Trailer Influences

Trailer Conventions

Narrative Theory
Usually at the beginning there is a narrative exposition which introduces the background of the story to the audience. This consists of the setting, the main plot, the main characters and possibly the back stories. In trailers the narrative exposition takes in to account Todorov's narrative theory where there is an equilibrium, a disruption, a resolution and a new equilibrium. This may be useful when constructing my trailer as I can deliberately use this idea to cause suspense, encouraging the audience to anticipate the release of the movie.

Varied Pace
Trailers tend to change the pace of editing within a trailer. This is important especially in the horror genre as the beginning of the trailer starts off very slow and calm. And as soon as the disruption has occurred the pace will start to build up faster connoting danger and panic, essential to create the illusion of fear.

Sound
Crucial when creating a trailer as it supports the narrative and reinforces Todorov's theory. For example the beginning will have a slow mellow music and suddenly fast paced suspenseful music will be played to sustain the disruption section of the trailer. The soudtrack should complement the trailer so for our trailer we'll incorporate scary repetitive or discordant music.

Lighting
It is useful as it sets atmosphere of a certain shot or location. It plays a huge role within the horror genre. The lighting for the exposition could be high key whereas the unbalanced equilibrium part is dark and has a low key lighting to convey evil and fear.

Cinematography
A range of shots should be used within the trailer so that it becomes interesting and creates intrigue. Close ups are used to give the audience a sense of understanding as to the emotions expressed by the character's facial expressions. Establishing shots could be used to set the location and atmosphere.


Use of children
 

We have chosen to use children within our film as it's quite conventional, within supernatural horrors, to include children as antagonists. They are stereotypically innocent and naive that when they are involved in a horror film they could be classed creepy and unexpectedly evil. There is also the assumption that children can be seen smarter and possibly a threat to the mature generation in which develops to fear, paedophobia.
Both the antagonists' characterisation are somehow based from existing well-known horror films. Denver, which is played by Kyle Espiritu, can be associated with Dalton (Insidious) and Damien(The Omen). Carla (Kaithlene Espiritu) can be linked with the character Samara(The Ring).