Trailer - Action Film diagram

Action Films

I created a diagram of the main details I would need to know about action films if I was to choose that genre of film for my film trailer. At the moment, I haven't decided what genre I would like to pick. However, action is my top choice. This is due to the codes and conventions of the genre. It is quite easy for me to replicate many of these on a low budget. 

I also listed the most famous action films. This was so I would be able to look back at these films and film trailers for support when making my trailer, if I chose this genre.

Furthermore, action films are often hybrids. This means it could be more than one type of genre. This is extremely helpful for me because I could make my film trailers action and another genre. There are two genres I would consider with action. This would be horror or thriller. I think these would be quite easy to include in my trailer and may make it even more intriguing and would be more likely to appeal to a mass audience.  

Trailer Codes and Conventions of Horror, Romance and Action Films

Trailer Codes and Conventions

The conventions of film trailers are a lot different and similar to the conventions of film opening sequences. 

Firstly, they both have to build tension to gain a mass audience. They do this in similar ways. This is done through low key lighting and close ups, so the audience aren't completely aware of the bankable actors. This keeps their attention directed running footage. 

depending on the genre of the trailer, they have different conventions. 

Horror film conventions include: blood,dramatic music, screaming women (to connote vulnerability) and low key lighting. 

Romantic film conventions include: good weather to connote happiness, bright colours, upbeat music, high key lighting, strong female leads and the colour pink.

Action film conventions include: fast paced music, low key lighting, quick cuts, a strong antagonist, loud music, pleonastic sound.

Trailer - Different Genres of Trailers and their Conventions

Different Genres of Trailers and their Conventions

Horror films conventions in trailers:low key lighting, starts off seemingly to be a happy film tricking the audience of the genre,pleonastic sound, pitch black, close ups, creaking floorboards,protagonist on edge, children,black, screaming, slapping, violence, giggling, power cuts,crosses, flash cuts, lightening, bright strobe lights, prosthetic, make up.  

Action film conventions in trailers: 

Pleonastic sound, bad weather to connote something difficult is going to happen, low key lighting to connote mystery, footlights to create mystery, dark coloured costumes with extrovert make up to create gore or effects, main antagonists and protagonists, over sized props, colour scheme consists of black, violence.

Comedy film conventions in trailers:

upbeat music, plain costumes,one liners, lots of colours,gags, slapstick,quick cuts, dramatic facial expressions, laughing.     

Fantasy film conventions in trailers: low key lighting to create mystery, shadows, quick cuts,violence, tense music which is loud, revolutionised weapons, prosthetics, powerful colours, lots of props and animation.    

Trailer - ideas

Ideas For Trailer

Idea 1

Someone slumped up against a wall, hands on their head. Audience hears a voice over of their story (an edited voice)
Then it cuts too scenes of what is happening/has happened to them to create the idea that is why they went missing.

Idea 2

Someone slumped against a wall with party invites all over the floor surrounding them. Could then cut to a bloody party invite.
Could cut to events before the party.
Then person seen wandering out and last seen.

Trailer - Genre Research

Genre Research

Films are put into different genres depending on common conventions. Each genre has a list of conventions that an audience would expect to see when watching the film. The film does not have to have all the conventions the genre labels, but it is likely to have a few of the obvious ones. Genres help to target a specific niche audience. 

Genres do change over time and can merge together to become hybrids. This means the genre of film is more than one. For example, Rom Com or Action Thriller. 

The conventions of the genre of film can be to do with: mood, period, setting, props, themes, plot, content, iconography, mise-en-scene. 

Some of the classic film genres are listed below:

• Action
• Thriller
• Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)
• Comedy
• Drama
• Horror
• War
• Western
• Musical
• Crime
• Adventure

Trailer - Market Researching

Research- Market Researching

This is another reason why I chose a Thriller, this is the feedback I got from the audience that did my questionnaire and also from my peers. 

Film Openings vs Film Trailers

Film Openings vs Film Trailers 

What is the difference between Film Opening Sequence and Film Trailers?

 An Opening sequence is the scenes at the beginning on a film- through the use of continuity editing so it makes sense. It typically includes some names of cast members and/or production team such as the director; it also includes the title of the film. This beginning of the film usually starts to build up the story, the tension and create an atmosphere, so the audience is compelled to watch the film. Whereas, a trailer is are various different, short, scenes from the movie, which is shown before a film is released, to promote the film so that a viewers can see what sort of things are going to happen. Trailers generally include the names of actors that will be in the movie, the production company logo and the release date. Film trailers are shorter than title sequences, so that they can be shown before feature films at a cinema, or between programmes on a television.