media a2 teaser trailer research

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Teaser Trailer Research Alex Thomson

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Ocean’s Eleven This teaser trailer is very short, only 35 seconds. There are mainly graphic shots, showing the actor’s names, plot outline and production logo’s. These are interspersed with short clips from the film showing main actors and funny moments from the film. There is a large focus on the ensemble cast. The music playing is quite jazzy, classy and sophisticated, and fitting for the stylish presentation of the film. The graphics feature, large, geometric shapes in bright colours. The trailer has no release date, coming soon tagline, or voiceover.

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Ocean’s Twelve As this is a sequel, who events are based on the previous film, the teaser references the first. This trailer is also slightly longer than the one for Ocean’s Twelve, around 55 seconds Interestingly, this trailer features no footage from the film, and is comprised of purely graphic shots. It has a red, white and black colour scheme that works well, and as such I have chosen to use a similar one for my film. This colour scheme extends to the production logo’s, which have been altered to fit the film. It has the same, now recognisable, music from the first trailer and film. This gives the film cohesion and gives the audience an audio link between the two films. Again, there is a heavy emphasis on the ensemble cast. This film, unlike the other, has a release date. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBALtaFrybg&feature=related

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Ocean’s Thirteen This trailer, again uses the red, white and black colour scheme from the second one, again extending to the production logos, and once again, focuses on the ensemble cast. The music, although not the same as the other two, is similar in its style and feel. The trailer is also, much longer than the other two, just over a minute and a half. It has no voiceover, just uses graphic shots, and dialogue from the film itself. The trailer shows short clips from the film featuring each member of the cast in turn, accompanied by an title of that actor. The shots are quite long and the cuts in between them are slower than in other films. It also features establishing shots of Las Vagas, the setting for the film. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvvvS9YGzTI

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The Prestige This trailer, again, has no voiceover, just dialogue from the film and graphic shots. There are very fast cuts between the clips of film shown, with the cuts following the bass beats of the music. There is a ‘from the director of’ title but no actor credits, or production logos, showing that this film will be aimed at fans of the director rather than of any particular actor involved with the film . There is a release date shown. Batman Begins This trailer has a voiceover from the main character of the film, giving the background of the film rather than introducing the plot for it. It features slow cuts with slight fades on each cut. The visual style is quite dark and shadowy. The music is primarily strings, and builds in volume, increasing the tension until the end and the films title is revealed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ohiQ6cLRsE&feature=related http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/the-prestige/teaser-trailer

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This is another example of a trailer with no film footage. There is a plain black screen, with various lights suddenly lighting up the outline of something, as more lights, light up, it is revealed to be the batman logo. The voiceover is from the film. The logo eventually breaks apart and a joker card flies at the screen, representing the villain of the film. The Dark Knight The A Team The trailer has a lot of use of iconic catchphrases, props and voiceover from original TV series. Lots of shots of big action set pieces/jokes/establishing shots. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWw0ov-cAUg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTVtRnacok8

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Inception This trailer is another example of one with altered production logos to fit the style and create cohesion for the film. The director is the first credit and continues to a ‘director of’ which puts a lot of emphasis on who is directing the film right from the beginning. There is an establishing shot of a city, birds eye view. The first character seen and the only character is Leonardo de Caprio, attaching the big name actor to the film, and hopefully gaining more interest in the film. The tagline of the film is shown and established. One of the films main unique devices is shown and used extensively in the trailer, preparing the audience for the strangeness of the film. The film title is shown written in a birds eye view of a maze. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DwuVKfjctk#

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The Karate Kid The trailer has a heavy focus on the action and fighting aspects of the film. The graphic shots have a repeated: ‘a _______he never _______’ format. Music builds up to Jackie Chan’s appearance. Rush Hour 3 Opening deceptive, film and genre not immediately recognisable. Then the appearance of the two main characters makes the trailer instantly recognisable as a Rush Hour film Song and Eiffel Tower establish setting. Focus on Chris Tucker comedy and Jackie Chan fighting. Big action set pieces. http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/the-karate-kid-2010/trailer http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/rush-hour-3/trailer-b

