used to ensure the audience
not only notice but it can also be used to help make them feel an emotion as they are shown
a characters facial expression so prominently.
EDITING:

3. There is an obvious structure to horror film trailer and their editing. As previously mentioned,
all trailer begin with an equilibrium, slow paced editing is used at this point in the trailer.
However the pace of the editing speeds up as the trailer progresses, there is usually a
moange at some point within the trailer, i'd say two thirds of the way through, this is where
the pace of the editing is at its peak, it's the most tense and exciting part of the trailer, often
were most of the action is. There increase in shots as the editing speeds up builds tension
among the audience as they are not able to adapt to one shot, and are forced to keep up to
date with what is happening within every shot that appears. The montage is used to display
the key moments within the film, and as conventionally a horror trailer will last for a duration
for two minutes 3o seconds, it is often difficult to cram in every key moment from a two hour
film into a clip that is short than three minutes. Therefore the creators are left with no choice
to speed up the editing, decrease the amount of time each shot is shown for and to ensure
that as many key moments as possible are are shown.
The type of transition is often a focus point for some trailer, i’m speaking more about the
trailers that fall into the subgenre of supernatural and paranormal. For example a blinking
transition is often used to reflect the narrative if it revolves around old or broken technology.
This is more common in modern day films. As well as this, man trailer contain taglines, this
again is a convention of modern horrors as the old fashioned male voice over narrating the
plot i outdated and rarely seen anymore. The titles/tag line are used between different shots
at different points within the film to suggest to the audience that they will now be shown a
different part of the film. They can also be used to give the following clip context to ensure
that the audience are aware of what is happening in the clip.
SOUND:
Sound is a fundamental part of creating a successful trailer, ound can reflect/enforce a mood
or foreshadow forthcoming events. In a lot of horror trailers, often for parts, very little to no
sounds is used, this is as silence can often help develop suspense or tension as it ensured
the audience are entirely focused on the visuals on the screen. However sound is always
used at certain points within a trailer to to emphasise the important of some moments and
events. Non diegetic sounds are very often included within horror films, to add a scare factor
to certain moments, for example a jump scare. Non diegetic music will be used at some
points to signify when an important event will occur. For example, the music will speed up
and get louder, at time of importance. Diegetic sound is also important within a trailer as is
often amplified within post production so it is more prominent. For example the creek of a
door or foot steps as somewhere walks, can both be amplified and used when no music is
playing to add suspense.