"Comment on the techniques and devices used in a particular film trailer(s) and on their effectiveness".

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Film Trailer Analysis

“Comment on the techniques and devices used in a particular film trailer(s) and on their effectiveness”

Introduction

     To comment on the effectiveness of techniques and devices used in a film trailer, it must first be established, what a film trailer actually is, and essentially, what it tries to achieve.

     A film trailer is a device, which is used by the media, to advertise a new film that is to be released. It is released prior to the film; normally about 3-4 months beforehand. Most trailers are normally about 30-90 seconds, and in this time, clips from the film and the main storyline are provided.

     A trailer normally tries to provide the viewer with information about the genre, directors, stars in the film, the age group which it is most suitable to and also the main storyline behind the film.

     Teaser Trailers are normally well in advance of the main film, in order to create a “waiting game” for people to count down until they see the film. Viewers get very keyed up and excited about the upcoming film, and for this motive, premieres are common, where people can go and see the film in advance.

     Millions of pounds are normally paid by film companies, just to release film trailers; they are a very important part of publicity of the film. They are needed to actually notify the public of upcoming films, and make the nations anticipate the film, so they will be subliminally determined to go and see it. Trailers are like mind games, they hit a person firmly, and make them eager to see this film. It also tells people what genre the film will be, and for this reason, people can decide for themselves if they want to see this particular film.

     During this essay, I will be writing about the many different types of devices used in trailers and how effective they are. These devices include voice over, sound and action.

     The trailer I will be looking at during this essay is Gladiator. I chose this trailer because it consists of many different genres, and it is a very easy trailer to analyze, because of the simplicity of the trailer. It has some very good points, and uses many different devices to attract people to come and see the film.

     The film also leaves questions lingering in people’s minds, which people can only find answers for by actually seeing the film.

                   

Analyzing the trailer

     There are many devices and techniques used in Gladiator. In this section, I will outline these techniques and devices, and also aim to clarify what they try to accomplish.

     The film name is an element that is of utmost importance; the actual name of the film is Gladiator. The title is shown right at the end of the trailer, and it emerges dramatically from a background of fire and flames. The type of writing is very professional, written in bold capitals, with a gold texture which seems to be 3-dimensional. The background is very simple; it is just plain black, however the simplicity of the background leaves the actual title standing out more. The simplicity helps create a level of believability which is needed for creating a historical aspect of the trailer. This is because, in the days of which the trailer is based on, things would have been simple, so no technical devices are shown, or special metallic writing either. Instead there is a times new roman font, with a gold texture; a color that was used a lot in roman times.

     The actual title itself actually fades in from the flames, and lasts for a few seconds and fades back out to display the date of arrival.

     Music is also a device that is used to a huge effect. Throughout the whole trailer, only one piece of music is used. This is a piece called Conan the Barbarian and this music suggests that film is about war and fighting. At first, when the logos emerge onto the scenes, there is the sound of beating drums, which is very dramatic for the audience being the first thing they hear. It suggests war, and this can generate excitement from the audience. A war-like beat is then heard throughout the trailer. It is a very dramatic beat, and seems to get louder and more dramatic towards the last 3 pictorial frames. However, it either stops or the volume turns lower during dialogue. The music can really set the scene and help identify the genre. It also actually builds up in a crescendo and then stops dramatically at the end.

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     Music can really help build climaxes too as well as suspense. In this film it tries to do this at the end and during fight scenes and also during dialogues.

The sounds in Gladiator are used to set the scene, and help create the realism arena in the trailer as well as the roman effects. This is achieved by sounds such as sword clangs, metallic sounds, and chants of Maximus when he is declared a hero.

   

     In this particular trailer, voice over is not used. This can however be very useful ...

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