TRAILER ANALYSIS- The Blair Witch Project

The second trailer we have decided to study is The Blair Witch Project. This is because it links in well with 'The Strangers' as they both give away very little in the advertisement of the product. We plan making a teaser trailer of this sort so studying these two trailers assists us in achieving this.

Firstly the trailer opens with  a typical code and convention of a film trailer. 'Artisan' is shown, which is the company behind the production of the film. All film trailers and films have to show the productions label to increase the companies popularity and to advertise, its a written law in the film industry. This will have to be a convention that we follow when creating our trailer, so it looks professional. As this is being shown dramatic music is played over the shot, to introduce you to the trailer, without it even starting yet. Its a sign to set your mind in a frightful state and to build up anticipation so the trailer is even more affective.

The shot then moves onto a black screen, with white text. Having it black on white sets a huge contrast and so makes it seem more dramatic to the audience. Having text before seeing any action builds anticipation especially in this case, as the text is supplying the background on the story. Specific lexical choice was used like 'dissapear' to increase tension and to signpost what you may expect in the film. A quite whisper is used when the text appears on the screen, with the rustling of trees, this sets the scene even though you are being shown a black screen. it links with the setting of the woods or a forest and plays on the anticipation that the audience is already feeling. By only playing with the audiences sense of sound, they are able to focus on just that and feel the atmoshpere being created.

The shot stays the same and more text is added. This text increases the anticipation that the audience will be experiencing. It highlights how the students were never found, and the last that was seen of them would be on this tape. This immediately plays on the audiences minds, it is used so that the audience are already scared before any type of visual images and film is played. It is used regularly in film trailers and even the start of films. All to increase this mystery and wonder and so that the audience are conjuring up ideas which will work them up and act on there adrenalin so that they experience fright and panic when watching the film. The full stops used also set a dramatic feel, and in some ways a 'dead end' which could reflect the fact that the students were never found.

A blank screen is then used for 15 seconds, this seems a long time when watching a trailer, this specific time was used as it is just past the threshold point of when you expect something to happen so then it catches the audience when they least expect it. The on going use frightful sounds constantly builds anticipation for the audience as they are so focused on the blank screen, waiting for some type of action. The audience will feel vulnerable as they don't know what to expect. As there is a blank screen they are unable to use their sight to help them feel at ease and protected, as the image shows nothing. We like to feel in control, and when watching a film we, the audience, are no longer in control especially when we cannot use all of our senses to help prepare us. This results in the audiences panic and anxiety to set in, and build up more tension and atmosphere, so the interest into the film is increased. Which should cause the audience to watch the film, which means the trailer was a success.

The intensity of the piercing background sound increases to create a build up for the next shot of the trailer, which is a glowing icon and title of the film. This is shown with a cut edit so it is abrupt and hopefully causes the audience to react. The text also glows so that it has more impact, and a glowing text is also related to ghosts and the supernatural, so it could also act as an insight into what the film is about. The icon used also links to this theme as it looks like a type of voodoo doll, or witch craft, and that is linked to the supernatural also.

A cut edit is used again to then show the face of what we are lead to believe is one of the students. The close up shot of the face covers two thirds of the shot, and an intense light is highlighting the face. The use of two thirds is to address that the camera is hand held and she is recording it herself, as it is not technically correct. This added dimension to the film makes you, the audience feel more unstable and shows the vulnerability of the actor. It also makes you believe this is real footage and you buy into the horror aspect of the film a lot more easily. Using a close up shows the emotion and fright she is experiencing and makes you feel like she is addressing it to you and you only, you as the audience can relate to her feelings. The whisper of her voice also shows her dangerous situation as well as her fright.

A cut edit is again used to end the trailer. The web address and season the film is released is shown, with the same type of glowing text as the previous text shown in the trailer. Two quick cut edits show this information so that the film seems sharp and abrupt. An echoing, hollow noise accompanies the showing of the text to make it more intense, as well as the heavy breathing of the actor. All in a way to provoke thought from the audience. This trailer was very much based on using the scenes of realistic but disturbing noises and although it worked well for this trailer, especially as it was accompanied by hand held filming, we feel it wouldn't particularly fit well with the type of trailer we are going for.