Film Trailer Conventions
Sebastian Hallett
The Purpose of a Film Trailer
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To draw in and attract the films target audience and other niche audiences by
teasing them with clips from the film. Teasers are only supposed to hint at
narratives, they are not supposed to give too much away. This makes the audience
want to go and see the movie.
The trailer is used to establish the genre so their target audience can clearly see
what it involves and if it is their ‘cup of tea’ or not. This is important for your
audience.
The trailer needs to hint at character types, narratives and the main action of the
film. Without giving too much away. This is so the audience get excited and feel
they have to go and see the whole film.
Finally to show actors, film reviews and recognised studios. This helps sell the film
to the audience. For example if your film has ‘Matt Damon’ as the main character,
many more people will be interested compared to if you have an up and coming
unknown actor.
Conventions of a trailer
• Genre: The genre is clearly established throughout the trailer to entice the
target audience.
• Hybrid Genre: A hybrid genre is a movie with the best conventions of two
genres in order to make a ‘hybrid film’ such as a rom com. These films
offer greater iconography to help establish genre or perhaps will keep the
niche audience guessing.
• Finally to establish the genre through it’s iconography. In our film we have
a ‘femme fetale’ as our main protagonist and she will be wearing a
bracelet throughout the film and maybe a sword in which she kills her
victims. This is key iconography. We took this influence from Kill Bill.
Trailer Narrative Structure
The 3 act structure conventionally looks like this:
• Part 1 starts off with the equilibrium (a state of normality) being introduced as well as
the characters. The life of the main character is balanced and normal at this point.
• Part 2 of the trailer hints at the dis-equlibrium, which shows the balance being
disrupted by the antagonist (conventionally).
• Part 3 of the trailer hints and shows clips of the resolution of the narrative without
giving too much away. For example the protagonist beating the antagonist and
restoring world peace.
More on Narrative..
• Not all trailers will follow Todorov’s theory of narrative structure. This is
because the directors want to break conventions in order for their film to
stand out. A good example of this is 28 Days Later. Which hints at part 2
and 3 before part 1. this is very much a postmodern idea although very
effective.
• Our film ‘The Hunter’ will follow Todorov’s theory on narrative, however
we intend to have a postmodern spin on it. We are not too sure how at
the moment but our narrative order may be changed as our ideas progress
over time.
Other Conventions include:
o Narration: a voice over anchors the key points of the narrative or
characterisation within the film. Often using a powerful, dramatic
tone. Key characters can do the voice over for example ‘Turkish’
from Snatch is doing the voice over in the trailer.
o Title: The title usually appears at the end of the trailer this is so it
sticks in the audiences’ memory. Text helps anchor key meanings of
the narrative or characterisation. E.g. 28 Days and Snatch.
o Director/studio/reviews: The Director is usually mentioned if
considered an ‘auteur’ or successful such as Quentin Tarantino. This
can work as a selling point of a film.
o Sound: the sound helps set the mood using non diegetic ambient
soundtracks and effects. Often complimented by an original or
recognisable soundtrack. E.g. Jackie Brown-Blaxpoitation.
o Cast: The stars usually feature early in the trailer helping the
audience decide how appealing it is. Starring… Brad Pitt etc.
Trailer Analysis
Sin City
Sin City is a crime thriller film which explores
the dark and miserable town, Basin City, and
tells the story of three different people, all
caught up in violent corruption.
Narrative: Character Types
Bruce Willis – Hartigan is
the anti hero
Benicio del Toro – Jack
Rafferty is an Antagonist
Sin City involves a wide
range of character types
from protagonists to
damsel in distresses’
Because this film is a
dystopian film with many
postmodern elements
each character has an
edgy side and some
characters are hard to
determine if they are
good or bad by just
watching the trailer alone.
Clive Owen – Dwight
McCarthy is a
protagonist in the film
Devon Aoki – ‘Miho’ is a
Femme Fetale in the film
Trailer Narrative Structure
• Sin City is very much a dystopian film with postmodern element,
throughout both the trailer and the film itself it is constantly breaking
conventions in order to help the film stand out and maintain it’s
postmodern twist.
• The trailer doesn’t follow a structure like conventional films do, it breaks
Todorov’s theory of a 3 act structure. The trailer maintains a negative
dystopian feel throughout without following a certain structure this is a
convention of many dystopian films.
