Beginning my research!

Textual analysis-What will I be analysing

In order to make the film trailer I will need to carry out some textual analysis so assist me with our final product. Since we have decided to make a film teaser trailer we will all research in to theatrical and teaser trailers.

Our key question is to create a teaser trailer of any genre. After researching and putting all of our ideas together, my group and I decided to go along with the genre of Horror. After we all carry out our research we will confirm which genre we are doing. Options that are open to us which are close to horror are suspense/thriller and psychological horror.

Horror Teaser trailers have been a difficulty finding and therefore I decided to analyse one horror theatrical trailer and two teaser trailers of different genres. First I thought that this may not benefit me as much as doing three horror teaser trailer but I came to realise that this would be a good method since I can combine my findings of both trailers. I will be able to see the codes and conventions used in a horror film and the elements in a teaser trailer. As well as be able to see what specific ideologies are used in theatrical trailers and make sure I don’t use them so the difference between a teaser trailer and theatrical trailer is easily distinguished.

Abbie and Danielle are analysing 3 theatrical trailers of the horror genre and therefore once all our research is complete we can combine our findings and create our product. I am already aware of some basic variations between the two trailers such as the main being the length. Theatrical trailers usually start from 2minutes 30, whereas teaser trailers can be as short as 30 seconds to roughly 1 minute 30.

Another difference is the detail in the trailers. By watching a teaser trailer it is usually difficult to tell what the exact plot is. The main objective and aim of a teaser trailer is to give the audience an idea to what the genre is and the actors in the film. It is a way of putting the film in the market before its release date is announced. Another aspect which is promoted is the institutions that are distributing the film. These trailers are a good way of marketing to a wider audience.

In a typical horror film there are certain aspects which are expected as they conform the codes and convention.
I am expecting:

*locations to be dark and dull.
*Rainy weather with thunder scenes as this type of climate is associated with bad luck and things going wrong. It gives the haunted feel and aware the audience of something bad to happen.
*Another aspect I have come across is the minimum characters. Horror films usually have a limited number of characters.
*The scenes to be shorter and quick camera changes to build the tension
*Music to be spooky and change pitch with the scene
*Sudden things to happen
*Tense scenes followed by calmer scenes to evolve the audiences mood.
*Flashbacks are also very common
*Point of view camera shots, zoom in’s and extreme close ups.