Use:
Stereotypical Conventions
When creating my trailer, I used stereotypical conventions. As part of my research I analysed 15 trailers to highlight these conventions and choose the ones which I could apply to my own work. When watching each of the trailers, I focused on the camera, sound, mise en scene and editing used. This helped me to see how the majority of films were presented to a worldwide audience effectively. The structure of the trailer was also important when analysing them as the majority of trailers start with the rating screen, followed by the production company and institution logo. From my research, I learnt that trailers often include the age restrictions for both the trailer (usually a U rating) and the film itself (varied between a U rating and age 18). A trailer is used to persuade a certain audience to watch the film when it is released, therefore the best scenes of the film are chosen and edited into a 2-3 minute video to sum up the overall story line, focusing on the main characters and events. I used this technique when creating my product, and used my target audience as a base to choosing the appropriate shots, music, structure etc. As my target audience is young-adults, I could subvert stereotypes that may be used in child friendly trailers and films. Although the story line of the film is the most persuading element for the audience to watch it, the way it is presented in the trailer has a significant role. This includes highlighting the cast and crew that are involved, especially if they are very well known. Additionally, the film name is ALWAYS a main focus within the trailer- often in large,bold font so that is it noticeable and remember-able. This is, of course, important as the producers want the audience to remember the name of the film, therefore connecting them with other persuasive techniques, usually online social media accounts. This allows the film makers to release even more teasers and create a fan base even before the film is released. Finally, another main feature of trailers that we used is music and voice overs. Music is very significant in trailers as it highlights the overall mood and genre of the film and creates the atmosphere at different points throughout. For example, the use of volume and pace builds tension and suspense. We also used voice overs and some speech to create meaning and help to make the story line of our film clear.
Narrative Theory
In order to distinguish a trailer from an opening sequence, a trailer is normally non-linear, especially in post-modern films. As our film in a post-modern fantasy I also had to research what was specific in a post-modern trailer. This is usually fast paced cuts, to build tension and create fragmentation. We used this theory when creating our own trailer, as this would appeal more to our audience. Pam Cook states that texts should be coherent but trailers are not, they are fragmented. She says that texts should follow a specific narrative that ‘contains verisimilitude especially governed by spatial and temporal coherence’. Trailers do not follow Cook's theory as they are fragmented as they cannot have a narrative resolution. As well as this, we also used Joseph Campbell's theory- he believes that narratives include an 'ordinary world'. Our characters live in an ordinary world, but this ordinary world includes the existence of mermaids. The use of the flicker transitions shows that there is a disturbance. Through theorists analysis of real media texts, there have been many theories made about narratives. Bordwell and Thompson defines narrative as 'a chain of events in a cause-effect relationship, occurring in space and time'. This includes flashbacks, replays of action, slow motion, speeding up and jumping between places and time. These features might often cause confusion for the audience- although this could be a negative, the fact that it will cause fragmentation is good because this is stereotypical of a trailer. This fragmentation will persuade the audience to want to watch the film as they will understand the clues that have been given but will want to know more. This is a good persuasive technique for our product, therefore we used this theory. Furthermore, one main theory that we used in our trailer is Barthes Codes. Roland Barthes theory is the establishment of plot or theme. This is followed by the development of the problem and then an increase in tension. This would normally include a resolution, however due to our product being a trailer, the resolution will not be included as this will be revealed in the whole film- the trailer is just a teaser of this. We use the Hermeneutic Code- this includes avoiding the truth (snares). As our genre is a fantasy, there are things to be figured out. This is also relevant as our trailer does not reveal the whole truth (stereotypical of a trailer) and therefore the audience also have to try and figure out the truth too as there are partial or incomplete answers (equivocations). The Proairetic code works as a pair with this, creating action which leaves the audience to guess what is going to happen next. Our trailer is building tension throughout, creating excitement and nervousness, however two of the main events are the finding of the necklaces and Earl slamming the necklaces down (connoting frustration and anger). Additionally, we used the Semantic Code (representing supernatural) and The Symbolic Code to suggest alternate realities, highlighting the magic element of mermaids within our film.
Real Media Texts
We used E.T as an inspiration for our film as this includes an alien (a supernatural creature) living in the 'real' world. He is able to interact with humans and once accepted into their world, live a normal life, before having to return to his 'home'. This is similar to our film because it is based in the 'real' world not in a hyper reality. However the mythical creatures of mermaids exist, creating a human vs mermaid divide. Just like aliens, there is no proof that mermaids exist in today's society meaning that the use of costume, props and CGI has to be used effectively in order to create these images successfully in the films. We also used the inspiration of Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games for our characters, Alexa and Sonnie. Katniss is portrayed as a strong, brave and smart teenage girl, which is how we hope to illustrate our characters. Although the costumes and props used differ, their overall characteristics are very similar. The Lady in the Water was a big inspiration for the structure of our trailer due to the similarities in narrative and characters. The 'lady' in that film is representative of our mermaid who is found in a swimming pool rather than a lake, like in our film. Both titles are symbolic of what happens in the films: 'The Lady in the Water' and 'The Mermaid's Myth'. Although both are very self explanatory, we felt that the title went well with our post-modern fantasy trailer. Our inspiration for props came from Harry Potter, which also highlights the idea of magic through the wands and broomsticks. Although these are symbolic and stereotypical of wizards, editing is still used to create meaning. We used the necklace to illustrate magic and fantasy through the mermaids- a necklace is not usually associated with this creature however through the use of editing we created this ideology for our film. When choosing our locations, we wanted to use ones that appealed to our audience in creating a 'real' world. Therefore by using everyday locations such as a woodland and a lake and contrasting it with an abandoned house, created a setting for our film. Despite the fact forests can sometimes be associated with danger, they are also a natural setting in our world and therefore by introducing mermaids to this creates a fragmentation. We were inspired by The Cabin in the Woods for our locations as this includes both a forest and an 'abandoned house'. As this is a horror film, the use of our locations do differ. Also the use of a lake juxtaposes the traditional pure and positive symbol- we subvert this to reveal the unknown and dangerous element of a lake.
