Part of The Student Room Group

  • Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

How does the 'Lord of the Rings' trailers prepare the audience for the films?

Extracts from this document...

Introduction

How does the 'Lord of the Rings' trailers prepare the audience for the films? Trailers are used to advertise a film. In the trailer, there are generally stock scenes from that genre to appeal to the target audience. Also, trailers are typically a device used to shape audience expectations of that film. In addition, films will often have a Unique Selling Point that is emphasised throughout the trailer. A Unique Selling Point is generally how the directors and producers wish to portray a film to potential viewers. In Lord of the Rings, the Unique Selling Point was atypical from all other films. Peter Jackson, the director of the trilogy, knew that his film was something original and special and the trailer picks up on this through the use of narrative, the choice of shots, the music and the pace of editing. The Lord of the Rings trailers are distinctive in the way in which they were released. The trailer for the Lord of the Rings trilogy was, in fact, released at Christmas in 2000 however, the first film was not actually released until Christmas 2001! This proved to be a successful method of marketing the film in order to manipulate it into becoming a box office smash. ...read more.

Middle

Furthermore, a forest is a conventional fantasy location making it relevant to the genre. In contrast, another lighting effect that is used in LOTR trailer is toplighting. This is in the scene when Galadrial is talking to Frodo. The lighting over her makes her appear angelic and the shade of lighting- a clear, white light- makes her seem innocent and pure. Her face is also completely lit up, therefore, she has nothing to hide and the audience will instantly deem her as a trustworthy character. An example of high key lighting is when, in the Shire, there is quite a bright, consistent light to make the place appear happy and peaceful as the 'before' time: before the ring caused trouble. The lighting effect makes the place seem as if it is almost too bright, too green and too perfect, therefore the audience presume that something is likely to go wrong. Additionally, it is a paradox that there could be such evil occurring in a place of such beauty. The lighting also makes the place seem like idyllic: a utopia. Colour is used symbolically throughout the trailer but one specific example comes to mind. The use of colour on the ring. It makes you assume that, because it is gold that it is of great importance and, because gold is a symbol of wealth it suggests to the audience that it is wanted and that it is precious. ...read more.

Conclusion

The Lord of the Rings trailers, to me, served their purpose well by using particular filmic codes to inform me of the genre of the movies, the themes explored and the plot that is unravelled through the duration of the trilogy. They are an effective way of advertising Lord of the Rings, especially taking into consideration the way in which the trailers were released. In my opinion, the most effective part of the trailers was at the beginning of the very first trailer when the ring is almost made out of fire and the shot jumps to a scene of the landscape of middle-earth. Pairing this with a narrative voice speaking ominously of the ring's powers and the fact that the entire fate of middle-earth rests on Frodo's shoulders makes it particularly effective because of the striking jump shot from fire to green foliage and mountains, which instantly makes this part stick in your mind. In addition, the booming voice is informing you of something essential that a viewer would need to know to understand the plot and the importance of the ring. Overall, the trailers effectively prepare the audience by giving them some details of the plot, setting and characters but not too much, thus giving the audience a need to view the film to discover more. ...read more.

The above preview is unformatted text

This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level Plays section.

Found what you're looking for?

  • Start learning 29% faster today
  • 150,000+ documents available
  • Just £6.99 a month

or


Not the one? Search for your essay title...
  • Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

See related essaysSee related essays

Related AS and A Level Plays essays

  1. How far does Act 1 of "The Crucible" prepare the audience for the drama ...

    witchcraft is to do with all the bad things that have happened to them, "There is a murdering witch among us, bound to keep herself in the dark." All these different types of the same suspicion (witchcraft) lead the audience to believe that the story must involve other characters and that other things must have happened.

  2. How do the micro elements cinematography and mise-en-scene contribute to the creation of a ...

    this shows that within this part of the film, they are both as important as each other. Mise-en-scene also helps with the creation of empathy and tension for the audience. The lighting within the sequence is dark, there is no natural light as it is night time, there is only

  1. Examine the Techniques, Which the Directors of the Public Information Films Use To Convey ...

    Glenda Jackson plays the role of an everyday person who is reluctant to give blood. She represents the audience's attitude that this PIF is aimed at. This is a good technique because the audience can relate to her. Glenda at first is reluctant to give blood and is terrified and anxious.

  2. Musical films, Bride and Predjudice and Grease

    of the scene is at a college where the characters are young and hip, and therefore the music reflects the image a young boy or girl has at that age and stage in life. 'You're the one that I want' is a song, which remains at a steady pace and has a continous rhythm throughout the scene.

  1. How does the Director encourage the audience to feel sympathy for Derek and his ...

    This rapid series of events gives the audience an impression of force, that Derek is being pushed into something that should never have happened. The camera cuts to Derek's supporters outside the prison, showing he audience that even the general public believe what will happen is wrong, reinforcing the audience's belief.

  2. DIGITAL SPECIAL EFFECTS

    This enhanced my performance because it made it easier for me to provoke the audience so that they can look at me an actor and not a character. My voice was a very powerful tool as it helped grab the audience's attention.

  1. Analyse the ways in which the director builds suspense and scares the audience in ...

    The shark swims away. Hooper tries to think of an idea. He suggests that he goes down (in a cage, so he is protected) and gives the shark a lethal injection. The other two disagree, but they have no choice.

  2. Analytical Essay On My ChoiceFilm Sequence The film I have chosen to look at ...

    makes the audience think a worse threat than Farmer Maggot is coming. He starts to walk a little up the track, turning to look behind him as he walks. The mild suggestion of getting off the road is ignored by his friends who are grabbing at mushrooms they have found growing by the roadside.

  • Over 160,000 pieces
    of student written work
  • Annotated by
    experienced teachers
  • Ideas and feedback to
    improve your own work