This is my A2 Media Studies blog which will act as a portfolio for all my coursework. Here I will present theory and practical work as well as all the research, planning and evaluation that went into creating our Romance/Drama/Film Noir teaser trailer and its promotional package - a poster and a front page magazine cover.
From watching this video, it has given us an insight on how film noir and how it originated. From such contributing elements as
- Low budgeting, B line films were used to get more people to this cinema until 1948
- Low key lighting- characterised by German expressionism. This was influenced by the documenters from World War II, that would film anywhere. That's why there is no distinct location for Film Noir.
- Feelings of Nihilism caused by the lead up and aftermath of WWII - the population of America was in fear and paranoid- which defines the emotion felt in Film Noir.
GENRE - is a critical tool that helps us study texts and audience responses to texts by dividing them into categories based on common elements.
ALL GENRES have SUB-GENRES
for example we will have main genres of - Crime and Detective and Drama
and our sub-genres will be film noir and romance
WHAT THE AUDIENCE EXPECT FROM A GENRE FILM:
Typical Mise-en-scene/Visual style (iconography, props, set-design, lighting, temporal and georgraphic location, costume, shot types, camera angles, special effects)
Typical types of narrative (plots, historical setting, set pieces)
Generic Types, i.e. typical characters (FEMME FATALE, DETECTIVE)
RICK ALTMAN- argues that genre offers audiences' a set of pleasures.
Our film noir will offer INTELLECTUAL PUZZLES as our teaser trailer will entice the audience through enigma and actions codes that they'll have to unravel the mystery for themselves.
A teaser trailer is an advertising campaign for an upcoming film, it consists of a series of small shots with puzzles and cryptic references. It is usually released long in advance of the film, to "tease" the audience.
The audience are made aware and 'teased' for the upcoming film. There are a series of montage shots from the first ideas of what they want to be produced by the real film, it is not necessarily what they will produce when it comes to the stage. As they are often made while the film is still in production or being edited as a result they may feature scenes or alternate versions of scenes that are not finished in the film. Other production companies, such as Pixar Films, have scenes made for use in the trailer only. It is a 'tease' for the audience as the trailer only lasts 30 to 60 seconds long.
Teasers are usually made for big-budget and popularly themed movies, the purpose is less to tell the audience about the content than simply let them know that the movie is comping up in the near future- to add a hype among the target audience.
The scene starts off with an establishing shot of the city it is set in San Francisco in America, this set sets the scene off and drags the audience in. Straight away the voice over starts off with a female asking for help, pleading to the male who may be guessed at the detective.
The different shots fade in to one another until the gunshot goes off that then starts the scene off, the atmosphere and what the audience see is dark- which creates tension and excitement. Then the second voiceover of the male shows his authority and masculitinty that he'll be helping the woman and she is the passive character the FEMME FATALE.
Throughout most teaser trailers the pace is quick and shows alot of shots, this trailer cuts the shots quickly and effectively by showing tracking/ dolly shots of the detectives running around also shot/ reverse shots of the male talking to the femlale.
When the end of the trailer is coming to an end the dialogue becomes dramatic as there is a loud orchesta in the background including drums, violens to represent the fear, tension and anxiety both the characters in the trailer are feeling and target audience watching.
THE LAST SEDUCTION 1993
The Teaser Trailer starts off with a woman voice over than cut to the woman on the phone talking to man, this is seen through fast pace cuts to show their conversation and their facial expressions toward the situation.
The clip is then suddenly cut to the "couple" being intimate, showing that there will be romance in the film- this may or may not appeal to the audience. Romance is a commonly used sub-genre in Film Noir films, oftenly with the femme fatale involved.
In most teaser trailers there are cuts between the clips, as it is fast pacing to involve the plot or to just show the main events that are involved in the movie to attract the audience. In this cut, it shows a big pile of money. then the camera tracks to the couple, who look happy. In most Film Noir genres, money is most likely in the plot as it can be involved with the wealthy or crime. This shows that this Neo Noir film have taken the traditional elements and plot of a classic Film Noir and used it.
There is a voiceover of the woman, which subverts the class dominant role of the male, who is uncluded in all authroitive roles and has the last say. The trailer adds tension by creating quick pacing shots of the woman running as the camera tracks her. Shot / Reverse shots of the male characters talking on the phone who sound anxious. The authoritive role is subverted as the woman is the main character, as she is surrounded by the men in the trailer.
There is a voiceover while there are intimate shots showing the couple connoting the romance that is involved in the film. The voiceover sounds serious (female voice) this shows the different sides of the woman as she can be in serious situations but also can use her seductive side, this shows what she is capable of.
Voiceover of a scared man saying "she's here" subverting the role- the male is scared of the fmelae dominance- this is ironic as in the "Maltese Falcon" the woman is scared of a male.
A trailer is an advetisement or a commercial for a feature film that is exhibited in the cinema later on.
Trailers consist of a series of selected shots from the film being advertised, the purpose is to attract the target audience to the film. The trailer will show the most notable and memorable moments in the film to drag the audience in to make them interested and excited for the upcoming film.
Teaser trailers are often made while the film is still in production or being edited and as a result they may feature scenes or alternate versions of scenes that are not in the finished film. Often they contain no dialogue and some (notably Pixar films) have scenes made for use in the trailer only. Teaser trailers today are increasingly focused on internet downloading and the fan convention circuit. Some teaser trailers show a quick montage of scenes from the film.
Classic Film Noir- The 1940s- American crime and detective films were dark and downbeat, refelcting the insecurities and tensions of the time period. It developed during and WWII, taking advantage of the post-war ambience of anxiety and suspicion.
NEO NOIR
Neo Noir - Utilizes elements of Film Noir, but with updated themes, content, style, visual elements or media.
Promotion Package for a new fiom, to include a teaser trailer, together with two of the following three options;
- A webiste homepage for the film
- A film magazine front cover, featuring the film
- A poster for the film
Additionally to that, we must create a presentation of your research, planning and evaluation may take the form of one, a combination of two or more, of the following;
- A power point presentation
- A blog to be uploaded onto Blogger
