| Research For this project on cinematic trailers I trawled the market place for source material, finding a tape of trailers from Empire magazine. This tape was pressed under extreme scrutiny in order to uncover trends, themes and conventions which could shape the formation of my own creation. Ransom The first part of the trailer establishes the main character as a rich aeroplane owner. Then it takes a sinister twist with an explanation that this mans son has been taken away and they are expected to pay a ransom. This dark mood is broken by the announcement that he wont pay but offer it as a reward. This sets off a quickly edited chain of images mixed with high paced music. Sound bytes concerning the taking of the young son and the policeman in charge hedging his bets in the fast spun web of danger. The trailer then announces through means of a voice over that it is from the director of Appollo 13 and the Producer of The Firm . It then catalogues the stars on screen, Mel Gibson being the main one. Mars attacks Duration 2.15 minutes The first sequence of the trailer is a build up of tension concerning the approach of people from Mars visiting a government building. Then this Surviving Picasso Duration: 1.15 minutes The focus of this trailer was slightly different from the previous ones. It did incorperate the same elements of a brief outline of style, but placed more emphasis on the people behind the camera: acadamy award winning members of the production, even some nominees. The films they were awarded for weren’t mentioned, just the fact that they had won something previously. This lead me to conclude the film was a weak cinematic product to resort to this marketing strategy. This feeling was also connotated due to the unnusually short nature of the trailer. |