Comparisons of Teaser Trailers

It was evident to me, even before analysing teaser trailers from different genres, that they would be different, even if they follow and use the same conventions and principles of film making. However, even though I have watched numerous trailer and films throughout my life, it is intriguing to see, side by side, how film-makers portray films from different genres to the audience, in order to give a good, lasting impression.

The three films I chose to analyse were good choices because, excluding Insidious, which is the first of a set of films, Dumb and Dumber To, and Star Wars VII are follow ups to films that have had commercial success in the past. Therefore, they already had an audience, and although there are other audiences they could appeal to, they already had a platform to which to build. This, I believe, altered the way they portrayed the films in the teaser trailers, as they did not need to go over the top and reveal too much.

Fantasy Teaser Trailer - STAR WARS VII - THE FORCE AWAKENS

This teaser trailer is different to the previous teaser trailers analysed, as it contains very few of the conventions of a teaser trailer. This is not because of its genre, but because of what film it is. Star Wars is not just a film series, it is a market. People all around the world know what Star Wars is, who produces it, who starred in it etc. Therefore, it is understandable when production company logos, website links, cast and crew credits, quotes etc. are not included in this trailer, as it may not be deemed necessary, due to the hype around it. All that is needed in this trailer is images from the film, music, and an enticing voice over in order to get the audience excited and wanting to see more.

Comedy Teaser Trailer - DUMB AND DUMBER TO

This trailer contains all the typical conventions that are used to make up a teaser trailer. It contains the production company logos at the beginning of the trailer, and has the name of the film and the release date at the end of the trailer. It also contains numerous shots from the film, shot styles, such as fast cuts etc. and contains a voice over too.

Despite the many similarities in terms of conventions between horror and comedy teaser trailers, the difference in style is evident in the way the trailer plays out, and how it has a telling effect on the audience. In the horror teaser trailer I analysed, the shots included were used to build up to a greater purpose. However, in this trailer, the montage is filled with shots designed to attract the audience and humour them, rather than build up to a specific storyline.

Horror Teaser Trailer - INSIDIOUS

The trailer opens with a production company logo, and is followed by a quote "From the makers of Paranormal Activity and Saw", with effects used on this quote that is related to the genre, and is also accompanied by music that reflects the genre of the film. It is immediately followed by two quick flashing shots of a young boy, with lighting used in both to illuminate him in white, with darkness all around him.

Despite horror teaser trailers being very structurally different to any other genre, the conventions used are the same. This shows that, despite the vast array of genres, and style of film-making, there is still a mutually accepted way of producing films in the industry.

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