History of Film Trailers

Film trailers have always been the main selling point of any new film that is to be released. Film trailers have undergone incredible changes over the years to get the audience always gripped and wanting to actually see the film. Trailers have also adapted in the technologies they use from simply the use of colour to now where the majority of the trailer is in CGI (computer generated imagery). There are two main types of film trailer, the promotional trailer which is often short and is simply used to sell the film or promote it, there is also a theatrical trailer which is usually longer and contains a lot more information and we can pick much more up from it.

One of the earliest trailers that was released was the 1937 Walt Disney film Snow White. Throughout this trailer there is a heavy use of large text put on screen which conforms to the stereotypical 'bigging up' of the film "nothing ever like it'. Also, throughout the entirety of the trailer, there is no use of any clips or segments of the film, but instead pictures and clips of Walt Disney himself describing the film and why he is so happy with it. This style would never be used in the modern day film industry as companies now thrive of hinting story lines and showing clips of the film.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kWr9e4JN5I

Just over 20 years later, Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho was a wholly original and experimental method of how a trailer could be different to the conventional ones of that time. In this trailer, the audience is shown around the Bates Motel by Hitchcock himself to give us a feel for how it looks. Unusually, this trailer is 6 and a half minutes long, with the end of it being the famous shower scene where the curtain is pulled back and the woman screams. This clip would give the audience something to be intrigued by.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grOrDB4_8Pk

Another key trailer comes from 1977 which Star Wars: A New Hope. This trailer was instrumental in being one of the first trailers of its time that featured its special effects that were considered way ahead of its time in a major role as the vast majority of clips of the film were highlighting its technological capabilities. However by now its use of a voice over was now seen as common and it also still used large text to advertise the film further.

The main development in trailers since has been the use of music that is now seen as a necessity in film trailers as well as further use of CGI. Also in modern trailers there use of music that is fitting to the trailer and music that helps to create an atmosphere within the trailer, as well as small snippets of scenes to leave us wanting more, often the best scenes are shown in the trailer to make the audience want more.

Summarising Blake Snyder's ten types of movies

Blake Snyder is a screenwriter who has sold many of his spec scripts to various distributors and production companies and made millions of dollars from it. A screenwriting manual he has written, Save the Cat, has sold millions of copies worldwide. There is a section in this manual in which Snyder describes the 10 different types of movies out there and has examples of films which would fit into each category or genre.

Monster in the House: This genre is where films like Jaws, Tremors, Alien, The Exorcist, Fatal Attraction and Panic Room would fit into. The name "Monster in the House" refers to the suspense built throughout the film and jump scares that they provide when the so-called 'monster' appears.

Golden Fleece: This type of film is where the main character aims for one thing but ends up discovering a different thing: himself. A lot of rests on how the character changes as the film goes on and the actual aim that he or she sets out for becomes secondary.  Examples of these films include Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, Back to the Future and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. 

Out of the Bottle: These films usually centre around wish fulfilment and how a character, usually down on their luck, find themselves in bizarre situations because they have wished about something that they never thought would happen. Examples of these type of films include Bruce Almighty, Liar Liar and Freaky Friday.

Dude With a Problem: This type of film is usually based around a seemingly ordinary  character who have been put in circumstances that require them to dig deep down inside themselves to discover that they have a lot potential to do more. Films like this include Die Hard, Schindler's List and Dude, Where's My Car?.

Rites of Passage: This genre is usually about change and how the characters come to deal with these changes in their lives. A lot of these changes vary depending the age of the character, including puberty, divorce and death among many other things. Films included in this category are American Pie, Ordinary People and 10.

Buddy Love: This is a very universal and relatable genre as it is much like everyday life with a best friend or even a couple in a relationship. Usually, they encounter something that may end this relationship but ultimately end up stronger because they have fought past it. Films like this include Ted, Rain Man and Lethal Weapon.

Whydunit: Unlike the Golden Fleece genre, the Whydunit isn't about the hero changing, its about the audience discovering something about human nature that they didn't think was possible before the "crime" was committed and the "case" begin. The audience are forced to ask themselves why we had to do whatever we did. Films like this include Chinatown, Citizen Cane and Mystic River.

The Fool Triumphant: This genre focuses on an underdog-type character who rises up and becomes triumphant. Many of these stories involve luck and hope and how the character lives through everyday when people underestimate his or her abilities. Notable examples are Forrest Gump, The Pursuit of Happiness and Being There.

Institutionalized: This type of film is usually about a group of characters and how one of them tries to expose the group as something else but ultimately lose their identity to the group. Prominent example include Reservoir Dogs, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and The Godfather.

Superhero: This is the opposite of 'Dude With a Problem.' The character is an extraordinary being who finds themselves exposed to the ordinary world. A lot of other characters challenge these 'superheroes' because they are envious of their power but ultimately they realise it is best that these superheroes are a benefit to them. Notable examples of this genre are X-Men, Spiderman, Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind.

Trailer Terminology with definition

A trailer is a series of selected shots from a certain film that is being released in the near future. Trailers are used to entice the public so they usually use some of the best shots contained within the film: albeit explosions for an action film, or the funniest scenes for a comedy, to make the film seem great and to entice the audience. A trailer has a time limit which it cannot exceed in order for it to be shown in theaters which is two and a half minutes. Once a year however, studios or distributors are allowed to exceed this time if they feel it is necessary for the film.

Plot Summary:
Many trailers have a "three act structure" similar to a feature film. Act 1, the beginning, starts outs with establishing the premise of the story. Act 2, the middle, drives the story further and usually ends with a dramatic climax. Act 3 usually features a prominent piece of "signature music" which is usually recognisable. This then leads up to the last act which is almost always a visual montage of memorable moments which will feature in the film but may also contain a cast run of famous actors that help sell the film.

Voice-over:
A voice-over narration is commonly used in trailers in order to set up the premise of the movie and provide explanation when necessary which will make the trailer easier to comprehend.

Music:
Music is a vital part in a trailer because it adds tone and sets the mood. The music is usually not from the film itself because it has not entered post-production yet and the score has not been composed. Therefore, the music used in the trailer can be music from the score of other movies, popular music which is chosen to match the tone of the film, "library" music previously composed to be used in advertising, specially composed music or songs such as knock-offs of recognisable songs.

Cast, crew, and studio information:
A cast run is a list of the stars that appear in the movie. This can also be the same for the director or producer if they are well known and have made successful movies throughout their career. A billing block is used in the majority of trailers which shows a list of the principal cast and crew who worked on the movie. This can appear either at the start or end of the movie and tends to be the same list seen on posters or print publicity materials of the film. Studio production logos are usually featured at the beginning of the trailer whereas in the late 1970's, they were only put on the end of the trailer.

Technical elements:
Video resolution: Trailers are usually presented in the same way as the feature film, whether it is in 35mm film or a digital format. Improvements in internet connection means that many trailers can be distributed at resolutions up to 1080p HD quality.
Sound Mix: most movie trailers are presented in Dolby Digital or another multichannel sound mix. Stereophonic sound enhances any sound effects or music, which makes it one of the focus points of modern trailers.

Brief

For A2, the task is to create a trailer, using original ideas and lots of planning including storyboards, pitch, shot lists, chapter sheets for takes, running order of shots/scenes, poster mock-up and magazine front cover mock up.