Analysing Existing Teaser Trailers

I Spit on Your Grave (2010)

Graphics

Right at the beginning of the trailer there is a bright green screen stating about how the "following preview has been approved for appropriate audiences" by the MPAA. This helps prove the trailers authenticity as well as ensure the user that its rating has been given correctly.

The graphics at the beginning of this trailer are for the films companies, Anchor Bay Films and CineTelFilms which have both taken part in the making of the film. Anchor Bay Films create many genres of films and series. Some of the horror films they have created include: A Horrible Way to Die (2011), The Crazies (2010) and Satan's Playground (2006). CineTelFilms only create a certain number of genres of films. One being horror they also make thrillers, actions and sci-fi films. Some of their horrors include: Hallowed Ground (2007), Smile (2009) and Furnace (2007).

Title Sequence

The title sequence in this teaser trailer is show just before the end of the trailer and matches the house style used throughout the trailer for the text and its backgrounds. The title sequence also has effects used that make the background fade and then unfade drawing the viewers eyes to the text.

Release Date

Instead of giving the audience a proper release date, the teaser trailer has instead just stated that the film is coming soon which helps create more of a buzz when it comes to revealing the films actual release date. The release date is also in the same house style used throughout, (white text on a dark, textured background which brightens up and then darkens back down). There is also the films website present on the release date text just under "Coming Soon" and either side of the website are logos that belong to the makers of the film which were also seen in the graphics at the beginning of the trailer.

Voice Over/Text

In this teaser trailer they have used text instead of a voice over to help elaborate the trailer and intrigue the viewer. The text starts after 22 seconds into the trailer and is then frequently shown until the end of the trailer with short, fast clips shown between the text which are shown a couple of seconds apart. Again, the text and backgrounds used are all the same throughout the trailer and the clips shown just before text is shown have effects that help the transition between the clip and the text.

Setting

The trailer for "I Spit on Your Grave" is mostly set in the dark, however some parts in the trailer are set during the day. All of the scenes shown are set in a remote place surrounded by trees. The trailer features the settings of a remote house which belongs to the victim, the woods, a lake, the villains house and what appears to be a barn, all of which you would typically see in a horror.

Narrative Devices

In the teaser trailer for "I Spit on Your Grave" the narrative devices used follows the familiar devices of conflict and dilemma as the woman (the heroine) is raped and left for dead by "the villains". The heroine then seeks revenge in order to defeat the villains.

Iconography

Iconography present in the teaser trailer consists of the remote house, the victim struggling and being raped and the weapons the heroine uses to defeat the villains (the bear trap, the bath tub, the rope and the hedge trimmers).

Themes
The fundamental themes for this teaser trailer consist of mainly the revenge the heroine desires against the villains, however there is also other fundamental themes of rape, fear and justice. I would say the general theme for this horror trailer would be Slasher, however I believe it is a reverse Slasher as instead of the villains going on a killing spree against the heroine, it is instead the other way round which has resulted in the creators of the film narrowing the margins between both the hero/heroine and the villain(s).

CharactersIn this teaser trailer there are the typical characters of the villains/evil characters and the main character. However while watching this trailer I noticed that even though the main character has been hunted down by the villains and raped, she in turn hunts down each villain one by one and kills them, which turns the roles of the characters around as the viewer starts to feel that the main character is a villain as well who seeks her revenge. Narrowing the margins between both the main character and the villains.

Costume and Makeup
The costumes used in the trailer consist of normal, everyday clothes that you would expect normal people to wear. However makeup has been used to make the characters look dirty and/or bloody.

Music
The music for I Spit on Your Grave starts off slow and quite but then gradually build up in both speed and volume until suddenly stopping just before the final clip.

Sound
The sound in this trailer is what I believe makes this trailer a successful trailer as although there is the use of music; the makers of the trailer have mostly used the original sounds of each clip along with sound effects in order to create suspense and intrigue the viewer. For example, at the beginning there is only the use of the outside sound of the night with crickets followed by creaking doors and footsteps inside the house which puts the viewer on edge ready for the unexpected.


References

From the internet:
http://www.youtube.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zU3U-9B3fE

Convensions of a Horror Teaser Trailer

Graphics
The graphics are normally always seen at the beginning of  both a teaser trailer and a theatrical trailer. They introduce what companies have created the movie by showing their signature introduction clips. Normally companies such as Lions Gate, MGM, Twisted Pictures and Legendary Pictures create horror movies which is why company names such as those mentioned are featured at the beginning of the trailer instead of companies like Disney or Pixar who are associated with kids movies. Some examples of these graphics are below:


Title Sequence
The title of the film in a horror teaser trailer is normally shown right at the end of the trailer so that the viewer watches the whole trailer and becomes interested in the film. Below is an example of transformers title sequence:


Release Date
This too is always shown at the end of a teaser trailer so the viewer watches the whole trailer before finding out the information they want to know. Normally in teaser trailers they normally say "Coming Soon" or "In Theaters Summer 2011" etc.