• The Trailer hints at; Narrative, genre and characters in mainly negative and
dark situations this is good for the audience because they can pick out the
important information and realise who are the main characters and what
the story and narrative will include.
Camera and Mise en Scene
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The trailer uses a lot of postmodern conventions as it is a
dystopian film for example, the whole trailer is shown in
black and white with certain aspects highlighted in red such
as women's lipstick. This is an effective way in order to help
important parts of the film to stand out.
The black and white scenes, low key lighting and the
guns/costumes which are used help establish the generic
iconography for the trailer. The low key lighting gives a
strong hint to the 1940’s film noir era.
The costumes used by each character help establish the
genre of the film for example the long dark coats and
outfits the men wear to show their mysterious ways which
helps them to stay disguised from whatever it is they are
running from.
The sets are very effective in establishing the extremely
different and bleak underworld which the characters live in.
Finally there are a lot of close up shots throughout the
trailer, this helps show character types and their expression
which is effective in helping the audience piece together
the narrative.
Editing
• The trailer includes both slow motion and quick cut editing in order to
match with the speed of the non diegetic backing track, and also to offer
the film more postmodern techniques. This helps draw in the audience.
• The editing has been influenced by film noir which can be clearly seen as it
is in black and white with a mixture of fast and slow editing techniques.
• The trailer includes still frame shots which involve titles in order to explain
to the audience certain important information and to help keep the
narrative moving whilst explaining certain aspects. Without this the trailer
won’t make sense. This is a postmodern twist and we hope to include
some of these techniques in our film ‘The Hunter’ as Sin City is one of our
big influences.
• An antagonist in the trailer seems to have a golden eye whilst the rest of
the clips are in black and white. This shows how significant it is to the
audience.
Sound
• Non diegetic sound –
The backing track which is an example of non diegetic sound has a fast pace
to it which is matched by the editing. The fast music helps set the pace and
hints well at the genre which is important for the audience.
Other non diegetic sounds include gun shots and exaggerated fight scenes
which again helps the audience determine the genre.
A voice over is also included by one of the antagonists this is very effective for
the audience who can pick up character types and helps explain parts of the
narrative to the audience which is accompanied with a mixture of scenes
from the film.
• Diegetic Sound –
The diegetic sound in the trailer includes dialogue from key characters both
antagonists and protagonists this is important for the trailer as keys quotes
and information can be shown to the audience, easily. It also shows who the
main characters are and how significant they are for the narrative.
Trailer Analysis
Snatch – British Crime
Snatch (200) is a comedy/crime hybrid film. It uses generic iconography and
stereotypes from crime films in the 1960’s, crime capers, spaghetti western.
Using influences from 1980 gritty gangland and heist movies. The director is Guy
Richie and he uses postmodern elements and ideas including high art editing and
challenging narrative themes.
Narrative: Character Types
Antagonist:
Brick top –
British Gang
Leader
Stereotype
Protagonist and Helper:
Turkish (on the right) and
Tommy (on the left) they
are both Anti Heroes.
Antagonist:
Cousin Avi –
American gang
leader
stereotype
Helper:
Mickey – Gypsy (Pikey)
stereotype turns hero
Trailer Narrative Structure
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The trailer follows Todorov’s narrative structure ,ideas and conventions. It contains
both equilibriums and disruption of equilibriums:
Part 1: part 1 of the trailer introduces both the characters and the narrative which
is a diamond heist. This is the equilibrium. Turkish is doing a voice over during this
part of the trailer which clearly shows him as the main character to the audience.
Turkish is also linked through a separate parallel plot of a boxing match.
Part 2: part 2 of the trailer includes the disruption of equilibrium. The Disruption is
two fold highlighted with key texts ‘where is the stone’ and ‘your going down’
hinting at a rigged fight, showing a montage of action shots from the movie.
Part 3: The last part involves the cast, they are individually introduced using
certain clips from the film, It uses a spaghetti western influence, graphic sequence
with further hints at attempts to ‘fix’ the disrupted equilibrium.
Camera and Mise en Scene
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This trailer uses many postmodern conventions for example; skewed framing.
Which gives a sense of unease within the narrative and the characters.
The props establish the generic iconography.
The costumes used throughout by each character helps establish the genre and
obvious stereotypes used in the narrative. This again tests postmodern notions
and challenges representations
Throughout both the trailer and the film the lighting is kept at low key levels,
giving the film a ‘noir-ish’ quality. Hinting at 1940’s film noir.
