Genre and film textual analysis from jonesjrah1973

Trailer Analysis

Main Task
· Construction of a film trailer (Group)
Ancillary Tasks

· A film magazine front cover, featuring the film; (Individual)
· A poster for the film. (Individual)
Research and Planning

Before you begin to plan your film trailer, you will first need to carry out important research in relation to the following:

· The codes and conventions of your chosen film genre.
· The function of trailers as a promotional device.
· The codes and conventions of trailers.
· The structure of trailers.
· The expectations of the target audience for your chosen film genre.
· How do film trailers work?
· Where are film trailers most commonly found?
· Why do film studios use film trailers?
· Are film trailers effective promotional devices?
Research – Textual Analysis

Analyse three or more film trailers by answering the following questions:

1. What is the genre of the film?

2. How is the audience able to identify the genre of the film?

3. How does the trailer target an audience?

4. How long does the film trailer last?

5. How many shots are used in the trailer?

6. What transitions are used in the trailer?

7. How is diegetic sound used in the trailer? – Focus on dialogue and sound effects.

8. How is non-diegetic sound used in the trailer? – Focus on music and sound effects.

9. How does the trailer represent characters and their relationships?

10. How does the trailer create a sense of narrative?

11. What does the trailer reveal about the plot of the film?

12. How does the trailer create a code of enigma?

13. How does the trailer use titles to communicate with the audience?

14. How does the trailer establish the mood and expectations of the film?

15. What types of camera shots and angles are used most commonly in trailers?

16. How is mise-en-scene constructed in trailers?

17. Why has the film studio used the trailer to market its product?

18. How successful is the film trailer in targeting an audience?

19. Make a list of 10 codes and conventions that you have identified in the film you have analysed.

20. How effective are film trailers as a promotional device for films?

Blog Checklist - October 2015

Blog Checklist

You must make sure that you keep your blog up to date with all of the research and planning that you carry out for the Advanced Production.

By November/December you should have completed and uploaded the following evidence for research and planning:

• Your original individual plot synopsis
• The group plot synopsis
• Analysis of the codes and conventions of genre films (x3)
• Analysis of the codes and conventions of trailers (x3)
• Youtube links to videos
• Storyboard (Slideshare)
• Audience research - questionnaires
• Audience research - evluation of results
• Audience research - profile/moodboard
• Information about classification
• Secondary research - critical theory about your chosen genre
• Information about costumes and props (photographs)
• Information about actors (photographs)
• Information about setting - location shots
• Health and safety checks/authorisation to use locations
• The animatic
• Focus group response to animatic
• Interviews with target audience
• Any other ideas that you might use to show evidence of research and planning

You should aim to update your blog a minimum of once per week!

Target Audience

You must consider the potential target audience for your trailer carefully by carrying out market research.

1. Consider the traditional target audience for the film genre that you have chosen by finding out who they are (the demographic), what their interests are (the psychographic), and how you can make your product appealing to them. Think about the following aspects of your target audience:

· Gender

· Age

· Class

· Interests

· Favourite films

· Other interests

· Other factors that you think are important

2. You will need to complete an initial questionnaire to find out about the target audience for your film trailer. This is an example of primary research.

3. Use the internet to research the target audience for similar film trailers to your own. This is an example of secondary research.

4. Complete a second questionnaire and or focus group to get feedback on your storyboard or animatic.

5. You must complete detailed summaries of each piece of audience research that you do and explain how this information will help you create your product.

All of the information that you find out should be posted on your blog. Use a range of different methods to present your findings:

· Prezi

· SildeShare

· Videos

· Other internet software that is appropriate for the task