Below are nine still images taken from my horror teaser trailer, within our trailer we tried to include the man characters and showed some of the key settings for our film. We also tried to put a clear understanding of the storyline in for the audiences so that they could get an idea of what the film was about and so that it attract the adience that we interested in the horror genre. However, we didn't want to put too much in so that it wasn't a teaser trailer. The teaser trailer is only a snippet of a few clips just to get the audiences interested and to know that the film is coming out.
Using the website Flickr, I was able to add annotations to each image to describe how we use the connventions of horror in our teaser trailer. Please click the images to read my analyses.
Above are three direct comparisons to of our film to other teaser trailers.
The top images show the window scene, I think that these are effective. I prefer our darker still image because it adds to the mystery and you wouldn't expect anything to jump out at you. However, the lighter one is also good becuase you wouldn't expect to see something in the day time so it is more of a shock.
The second image are similar because it is an extreme close up of the eye. The close up creates tension and fear but also the the use of torches and lighting effects it creates shadows or highlights certain areas.
The last images are set in a graveyard, ours is a a darker setting but to blend in our trailer we need to make it alot darker as it is still too bright but we have the same effect of the as the seeting is a convention of horror.
Below are nine still images form existing horror trailers, such as 'Break' 2009, 'Seed' and 'House of Fears' 2007. I picked these images because I liked, either liked the way in which it shows a horror or it is similar to my horror teaser trailer.
Above shows conventions of the horror genre, because of the close up view of the character who appears to be the 'final girl', also the facial expression and blood on her torn clothing. The blurry, forest background creates tension and fearto the still image. The shot could aslo be a point of view shot of the monster looking at the victim.
This still image shows a woman in pain, it is clear to see this through her facial expression. The setting of the forest is a convention of horror. The blood stains on her face could mean thatthe film is a gore/horror.
This image appears as though it is a isolated place, which is a convention in setting of horror. The use of red lighting in the background could connote danger because a monster/demon is behind him, or it could mean fear or blood. Low key lighting creates an emphasis on shadows, the lighting in the background on the monster makes him stand out.
Above is a close up of the face and the viewer pays particular attention to the eye of the woman. The eye appears to show the woman in fear/distressed. Camerawork is a big part in creating the horror genre, normally the camera is canted to create a mystical feel. From this close up it is unclear to see if the women is leaningagainst a wall or whether she is laying down and the image has been turned, to give an unexpected view.
This is an extreme close up of the eye. Close ups and extreme close ups are commonly used in horror films to create suspence and fear, as you can not see beyond the picture, meaning eye line match edits can be used to create tension. The camera angle creates fear, also in this image you can tell it is from a horror film due to the amount of blood on the face and low key lighting.
The bright light shining into the camera gives the view as if the viewer is the monster, POV shot watching someone who is vunerable. A high angle creates more tension in the still image as the woman look small and weak.
I liked this image because it is extremely dark, which creates an eery feel and complies with the conventions of the horror genre. The silhouette of the two figures could be a POV shot as if the viewer is the monster looking at victims walking away. The figures appear to be in a graveyard and are close together which should be showing fear between then and creating tension to the viewer.
Another high angle shot, once again show vunerablity of the woman as she appears small and weak. To the left of her are chains hanging down, could they be used to for death? The expression that the woman has on her face also shows that she is scared of something, but because she is looking out of the screen it builds up tension because we, the viewer are unable to see what she can.
Second shot notes say CU face but it's ECU eye - much better for horror!
ReplyDeleteSpelling - "scene" not "scence" - please change.
Lots of work here and lots of good points. Double check against your big A3 sheet with horror conventions categorised into setting, tech code, iconography, narrative, character types and themes, then see if you can add further discussion of any of these. Also you have focused on your text AS HORROR but you also need to explore it AS ADVERTISING - ie as a teaser trailer. For example what elements of the narrative did you withhold and what elements did you decide to reveal? Why? Do you enable identification with a protagonist enough? How did you use intertitles to generate that feeling of being carried along and into the story? How did you use sound to generate a feeling of buildup etc etc