Comparing Teaser Trailers and Conventional Theatrical Trailers #2 LIMITLESS

Similarities

• Both trailers contain production company logos, which appear at the beginning of the trailers.
• Both trailers contain images from the film.
• Both trailers contain the title of the film, which appears at the end of the trailers.
• Both trailers contain release dates, however, those release dates are different, with the teaser trailer saying "March 18", and the theatrical trailer saying "Coming Soon".
• Both trailers show an indication of the genre of the movie. This is because the only noticeable differences between the trailer in terms of the images, music, and editing used is that the theatrical trailer is longer and uses more images than the teaser trailer. Both trailers are edited in very similar ways, although the teaser trailer contains quicker cuts, and you get a good grasp of the storyline from both trailers, although a 30 second teaser trailer contains less of the storyline than a 2 and a half minute theatrical trailer.
• Both trailers mention the same website, shown at the end of the trailers. However, the websites are not shown in identical shots, with the teaser trailer showing the website under the release date, with a shot from the film rolling in the background. The theatrical trailer, however, shows the website at the end of the trailer in front of a black background, with other information such as the billing, containing actors and actresses.
• Both trailers contain voice over's by the same person. However, these voice over's are different. In the teaser trailer the voice over is of specific dialogue from the film that has been specifically used by the director. The theatrical trailer contains a voice over that, in specific parts of the trailer, is similar to that of the teaser trailer. However, at the beginning of the trailer, the voice over is not dialogue from the movie, but is instead the central protagonist talking to the audience.
• Both trailers contain very similar editing, such as fast cuts, flashes etc.
• Both trailers contain images of the stars, specifically Bradley Cooper.
• Neither trailer contains any references to awards won by anyone involved in the films.
• Both trailers contain music that reflects the genre, and fits perfectly with the direction of the trailers, for example, in the theatrical trailer, the music starts of very low key, but with the build up in speed of the trailer, the music speeds up also and increases in sound,
• Neither trailer contains any references to other films.
• There are numerous sound effects used in both trailers that reflects the genre.
• There is eye candy in both trailers, most notably Bradley Cooper, as well as extreme long shots of eye-catching buildings, and a beautiful looking woman.
• There is no reference to source material in either trailer.
• There are a variety of camera shots and movements used in both trailers.

Differences

• The names of stars are not shown in the teaser trailer, but the name of the main character 'Bradley Cooper' is shown towards the end of the theatrical trailer.
• There is a tagline in the teaser trailer "How much can you take?", but there is no tagline in the theatrical trailer.

Comparing Teaser Trailers and Conventional Theatrical Trailers #1 THE HUNGER GAMES

Similarities

• Both trailers contain production company logos, that appear at the beginning of the trailers.
• Both trailers contain images from the film, despite the theatrical trailer containing more images and giving the audience a better understanding of the movie than the teaser trailer.
• Both trailers contain the title of the film, which appears at the end of both the trailers.
• Both trailers contain the release date "March 23, 2012", at the end of the trailer.
• Both trailers advertise the website "Facebook.com/TheHungerGamesMovie", at the end of the trailers.
• Both trailers contain voiceovers, although they are not of a 'voiceover man', but instead contain dialogue from the movie put on top of images from it.
• Both trailers contain specific editing styles, with the teaser trailer containing numerous camera shots, and both long and slow cuts. The theatrical trailer contains flashes, quick fades, and a variety of camera shots varying from extreme long shots to aerial shots.
• Both trailers do not have cast, director, or crew credits.
• Both trailers do not reference to other films that have been directed or produced by the same people.
• There are no mentions of the names of stars in either trailer. However, there are images of the stars of the movie in both trailers.
• There are no mention of any awards that the cast, crew, or film have won or been nominated for.
• Both trailers contain music that reflect the goings on in the trailer, and the genre of film. An example of this is in the theatrical trailer, the music starts off relatively slow, but as the trailer continues, and shows the audience more of the film, the music ramps up a level to reflect the increase in intensity in the trailer.
• Both the trailers contain the same tagline that appears at the end of the trailer. The tagline is "May the odds be ever in your favor", and is identical in terms of positioning in both trailers.
• Both trailers do not contain any quotes that reference other films.
• There are numerous sound effects used in both trailers that reflect the genre of the movie.
• There are shots of eye candy in both trailers. However, these are different in both trailers. In the teaser trailer, the only eye candy is the explosion that occurs, but in the theatrical trailer, there is far more eye candy on show, for example, Katniss' 'Girl on Fire' dress at the opening ceremony, Katniss dressed up for her interview, and the capital shimmering under the light of the sun, to name but a few.