Voice Over/ Text
Teaser trailers either have a voice over which narrates over the trailer or they can have clips of writing which practically does the same thing but can have a different effect to the trailer. A voice over can help create suspense and drama where as text wont go over the top of eerie music and take away its dramatic effect.

Setting
The setting creates the mood of the horror. In a trailer the setting can either be in the day or night but preferably in the night for a horror trailer. There often in dark, creepy places. In order to help emphasis the fear the audience feels towards the trailer.
Some examples of where horrors can be set include: old mines, derelict houses, fields, a house in a normal neighbourhood, forest, sorority houses, university grounds, schools, old farm houses, butchers, lakes and the country side.

Narrative Devices
Horror is based upon conflict and dilemmas that the main characters endure. Traditionally in a horror the hero/heroine will defeat the evil one at the end. From the possible characters two are always involved in the trailer, the hero/heroine and the evil one.

Iconography
Iconography can be symbolic symbols/props which recur through the horror and their connotations help the viewer tell who is good and who is evil. These symbols/props include: the haunted house, symbols of death, the disfigured face/mask the screaming victim, the murder weapon (knife, meat cleaver, chainsaw, etc.), woods, cellars, blood and body parts.

Themes
Social themes in the horror genre are consistently similar. There is almost always this cause of conflict between the two character types. Fundamental themes can consist of repression, revenge, desires, tension, fear and anxieties. Some general themes in the horror genre consist of : slasher (Halloween 1978), vampire (Daybreakers 2009), zombie (Dawn of the Dead 1978), demonic possession (The Exorcist 1973), alien mind control (Aliens 1986), evil children (The Children 2008), cannibism (Silence of the Lambs 1991), werewolves (An American Werewolf in London 1981), animals attacking humans (Jaws 1975), psychological horror (The Shining 1980) etc.

Characters:
There are always two main characters we expect to see in a horror and they consist of:
The evil one-This character can be a a monster, a murderer, zombies, animals, a convict or even fate/death.
The main character- Can sometimes be a set of characters who are hunted down or haunted. In some horrors the main character or one of the main characters makes it to the end of the film and defeats the evil one.
Sometimes other characters are present in horrors and they can consist of:
The dumb character- This character is always the first one to die in order to entertain the audience.
The clever character- This character figures out the clues and how to escape the evil character.
The rescuer- Normally the one who helps out the main character(s) but can sometimes die after helping.

Costumes and Makeup
Costume and Makeup are used in almost every horror trailer depending on the content of the horror. They help construct the representation or the character as well as giving clues to the viewer through the use of colour and what it symbolizes.

Music
Music is vital to any horror trailer as well as film. Without the music the impact on the viewer is not the same. Most audiences will recognize the audio sequence in a horror which consists of a long eerie musical build-up of strings or horns as the victim, for example, approaches a closed door. The music helps create suspense, fear and tension to the audience and whenever the audience hears the build-up, they know that something is about to happen. There are different musical cues that most viewers can recognize during a film or trailer, such as, a long deep tone which would indicate tension or a rapid and bright sequence played by a set of strings which may indicate stress or panic. One of the most famous musical build-ups would be the Jaws theme tune which was played throughout the film whenever the shark was near and about to attack. (The video below is of the Jaws theme tune)


Sound
Sound is just as important as the music in a horror. When both the sound and music have combined they help make the audience jump and become they become scared (which is what all horror lovers want a horror to do). After the musical build-up (like the example in music above) a violent orchestral hit is played as the victim opens the door to encounter whatever is hidden behind it, for example.


References

from the interenet:http://www.slideshare.net/sophieyates/generic-conventions-of-a-teaser-trailer
http://www.slideshare.net/AdvancedPortfolio/horror-2977641
http://www.slideshare.net/shsgmedia/summing-up-horror
http://www.slideshare.net/Mediawork100/codes-and-conventions-of-a-horror-1372916

from a book:
AS&A2 Study Guide, Media Studies.

BBFC

The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) classifies films on behalf of the local authorities who license cinemas under the Licensing Act 2003.

The BBFC endeavours to classify submitted works in one of the following categories:

U/Universal - Suitable for all.
It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.

PG/Parental Guidence - General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.

 Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.

 12A/12 - Suitable for 12 years and over.

These categories are awarded where the material is suitable, in general, only for those aged 12 and over. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them. The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult.

15 - Suitable only for 15 years and over. 

No one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work.

18 - Suitable only for adults.

No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video.

After looking at these categories i have decided to create my horror trailer as a 15 which means i must stick to the guide lines shown below about what I can and can't show in my teaser trailer.

References

from the interenet:
www.bbfc.co.uk