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

Lighting can be used to convey several different things. Firstly, it can communicate to the audience the atmosphere or mood of a scene. For instance, low-key lighting can create a tense atmosphere whereas high key lighting can establish a happy and contented mood. Secondly, the personality of a character can be accentuated through use of lighting. If you shine an underlight on an evil character you will give their face an ominous look, with shadows on the face so that expressions and facial features cannot be seen clearly. Finally, lighting can be used to indicate status. For example, Gandalf is of a high status and this can be revealed by maybe using an underlight on Gandalf to suggest to the audience that the character is even above the lighting. A significant lighting effect from LOTR trailer is a back lighting effect when there is a light shone from behind the trees to make a silhouette of the forest. This is a particularly successful lighting effect because of the powerful effect it has on the audience. The overall lighting effect connotes a sense of ambiguity as you cannot see it clearly and the trees are in shadow, making them appear as if they are shrouded in mystery. Also, it compels the audience to question ‘what is behind the forest?’ 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.

Mise-en-scene in Lord of the Rings trailers has been used to create effect in a number of ways. Firstly, the use of props, make up and costume are used to highlight the personality of a character; for instance, Saruman wears black costume and dark make up to assert his character and personality as being evil and untrustworthy because black is a colour that is often associated with sin and immorality. Finally, it can set the scene for the audience, through use of colour, background details and lighting. An example of this in Lord of the Rings trailer would be when there is a shot of mount Doom and the sky is almost pitch black. Other, less significant mountains are in the background, the colour of the whole shot is solely shades of grey, dark blue and black and the only way you can see the shot is when there are brief flashes of lightning and everything is lit up, this connotes a tense atmosphere for the audience as lightning is stereotypically a ‘frightening’ thing that is often used in horror films. In addition, the brief flashes make sure that the audience get a fleeting glance of the setting but must watch the film to discover more. A particular example of mise-en-scene having a significant effect on the audience is the iconography of people riding horses. Both ‘good’ and ‘evil’ sides ride horses and the fact that this image is repeated throughout the trailers is significant as it exposes to the audience the themes that are explored through the trilogy of capture, chase, pursuit and escape. Furthermore, Jackson also uses colour symbolically. He has used black horses to demonstrate evil and white horses to symbolise purity.  The idea of black and white horses is used through all the trailers; this is specifically repeated as it emphasises to the audience that this is an important theme investigated through the trilogy. The theme of the two sides to the narrative: good in juxtaposition to evil. The darkness of a horse in comparison to the lightness of the other horse could also be interpreted as being symbolic of hope and despair: key themes in the films.

Camera techniques prepare the audience for Lord of the Rings trilogy in a number of ways. Firstly, there is a long-shot of a huge army on horseback riding towards the camera with a barren landscape behind. This shot is effective because it prepares the audience for the theme of battle, which is an important keynote explored in the films. Additionally, it sets the scene for the audience. It is a common way to introduce a film or a trailer because it sets the scene for the audience so they can get a feel for their surrounding and also for the genre of the film. Another important shot type that recurs throughout all of the trailers is a close-up of the ring. This shot is a visual motif and is used to attract the audience’s attention to the ring and inform them that it is imperative to the films. In addition, the audience automatically regard the ring as being central to the plot because it is being reiterated throughout the length of the trailers.

Jackson uses editing in a variety of different ways, each of which have varied effects on the audience. One example of efficient use of editing is when shots of each member of the fellowship are faded into one another. This is a successful way to edit shots of a similar theme as it signifies to the audience that these people are blended together because this is the denotation on the screen. Consequently, the audience link each of the characters together. Also, it implies to the audience that these people are bound together by the quest that lies ahead. Another example of striking use of editing is when Jackson presents a scene of happy elves scampering through the forest and then suddenly jumps to a scene of evil goblins. This edit particularly juxtaposes the struggle between good and evil in the trilogy and also the themes of conflict, which is a major part of the narrative. The jump shot is effective as it shows the stark contrast of the two, it gives the audience a jolt and, also, it causes them to become unsettled. As a result, the audience assume this to be important and remember it.

In conclusion, trailer’s chief aim is to advertise films to a potential audience using a variety of different techniques to imply genre, narrative and theme; they shape audience expectations of the film in question. Some detail will be let slip but some will be kept back so that the audience must view the film to discover more and get a full picture. 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.