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Toy Story 3 Shows no film footage-just the well known characters, and jokes based around their interactions. Brakes the forth wall-characters aware of being in film. Has film title and release date. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f-MYl-HzNw National Treasure 2 This trailer is another example of a use of altered production logos, this time the colour has been changed to the same glowing orange effect used on the rest of the trailer and other media related to the film. The voiceover is specifically for the trailer, and by Nicholas Cage, the lead role. Graphics of glowing orange writing, like diary pages, a main motif for the film. There is also footage of the film, showing each member of the main cast with an their name super imposed on the screen, famous landmarks from locations in the film and a humorous scene to finish. As this is a sequel it relies upon fans knowledge to fill the gaps, although compared to other sequel trailers, this is fairly comprehensive. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nFQE0dg_3Y

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Mass Effect 2 This teaser trailer is for a game rather than a film. The game is based around building a team for a big mission. Extended footage of two people in office discussing the team, their conversation follows into a voiceover introducing some of the characters, team members and locations. This conversation is split up by clips of some of the team members displaying their skills. Despite being for a game, this trailer displays many of the qualities and conventions seen in trailers for films. Also, there are qualities in the construction of the trailer that I liked and wanted to put in to my own film, particularly the ‘team of people’ plot device. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUeCA5JilsA

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Star Wars Episode 1 The teaser trailer for the first of the prequel trilogy to the Star Wars saga, was the first new piece of star wars film for over 15 years. There are graphic shots setting up the film as the beginning of the series. ‘Every Saga ahs a Beginning’ etc. It has a slow, quiet, quite serene start, which suddenly bursts into loud action with the classic star wars theme tune music. The trailer introduces lots of new locations and characters into the series as well as some old ones. The trailer, after having a burst of action, slows down again for dialogue from the film that outlines the basic plot premise. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENlX2cZLq3s

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Reservoir Dogs The teaser trailer begins with the production logo and tagline for the film. The character names are established, Mr. Pink, White etc. With a short, slightly comical scene. Again, the plot and film premise is outlined with graphic shots. There is, as with many other teasers has a voiceover comprised of film dialogue rather than a voiceover specifically for the trailer. There is a heavy focus on the action, violence and gunplay. Die Another Day Starts slow, music builds to explosions. Very fast cuts used to enhance the action of the film and to show lots of scenes and the variety of locations that the film has in a short amount of time. Use of classic bond motifs, styled like a bond opening song footage. Uses James Bond theme tune from all the films. Extended use of ice special effects to mirror the primary location of the film. There is a voiceover with a classic, deep, booming voice, typical of many teaser trailers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHuAGozIJuM http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/reservoir-dogs/trailer

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Casino Royale The opening of the trailer is in black and white, much like the film itself. There is a voiceover from Judi Dench. Interspersed between the black and white shots, which are generally quite slow, are very quick cuts of fast paced action and fight scenes. The line: ‘I understand double 0’s have a very short life expectancy’ makes the trailer instantly recognisable as a Bond film, this is reinforced by the classic gun barrel point of view shot. This is followed by very quick cuts between scenes, showcasing many things synonymous with Bond films including: gadgets, bond girls, explosions, car chases and fight scenes, various people emerging from water etc. The music is the instantly recognisable James Bond theme. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LozaiZBdji0

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Salt This trailer starts off with an interrogation at the CIA, which deals with the basic plot premise and creates confusion about who the main character is and what her motives are. From this point there is a heavy focus on the big action set pieces and the titular characters name, with is used extensively, both in voiceover, provided by dialogue from the film and the graphic shots in between the action. Wanted There is an abrupt start, no production logo’s. A person is running out of a shop, there is no explanation as to why. There are two vehicles that begin to chase him, motives are unclear. There is a close up of Angelina Jolie, establishing her as a main character. There is an impressive stunt shown, showing that this is an action film. Cuts to a black screen. Morgan Freeman’s voiceover instantly recognisable as him. There is a film title, but no date or coming soon. It is one long continuous action scene, instead of a selection of scenes from the film. http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/salt/trailer http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/wanted/teaser-trailer

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Shutter Island The trailer has a very abrupt start. Which is quite jumpy and suitable for the genre. This jumpiness continues throughout the trailer. There are images of chains and barbed wire, conveying connotations of being trapped. This is followed up by armed guards., furthering the motif There are ominous images such as a boat appearing out of the fog. The dialogue from the characters sets up location as a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane and the basic premise of the plot. There are lots shots of patients at the hospital and scary imagery. There is lots of foreboding images, like ‘RUN’ written on paper by a patient. Many shots are of strange, unusual or possibly supernatural things happening making you realise that the film is quite surreal and things are not what they seem. This builds an enigma and draws in an audience to find out what it is about in more detail. http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/shutter-island/trailer-b