Differences

• A difference between the teaser and theatrical trailer is that the genre is not completely clear. This is due to the vagueness of the teaser trailer, as it only shows one scene of the movie, and does not give any information as to the storyline of the movie, although you can make the judgement that the protagonist is the only person shown in the movie, and so this may be a movie aimed at females. The theatrical trailer, however, gives a clear overview of the storyline of the movie, and so it is easy to realise that this is a film set in a fantasy world, and belongs to that genre, as well as being an adventure movie.
• There is no reference to the source material that the movie is based on in the teaser trailer, but there is reference to the source material that the movie is based on in the theatrical trailer.

Teaser Trailers - Conventions

Conventions of a teaser trailer include:

Production company logos - used to show which companies made the film and advertise these companies

Images from the film - these images are specifically chosen so as not to give away too much about the movie, while also creating anticipation and the "want for more" from the audience.

Title of the film - usually at the end of the teaser trailer

Release dates - for a teaser trailer this is likely to be "Coming Soon" or "Summer 2014" rather than date specific

Indication of genre - use of mise-en-scene or voice-overs should clearly show the genre of the film.

Website - reference to the film and/or production companies websites

Voice over man - sets the scene of the film

Editing - transitions often include flashes, quick fades and dissolves alongside more conventional cuts

Credits - including the cast, crew, director etc.

References to other films - "from the director of" etc.

Images of stars/names of stars

References to awards - won by cast/crew/film "7 time Bafta award winning actor" etc.

Music - related to the genre, and fits in with the images shown

Tagline - same tagline as to that on the poster of the film

Sound effects - used to create responses related to genre

Eye candy - someone who catches the eye of the audience, and would attract audiences

Reference to source material - whether or not the film is based on a book, tv series etc.

A variety of camera shots/movement

Teaser Trailers - Introduction

As I am going to be creating a teaser trailer based on my movie, it is important that I research a lot about teaser trailers, how they are made, what makes them unique, and the conventions used in these trailers. This will be helpful because it will prepare me for the task of making a teaser trailer, and will enable me to do the best I possibly can.

Magazine Cover #5 FILMMAKER

Filmmaker is a film publication that is published every 3 months that covers issues relating to independent film. It was founded in 1992, but now has a readership of more than 60,000. The magazine includes interviews, case studies, financing and distribution information, festival reports, and fimmakers on filmmaking in their own words. The magazine used to be available outside the US, but has not been on shelves since 2009.

This magazine cover has all the conventions of a typical magazine cover. The masthead is at the top of the cover and is the biggest font on the page. The dominant central image takes up the whole of the cover, and is related to the main cover line, which is bigger than the cover lines. Other conventions such as a bar code, date, banners etc. are present on this cover also.

Magazine Cover #4 AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER

American Cinematographer is an American film magazine that is published monthly. It is unlike the publications I have previously looked at because this publication focuses on the art and craft of cinematography, as well as covering domestic and foreign feature productions, television productions, short  films, music videos and commercials. It also emphasises its interviews on cinematographers, directors, producers etc. Articles discuss technical how-to pieces, discussions of tools and technologies that affect cinematography, and historical features.

The front cover of American Cinematographer also highlights the differences it has with Empire and Total Film. It has traditional conventions such as a masthead at top of cover, with it being the biggest font, and a main cover line being bigger than all other line, which is attributed to the dominant central image. The cover also includes other traditional conventions such as a slogan, bar code, date etc.