Three Trailer Anaylse!

One of my coursework pieces is to create a movie trailer and to understand what a trailer includes and looks like I had to analyse three different trailers in class these were:

• Donnie Darko
• The Hobbit
• The Heist

I was shown these trailers four times and then after/during the trailer I had to make on notes on the four main areas for a trailer and I had a look at these four areas which were:

• Lighting and Colour
• Sound (Including use of script)
• Use of Camera
• Editing

After looking at all three trailers  and looking at these four keys with notes, I had to then write a paragraph choosing the best technique used on the trailer and why I choose that technique and where I saw it. The first trailer I watched was Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko

Lighting and Colour:

• Natural light from outside
• Dim lighting in rooms
• Light through cinema for portal
• Dark lighting and colour when the beast (rabbit) is shown

Sound (Including use of script):

• Voice over of characters talking
• Music is dark and mysterious
• The dialogue is moody and serious, no happy words
• The music grows fast then stops then starts near the end

Use of Camera:

• Spin of a camera like dizziness
• Panning
• Medium close up of characters
• Zooming in to create tension

Editing:

• Fading out during the beginning
• Quick cuts when the music starts
• Fading out when it was sad
• Cloud movement
• Touching an invisible wall
• Fast cuts during action scenes
• Music stops voice over starts
• Slow fade between actors and names

My Paragraph

Donnie Darko, I thought the most creative technique used was in the lighting and colour. When Donnie kept seeing his imaginary friend (the big bunny) the lighting was dark and dole during the scenes with the big bunny. I felt this made the character look horrifying to the audience also shows that the big bunny is a manipulative character to Donnie as he looks like he has control of Donnie

The Hobbit



Lighting and Colour:

• Bright Colours
• Daylight and Clear Skies most of the time
• Dim light in caves
• Dark light in the woods
• Flashing light for title

Sound (Including use of script):

• Fantasy, slow music
• Voice over of a characters prophecy
• Adventure music during the main adventure
• Repeats words sometimes
• Voice over during most of the trailer
• Sound of a dragon
• Music slows then gets faster near the end

Use of Camera:

• Establishing shot of the places
• Close up of characters
• Panning during the chase scenes
• Zoom in on the castle
• High angle shot and low angle shot
• Panning and zooming out of the dragon at the end

Editing:

• Quick but short black outs
• Text above a map
• Coins clanking
• Monsters are CGI
• Quick cuts during action scenes
• Flash of the title

My Paragraph

The Hobbit, I thought the most creative technique used was in sound. During all the fight and action scenes there was adventure like music in the background, which grew louder as the action grew and then stopped during the non action parts. I felt this made the action stand out more to the audience and signified with the action on the screen which then made the action/adventure music stand out.

The Heist

Lighting and Colour:

• Natural lighting
• Dark lighting in the basement
• Red suits suggest security guard

Sound (Including use of script):

• Heist like music
• The manager is sarcastic to the main characters
• Music grows louder through out
• Voice over of radio communication
• Dramatic, fast music near the end

Use of Camera:

• Establishing shot
• Extreme clos up of painting
• Close up of characters
• Panning down to change to the basement
• Point of view of fallen character

Editing:

• Quick cuts between scenes
• Light flashes every so often
• Noises of gun shots
• Zoom in on a guy shooting
• Black cuts during the beginning
• Red words that are the same colour as the characters security uniforms

My Paragraph

The Heist, I thought the most creative technique used was in editing. During the title sequence some of the words for example 'Heist' were in red and the three main characters were all wearing red suits as they prepare for the heist pretending to be security guards. I felt that it helped the audience to connect to the characters to the heist and what they are wearing, also signifies the characters as being robbers in the movie which then helps with the plot of the film.