Inspiration

In order to start planning our trailer we had to analyse existing horror trailers to give us an insight into typical conventions we had to focus on. I started by looking at 'When a stranger calls'.





The 2006 thriller trailer directed by Fred Walton begins with an opening shot of the phone ringing, which is the most significant prop throughout, and the audience can immediately link the phone to the title of the film. The camera zooms into the phone, while using quick cuts into dramatic scenes from the film. This instantly gives a sense of fear and suspense to the audience as they know that the phonecall is ominous. After the title card advertising the film makers and company, we see an establishing shot which is common in all film trailers as it sets the scene. The mise-en-scene isnt particularly scary, however it is creepy in that the are forests surrounding which have connotations of danger and mysteriousness. Straight after there is a point of view shot from the house looking at a car pulling into the drive with two characters inside, and the audience get the impression that these characters are going to be important throughout, as 'victims'. This then switches to a long shot of the house where the characters have arrived, which lets the audience know that this is significant to the film and as the camera zooms in we get the idea that this is where the events are going to occur. In the next few shots we see point of view shots of different rooms in the house, as if some one is watching the characters or following them. While this is happening, there is simple dialogue however it is drown out by the slow minor music. The music is then quickly ended by the sound of parents slamming the door, which is then that the viewers realise that the young girl is left alone, and how vunerable she is going to be. Next there is a title card reading 'she thought it would be a quiet evening', which are very common in trailers, as they help give the audience a bit of an understanding of the film, without giving too much away. This title card works especially well as it lets the audience suspect that she isnt going to be having a quiet night. The camera then zooms in on the girl from behind her which makes her look vunerable, and also could be a point of view shot from some one who is actually behind her. The diegetic sound of the phone ringing creates tension and we also hear a non diegetic cresendo leading up to the moment where she answers the phone, again creating tension. From them moment he answers the phone, the rest of the trailer is hectic with cuts to different shots of scenes from the film, separating them with title cards. The music becomes fast and upbeat until a title card of the name of the film appears to cut it.

I am also going to make a few points on the film trailer for 'Case 39'


-Establishing shot, setting the scene .
- Immediate shot of main character so audience have an idea of who the film is about.
- Non-diegetic dialogue over actual film.
- Short flashes of shots creating disequilibriam.
- Text cards giving audience additional information.