Target Audience

The target audience that our film will be targeted at is 15. Therefore we must consider the incidence and what we are allowed to include in the trailer.

Factors which must be considered are:

• Discrimination
• Drugs
• Violence 
• Sex
• Nudity
• Language
• Horror

Other Horror films which fall into tis certificate are;

• Fright Night
• Jennifer's Body
• The Roommate

The Idea

For media we have been assigned into groups, the group I am in is with Imogen and Chelsea. The idea which me and my group have come up with for our horror trailer is to base it around the fellow horror, Obsessed. The main plot we are going to portray is a group of freshers which have just recently moved into an student house. One of our characters is known to be psychotic, however her fellow flat mates are unaware of this.

We also took inspiration from the comedy series, Fresh Meat which is broadcasted on Channel 4.

Our trailer would include three main scenes which will be from our movie and other snippets of events of her psychotic behavior which will occur during the process of characters acknowledging her psychotic phase. We have thought up the characters which we plan to use and how they will be able to contribute.

Character Research

Throughout films there are often common characters which are used, this allows the audience to determine the genre of the film. This allows the audience to have a clear idea of the story line which occurs in the film. Examples of characters which could be found within films are; the wander, the popular girl, jock, the final girl, pandora and the pervert.

The Wander
-This character often is included in most scenes. This character tends to put themselves in situations which they find difficult to overcome. However, sometimes they tend to escape from their situations. These type of characters may be seen as weak.
(e.g in Sorority Row  Claire(Jamie Chung)

The popular girl
-The popular girl is know to have 'sidekicks' also known as 'bitches' these people abide by what is said by the popular girl and what they are told to. The popular girl is seen as top of the hierarchy and often there is another character which attempts to challenge this.
(e.g in Sorority Row jessica (Leah pipes)

The Jock
-The jock is seen as a popular male athlete which often attracts many females. The jock are often made out to be unintelligent. They are also ripped and often self centred

The final girl
-The final girl is a character who is able to stay alive till the end. This character often has more intelligence than the other characters. The final girl will often face an in counter with the villain and will attempt to confront them in some sort of way.
(e.g in Sorority Row Cassidy (Briana Evigan)

The pervert
- The pervert often tends to sexually harass or stalk a female character. The pervert character is often lustful and desires the females.
(e.g in Sorority Row Mikey (Maxx Hennard)

Postmodern Theory

Postmodernist film challenges the mainstream conventions of narrative structure and characterization. It is also able to destroys the audience's suspension of belief to create a work in which a less-recognizable internal logic forms the film's means of expression.

Some features of post modern films:

1. They don't pretend to be wholly works, and often draw attention to the fact they are in fact fictitious. An example is when characters stop and talk directly to the audience.
2. They purposely mix genres and will borrow form music videos, TV animation and other forms.
3. They often tend to refer to other films, which is known as inter-textuality.
4.  They often re-arrange or disrupt strict linear narratives, instead of using circular narratives and open ended closures.
5. They sometimes have stories within stories or also films within films.
6. They often involve characters that feel disconnected or alienated from their environment and distrust authorities. 

Genres:

• Pastiche- self-referential, tongue-in-cheek (e.g Scary Movie)
• Flattening of affect- violence, drugs, emotionless, unauthentic lives, technology (e.g Fight Club)
• Hyper reality- technologically created realities are often more authentic or desirable than the real world (e.g Inception)
• Time bending- time travel provides another4 way to shape reality and play 'what if' games with society (e.g 12 monkeys) 
• Altered states- drugs, mental illness and technology provide a dark, often psychedelic, gateway to new internal realities (e.g Naked lunch)
• More human than human- artificial intelligence, robotics and cybernetics seek to enhance or replace humanity (e.g Avatar)

Fight Club

This film may be seen as a classic example of postmodernist theory. In the film fight club there is a use of an narrator throughout the film, the narrator used is the main protagonist, which is another use of postmodern concept. The narrator is also the main protagonist, and throughout the film we see the journey which he goes on from being depressed to turning into a violent psychopath. Another feature which is included in this film is the characters involved with the 'fight club' feel disconnected from society and their environment. Therefore they result in form their own 'society' and taking a stand. The dark colour scheme usede throughout the film represents and provides the audince with the impression that it is going to be violent as well as scary film. 

Analysis of Scream 4

The next trailer which I will be closely analysing is Scream 4.