Uses a lot of close up shots to help show negative almost scared expression of the
characters at some points.
The sets used help establish the bleak underworld which the characters live in.
This helps explain and piece together the narrative – Illegal bare knuckle boxing
arenas.
Editing
• Postmodern editing used throughout the trailer to draw in the audience.
Time remapping is used to accentuate action scenes and excite
audiences. Many still frame shots are used as an anti narrative device to
highlight key frame in the action. They are also coupled with film noir ish
voice over, by the main character ‘Turkish’, to drive key narrative points in
order to help and explain to the audience.
• The Still frames are used to introduce characters, this is accompanied with
heavy stylised graphics. Spaghetti western fonts are used when naming
the actors/characters. Which finally is accompanied with a soundtrack.
Sound: Diegetic and Non Diegetic..
• Voice Over – the voice over is carried out by the key protagonist, Turkish.
This is to set the narrative, theme and plot of the movie. Turkish is a
cheeky cockney drawl. This helps the audience establish the ‘crime caper’
element of the film and is key in understanding the characters.
• Non diegetic sound effects such as ‘fast rewind’ are used as the visuals
and editing speeds up this is so they match on screen, it make it look a lot
better and natural.
• The backing track has a fast pace to it. The remixed dance music helps
drive the action and sets the frenetic pace.
• The diegetic sound involves dialogue from key characters hinting at plots
and sub plots, this helps drive the narrative and draw the audience.
Trailer Analysis
Kill Bill is an American action/thriller (hybrid) film. Directed and written by Quentin
Tarantino. The film involves a women who is looking for vengeance and will do
anything until she get’s what she wants. The film is full of postmodern ideas and
breaks the usual conventions constintly.
Narrative – Character Types
Beatrix Kiddo aka
The Bride is the
protagonist of the
film.
Bill (Snake
Charmer) is the
main Antagonist of
the film
Finally Pai Mei the
Helper. He trained
Beatrix and taught her
the ways of Kung Fu.
O-Ren Ishii (Cottonmouth) is
another Antagonist of the
movie and is on Beatrix’s list
of people to kill
Narrative Structure
• Kill Bill has a fragmented narrative structure which is the same for most of
Tarantino’s films. The film goes against Todorov’s conventions which
include; Equilibrium, disequilibrium and equilibrium (again). This film
starts of bad which is unconventional and a postmodern spin on
conventions. The film starts of with a wedding massacre which leaves the
bride (Beatrix) seeking revenge of the man (Bill) who shot her in the head
whilst she was pregnant with her child. The film is a great example of a
postmodern film because the narrative goes against usual film
conventions. This makes Kill Bill stand out and controversial.
Camera and Mise en Scene
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Costume – The lead character ‘Beatrix’ wears a yellow jump suit which is
unconventional as this is usually been seen as a male Chinese or Japanese martial
art/taekwondo outfit. Perhaps worn by Bruce Lee.
Low key lighting used at most points to help fit with the genre of the movie hints
at having ‘noir-ish’ quality. Opening shots in black and white links into dark
narrative. Helps hints at genre, this is unconventional.
Close up shots to show each characters emotions , this helps the audience identify
who the protagonist and antagonists are by facial expressions and scenarios.
Skewed framing at times gives a postmodern sense of unease in the narrative.
Props such as the samurai sword help establish the generic iconography.
Editing
• The editing contains examples of both slow motion and fast
pace shots in order to show the audience variety of what the
film involves and so the audience will appeal to it. To include
both slow motion and fast pace is unconventional because
trailers usually contain none or one of two options. To use
both is a postmodern spin. The editing matches the pace and
tempo of the backing track this links in with non-diegetic
sound ideas.
Sound
• A short voice over of one of the culprit's saying she deserves her revenge,
whilst he is talking clips of her training are on going. This helps to show the
narrative and genre and the past of the female protagonist. It explains a
lot to the audience.
• Non diegetic sound of backing track, the track is a classic old fashioned
cowboy western song which links in well with the narrative. Gun shot
sounds and sounds of swords are also used to help show the genre and
narrative to the audience.
• Diegetic sound - Dialogue of some important characters is also within the
trailer this helps the audience understand key info and pick out certain
characters and their roles.
• The pace of the trailer is fast and slow in some place and matches the clips
well, the synergy between the pair is relevent and spot on throughout the
trailer.