Trailer Analysis: Nine Dead (2010) Trailer

Trailer Analysis: Derailed (2005) Trailer

Trailer Analysis: Looking at Film Trailers

This is the first piece of analysis I did when looking a film trailers. Although the films looked at aren't part of the genre of my film (Crime Thriller) I have been given an insight into the way trailers are structured and how well the plot is portrayed within. I have also looked at the conventions of a trailer to help me understand what needs to be included in my trailer.

First Overview

From the beginning of this blog my film idea has constantly progressed and I am now at the point where I know the genre, plot, title and basic marketing strategy of my film. I have also done some research into different audiences and have looked at similar films targeted at the same audience. I now feel I am in the position to begin looking at existing film products like the trailers, posters and magazine covers. I will carry out analysis into how the attract the audience and how they fulfil the expectations of films of the crime thriller genre. The following posts will follow these tasks.

Planning: Film Treatment

Planning: Chosen Film Title

Planning: Brainstorm of Film Titles

This mind-map shows my initial brainstorm of film title ideas. They all link in with the plot of the film and relate to the main events that take place within it. I will compose a small survey to take in the feedback from other people that will help me decide which name suits my film best.

Trailer Planning: Basic Plot Synopsis

Lauren is a 25 year old girl, living on her own for the first time. Late one night,she makes her way home from work taking a short-cut down an alley way near her home. As she enters the alley she notices a man ahead of her with a girl. Lauren slows down, hoping that the people ahead of her will make their way out of the other side. She waits and as she watches she notices that the young girl is in distress and seems to feel threatened by the man. feeling anxious, she continues to watch and she suddenly realises what is happening. The young girl is crying with fear, there is a struggle and it looks like she is trying to fend him off. The girl slumps to the ground and he leans over her body. Lauren freezes with fear as the man turns to look in her direction, the man is wearing a mask and in his hand she makes out the shape of a knife, she didn't know if he had seen her or not.

On return home she contacts the police and they soon visit her and the scene of the crime, only to find the body has been removed. With no evidence of any crime taking place, her report is totally dismissed and nobody believes her story. 

Over the next few weeks she tries to get on with her life but is unable to. She constantly feels nervous, getting the feeling that she is being followed, she gets flashbacks and is haunted by the murder that she knew she saw. As she walks home from work she feels like she is being followed and receives calls from unknown numbers with nobody on the other end of the line. Eventually, one night her friend drops her off outside her house and as she goes inside she notices her front door is slightly open. She fearfully turns to her friend to call him but he has already began driving off. Realising that it must have been a mistake on her part, she goes inside and forgets the whole thing, consciously locking the door behind her. Later on she takes a shower and while she is in there she gets the feeling she is not alone. In the next instance she notices the bathroom door gently opens an inch and she gets out of the shower straight away. As she gets dressed she bends down to pick the towel up off the floor and as she stands back up she freezes in horror on seeing the masked killer's reflection in the mirror.

He ties her hands and blindfolds her, shoves her into the back of a car and speeds away. He arrives at his location and drags her back out of the car and carries her into an abandoned garage. Once inside he removes her blindfold and when her eyes become accustomed to the dark the only thing she sees is a clock placed on top of a box next to her. At the same time the police are informed that a body has been found in the same location where Lauren originally reported the crime to have been, alarming the police and making them realise that what she saw was real and that there is a killer loose on the streets. The police attempt to get in contact with Lauren for a second interview but are unsuccessful and can't locate her. The next day they receive a note made from newspaper cuttings sent from the murderer explaining that he has kidnapped Lauren. They realise the two crimes are connected because on the dead body there were three zeroes etched into her chest and the note informed them that Lauren will be killed at 0:00 hours on the following day.

The police then have a race against time to find Lauren before midnight. 

Research: Focus Group - What do my target audience expect?

This is the first focus group I have done with people from my target audience. The participants are aged 17 and 18 which fits into the audience I have selected (young adults and middle aged people). I have asked them questions of what they would expect from a film trailer, poster and magazine cover if promoting a new crime thriller. The answers I have been given will really help me in the process of creating my film advertising package and their answers will be concluded in the next post.

Research: Planned Focus Group Questions

I have decided on 5 questions I am going to ask during my focus group to help me get an idea of what sorts of things people from my target audience are looking for in a film promotional package. I feel that the questions I ask are all linked and will aid me in getting opinions other than my own.

These are my questions:

1. What would you expect to see during a crime thriller trailer?

2. Do you feel the targeted age group is right for the film?

3. What would you want to see in a film trailer?

4. What would you want to see on a film magazine front cover?

5. What would be seen on a film advertising poster?

Research: Looking at my Chosen Target Audience

Research: Decided Target Audience

After looking at the results of my target audience survey I have decided that my ideal target audience for my crime thriller film will be young adults and middle-aged adults of both genders. This is because from the results it is clear that people of these ages seem to be more interested in watching a crime thriller and all seemed to come out with similar choices as to what they would expect in a thriller and trailer and also, what they would want to see on the cover of a film magazine and poster. Also, although my film plot may greatly appeal to a male audience, the fact that the main character is female would entice a more female audience too, being able to relate to the fear that the character would feel in her position. The next few posts will highlight my ideal audience and show research I have done into other films appealing to this audience. 

Research: Survey Analysis

Research: Target Audience Survey

I have conducted this survey to help me identify how different film genres attract the attention of different ages. The questionnaire will also help me gain more of an idea of what specific age my film will be targeted at and what they will be looking for in the trailer, poster and magazine cover.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Planning: My Chosen Genre

Research: Sub-genres I'm Considering

Research: Poll Results

After conducting a small poll in order to find out what sub-genres are most popular within the thriller genre, I found these were the results:

It is clear that crime dominates the results and has had the majority of votes from the small group that took part. I will now look into the couple of most popular sub-genres to aid me in my decision of what genre my film should fall into.

Research: Popular Thriller Sub-genres

I have so far decided that I will be creating a trailer for a film of the thriller genre. I now need to look at popular sub-genres of this specific choice and decided which one my film will fall under. I have created this poll to find out what the most popular thriller sub-genres are to aid me with my decision.

What is your favourite thriller film sub-genre?

Crime

Psychological

Spy

Conspiracy

Legal

Horror

Poll Maker

Research: Thrillers

Chosen Genre:

I have decided that I will be creating a trailer for a film of the thriller genre. This is because after doing some basic research into the genre I found that the plots of the films are very good for drawing in the audience and adding suspense to a film. They are also often ended with a 'cliff hanger' as a way of leaving room for a sequel or follow up film. 

They are also very fast paced and shots are very quick and flash on and off the screen during points of high tension or action. They also use low key lighting and shadows to add suspicion within the plot and to give the audience a sense of fear, as if the character is being stalked. 

The music is also tense and in a way frightening. Music is important within thriller films as it adds to the narrative and helps the audience gain a sense of what the characters are feeling. It immerses them in the film and helps them to make sense of what is happening. 

 Although similar, thriller plots are more realistic than horror plots, often making the audience think that what is happening could actually happen to them in real life, adding to the feeling of fear and terror.

Research: Popular Film Genres

I have created a mind map in order to record the most popular film genres. I have also looked at there sub-genres to help me decide what genre I want my film to fall into.

Introduction: A2 Media Coursework

My name is Megan Campbell and throughout the research, planning and production process of my A2 media coursework. The brief for the coursework is to produce a film trailer along with a poster and magazine cover to promote the film. I will post all of my work on this blog, up to and after the creation of my film trailer, magazine cover and advertising poster.