Learning Objective: To explore how film trailers are constructed to attract audiences to the film.
Quick fire question:
Key terms: (Copy these to your own blogs)
Promise of pleasure - This is what the trailer tells the audience they will get out of the film. They may laugh, cry or be more terrified than ever before.
Genre specific lexis - This is where the film trailer includes words and phrases the audience would associate with that particular genre.
Rhetorical questions - These are questions to which an answer is not expected. The use of them in media texts like trailers serves to introduce enigmas into the mind of the audience.
Enigma code (Barthes) - refers to any element of the story that is not fully explained and hence becomes a mystery to the reader.
It is important when a new film is launched that the audience are aware of it and the release date.
Film distribution companies that sell the film are always in competition and their aim is to secure the best audience for their new film.
Audiences can be targeted in several different ways.
producers want to draw the audience's attention to the film and to raise expectations.
If the film has a cast of recognisable stars then the trailer will focus on them, if not then the focus will be on narrative.
A trailer will contain enigmas to make the audience want to watch and find out what is going to happen.
Voice overs give the audience an outline of the narrative.
Music can add to the overall effect.
Even sequels will have trailers to remind the audience what to expect.
Film trailers are an important way to market a film to audiences.
The aim of a film trailer is to give enough information, but not too much so that the audience want to go to see the film.
Task 1: Think, pair, share.
Watch this film trailer and, in pairs, discuss how it attracts audiences to watch the film.
Make bullet point notes in Orange books. Consider enigma, promise of pleasure, rhetorical questions.
Conventions of film trailers -
An audience expects to see certain elements in a film trailer.
These include:
The name of the film.
This is obviously so the film can be recognised later on.
The name may give a clue to the genre. Certain audiences are attracted to certain genres.
The Vampire Diaries for example.
If the film is a sequel then the name usually links to the original film.
Twilight: Breaking Dawn.
The main characters.
The characters and an extract showing their role in the film is a typical convention of the trailer.
If they are played by high profile stars then the name may go alongside a shot of the character on the screen.
The tagline.
This will give the audience a clue to the genre and sometimes the narrative of the film.
Task 2:
Can you name the films that go with these tag lines?
In space no one can hear you scream.
Who ya gonna call?
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.
Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
One ring to rule them all.
Task 3: In pairs, create a new tagline for the film Taken. Consider rhetorical questions and the genre.
Homework Task : Answer the following question:
How are trailers constructed to attract audiences to the film? Back up your points with specific examples and using the trailer below. Consider audience responses and Uses and Gratification theory.
Quick fire question:
· What clues to the genre of the film have been provided for the audience?
Key terms: (Copy these to your own blogs)
Promise of pleasure - This is what the trailer tells the audience they will get out of the film. They may laugh, cry or be more terrified than ever before.
Genre specific lexis - This is where the film trailer includes words and phrases the audience would associate with that particular genre.
Rhetorical questions - These are questions to which an answer is not expected. The use of them in media texts like trailers serves to introduce enigmas into the mind of the audience.
Enigma code (Barthes) - refers to any element of the story that is not fully explained and hence becomes a mystery to the reader.
__________________________________________________________________
It is important when a new film is launched that the audience are aware of it and the release date.
Film distribution companies that sell the film are always in competition and their aim is to secure the best audience for their new film.
Audiences can be targeted in several different ways.
- Through articles and reviews in magazines and newspapers.
- Through interviews with the stars of the film in the press, talk shows, radio, magazines.
- Through adverts on billboards and in magazines.
- Through teaser posters.
- Through cinema listings.
- Through trailers on the Internet, television and in cinemas.
producers want to draw the audience's attention to the film and to raise expectations.
If the film has a cast of recognisable stars then the trailer will focus on them, if not then the focus will be on narrative.
A trailer will contain enigmas to make the audience want to watch and find out what is going to happen.
Voice overs give the audience an outline of the narrative.
Music can add to the overall effect.
Even sequels will have trailers to remind the audience what to expect.
·
What makes a good film trailer?
The aim of a film trailer is to give enough information, but not too much so that the audience want to go to see the film.
Task 1: Think, pair, share.
Watch this film trailer and, in pairs, discuss how it attracts audiences to watch the film.
Make bullet point notes in Orange books. Consider enigma, promise of pleasure, rhetorical questions.
Conventions of film trailers -
An audience expects to see certain elements in a film trailer.
These include:
The name of the film.
This is obviously so the film can be recognised later on.
The name may give a clue to the genre. Certain audiences are attracted to certain genres.
The Vampire Diaries for example.
If the film is a sequel then the name usually links to the original film.
Twilight: Breaking Dawn.
The main characters.
The characters and an extract showing their role in the film is a typical convention of the trailer.
If they are played by high profile stars then the name may go alongside a shot of the character on the screen.
The tagline.
This will give the audience a clue to the genre and sometimes the narrative of the film.
Task 2:
Can you name the films that go with these tag lines?
In space no one can hear you scream.
Who ya gonna call?
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.
Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
One ring to rule them all.
Task 3: In pairs, create a new tagline for the film Taken. Consider rhetorical questions and the genre.
On screen graphics.
Words appear on the screen during the trailer. These may be the names of the characters, stars or the tagline.
the font style will also help to tell the audience what sort of film it is.
Task 4:
What do the font style of these film titles tell us about the genre of the film itself.
Make notes - Orange books. Film font styles.
Words appear on the screen during the trailer. These may be the names of the characters, stars or the tagline.
the font style will also help to tell the audience what sort of film it is.
Task 4:
What do the font style of these film titles tell us about the genre of the film itself.
Make notes - Orange books. Film font styles.
Enigmas.
The purpose of a trailer is to make the audience want to go and see the film. The trailer will be put together to show some of the best bits of the film but leaves out bits of information so the audience will have to go to see the film to find out what happens.
Quick fire question:
The purpose of a trailer is to make the audience want to go and see the film. The trailer will be put together to show some of the best bits of the film but leaves out bits of information so the audience will have to go to see the film to find out what happens.
Quick fire question:
Can you sum up how film trailers are constructed to appeal to audiences?
Homework Task : Answer the following question:
How are trailers constructed to attract audiences to the film? Back up your points with specific examples and using the trailer below. Consider audience responses and Uses and Gratification theory.
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