Mise-en-scene

The trailer opens with several shots which portrays the characters emotions. These shots seem to be set in an usual setting such as; living rooms, bedrooms, school corridors and busy streets. These shots are able to represent that the events likely to take place are able to occur to any one. As the trailer progresses we several more sots which are set in a school location and characters houses. The characters are dressed in normal clothing, which is able to give the sense of normality and portray that the events is likely to occur to anyone. However, the 'villan' appears to be clearly identified as they are dressed in black with a ghost mask. There are a few props within the trailer which are used effectively. A prop which is very significant is the blade which ghost-face killer caries. This blade is significant as this is the weapon used to kill victims, we are aware of this as they are sever shots which highlight a murder.


Lighting

Throughout this scene there is a use of natural lighting which runs throughout the trailer in settings such as: schools, bedrooms or even outdoors. However a significant lighting feature that is present after the disruption is the use of red light filters. This type of lighting is used during what we believe will be an explosion to ghost-face victims and during an execution of an victim. This choice colour is able as red is a significant colour representing blood.

Sound


Camera angles/ shot types/ framing/ movement  

During the opening of the trailer there are several close up shots of characters. This use of these shots is able to allow the audience to feel and share the emotion felt by that character. All characters used during this sequence appear to be experiencing a sense of shock, worry or fear. As the trailer progresses there is a use of an two shot which allows the audience to visualise the relationship between the two characters as they appear to be consulting fellow peers. The use of an long shot allows he audience to acknowledge the setting. Near the end of the trailer there is a long shot taken from an high angle. This shot allows the victims below to seem inferior and displays the power and significance the bomb has.

 
Editing

The trailer begins with a slow pace editing and uses a number of fade cuts which is able to introduce characters and allow the audience to visualise their emotion. After the disruption has been recognised the editing picks up and we are presented with rapid cuts display ghost-face seeking his victims. During the end of the clip a montage is constructed, presenting a range of clips involving panic, which is able to create suspense and draw the audience in.

Typography

The typography used in the trailer is able to narrate the story and provide the audience with a backdrop. The font used is white and bold, however the last words appear in red which may sybolise their faint, meaning it will end in death.

Analysis of Jennifer's Body- Gender Representation

Mise-en-scene


The first shot used to open the trailer is of Jennifer swimming in the lake nude. This type of shot presents the protagonist as an sexual figure, attracting the male audience. We are presented Jennifer as sexual through the various close up and mid shots used to display her expression and emotions. As the trailer progresses we see Jennifer wearing very feminine clothing and colours. we see a clip during the equilibrium of Jennifer in her cheer leading outfit, which revels her legs. The mise-en-scene is also able to show Jennifer as feminine through her pink earrings and pink jumper.

Lighting


We see two types of lighting used during this trailer. When the protagonist is the 'High School Sweat Heart' and during the equilibrium it is brightly lit and natural lighting is used throughout. The protagonist is able to stand out due to the bright coloured clothing she wears. However soon as there is a disruption and it is recognised it is darkly lit and a lot of low key lighting.

Sound


The choice of dialogue used by the protagonist is also seen to be sexually suggestive, by the tone of her voice and body language. We see the protagonist say to a male character "Do you want it". This choice of words is also accompanied by the actions of Jennifer unzipping her top.  The protagonist also says things such as, "I go both ways". This presents Jennifer as sexually open as well as sexually active.

Camera angles/ Shot types/ Framing/ Movements


There are numerous shots and camera angles used which are able to present the protagonist as sexual. These shots which may be seen through the male gaze and is able to support Laura Mulvey's suggestions. There are a number of close up shots used which present the protagonist as sexual, through the seductive expression she has. An effective shot is the extreme close up used to portray Jennifer about to kiss Needy. This shows the protagonist to be sexually active with females as well as men.

Editing


There is a link used through the editing and the lighting. These two techniques are able to work parallel as the editing begins slow during the equilibrium and begins to pick up paces as soon as there is a disruption and it has been recognised. At the start of the trailer there are three fade shots which are used during the slow pace editing. These shots are able to present Jennifer as a desirable object and sexual. Jennifer is able to stand out amongst her fellow peers.

Mulvey's Male Gaze- Audience Theory

• The Male gaze was a term used by Laura Mulvey in her essay 'Visual Pleasures and Narrative Cinema' during 1975
• This term was used by Laura Mulvey as she believed she saw the male point of view (POV) adopted by the camera to benefit male audiences
• Laura Mulvey views the practise of the camera lingering on women's bodies as evidence that women were being viewed as sexual objects
• Mulvey believed majority of the central active characters were male, and see along with male audience females as passive
• She also believed that female audience were also positioned with the 'male gaze', seeing the world through their eyes

However since Laura Mulvey's essay was written changes in representation of women have resulted in fundamental challenges to stereotypical gender roles

for example:

• Kill Bill Vol. 2 (Quentin Tarantino 2004)
• Tomb Raider
• Charlie's Angles

Analysis of Filth to Ashes Flesh to Dust

Mise-en-scene

The setting for the film is based on an deserted location, with the combination of an outdoor location and a studio used to film the inside scenes. this is able to set the scene and portray what type of horror the viewers are likely to expect. The use of an deserted place for the exterior is able to create an sense of isolation and dark mysterious events are about to take place. The same applies for the set used to film for the indoor scenes, it appears to be a warehouse which is dark and has lots of damaged parts with dark corners.

The women characters used in the film are seen to be dressed and presented sexually. This is common in horror films as they are also likely to be the victims. However, a contrast is present as we see one female character reloading a gun in the later stages of the trailer. During the trailer hand props are used and carefully selected shots are sued to show the significance and importance it has. 

Lighting


the trailer began brightly lit with natural lighting. However this lighting method is soon adapted due to the events occurring. The use of low key lighting runs throughout the duration of the trailer and is able to reflect the tone of the film. The use of low key lighting is able to create shadows and not display a characters face. A blue filter is also used frequently throughout the film. The use of this was able to create a sense of coldness. 

Sound


Non- digetic sound is present throughout the trailer. The sound begins slow but soon picks up the pace as there is a disruption to the equilibrium. However the Non-getic sound will always become quieter as there is a significant piece of digetic sound, such as: Knife slash' gun reloading, heaving breathing, screaming, crying etc...

Camera angles/ shot types/ framing/ movement


The main shot used through this trailer are close ups. The close up shot is used mainly of the victim to show the fear they face. The use of these shots allow the audience to share the emotion felt by the characters and feel drawn in. Tracking shots are also used to follow the characters movements and allow the audience to experience the panic felt by the character. A lot of shots used in the trailer are handheld shots. The use of this allows the audience to experience and have a POV of the character.









Editing


The editing works parallel to the Non-digetic sound used in the trailer. As the music begins to quicken so does the length and speed of the clips. The use of this technique is able to build suspense and create the tension needed. The use of fades is also used, during the trailer. The shot fades from text to darkness before the next shot is displayed. This technique is able to emphasise the genre of the film and display "dark" events taking place.






Typography


The text displayed on the screen is able to narrate and provide the audience with information on what may take place in the film. The font used is also able to complement the choice of lighting as a blackbackground is used alongside with blue font, also suggesting coldness. 

Narrative Theory- Vladimir Propp's Theory of Narrative

This theory was brought about from the work of Russian Formalists from the 1920s.  Vladimir Propp came up with the thought that characters were able to adopt the role of "spheres of action". After an intenese nalysation of folk-tales Propp came up with seven different character types:

• The Hero, often male, restores the narrative equilateral often by embarking upon an quest.  
• The Villain, usually creates the narrative disruption.
• The Donor, is able to provide the hero with something that resolves the narrative
• The Helper, aids the hero in the task of restoring equilibrium. 
• The Princess, usually character most threatened by the villain and has to be saved.
• The Dispatcher, sends the hero on their required tasks
• The False Hero, is made to seem good but is revealed at the narratives end to be bad.

In class we worked in groups and had to come up with a film and put characters into each type. In my group we discussed Rush Hour and below is all characters in each type.

Rush Hour (1998)

• The Hero- Detective Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan)
• The Villain- Sang (Ken Leung)
• The Donor- Johnson (Elizabeth Pena)
• The Helper- Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) 
• The Princess- Soo Yung (Julia Hsu)
• The Dispatcher- Consol Han (Tzi Ma)
• The False Hero- Juntao (Tom Wilkinson) 

Features of Multimodal Texts

Multi-modal texts are important in the running of the media. A film trailer is an example of a multi-modal text as they are able to make an meaning through a combination of different modes of communication. During a film trailer there are many different things happening at the same time.

Features of Multi-modal text are;

• Written text in screen
• spoken language
• Moving images
• Sound effects
• Music

Below is an example of the features of a multi-modal texts in The silent house





The start of the trailer begin with the distriutor and production company present on the screen. This is able to give information of the involvements with the film. There are also various typography which is present throughout the film which is able to make the audience aware of the genre and the base of the film. "Laura and her father", "have to fix up their old house" "But before the night is over". There is not much spoken language in the trailer as a lot of typography is used to make the audience aware and draw them in. However, the basic is used to allow the audience to be aware of the characters involved, such as "Papa". The trailer begins with a peaceful non-digetic sound which soon alters as the action begins. As every piece of typography appears on the screen we hear a new piece of Non-digetic sound.