media stuff

1. Structure Of A Trailer
Denise Kusi

2. Establishing the setting
• In the trailers for the films, Electrick Children, Little Birds and
Ginger and Rosa the first shots establishes the setting of the
film in regards to location, and period of time within
history. (e.g. modern drama or set in past). The opening shot
can also be used to determine the tone of the film or
characters.
• In this shot, from Electrick children, we can see that the films
appears to be set in a secluded, isolated, gloomy area. This
could be to reflect the overall atmosphere of the film being
quite gloomy. It could also be to reflect the fact that the
characters within the film feel isolated from other charters
that will be in the film.
• In the shot, from the Little Birds trailer, we see a similar
secluded, empty type of setting. Which could also suggest
that the character within the film feel some what isolated
not only emotionally but geographically from everyone else.
However, the fact that the weather isn't gloomy in this shot
could imply that the film has a lighter tone and that the
chain of events that will unfold during the course of the film
will be positive for the characters.
• In the last shot, from the trailer of Ginger and Rosa, there is
not a wide shot of a particular setting but a close up of a
vinyl record playing, but the audience can still gather a lot
about the film from this shot. For example, the vinyl record
implies that the film is not set in modern times but is set in
the past. The fact that it is set in the past also implies the
values of the characters.

3. Introduction to characters
• After the establishment of the setting or time period
the film is set in, in each of the trailers we are
introduced to the assumed principal characters of
the film.
• In the trailer for Electrick children, we are
introduced to three of the assumed main characters
of the film. A girl who appears to pregnant, a boy
with a record tape, and a man who’s relation to the
two characters is not specified or implied through
the shots within the trailer.
• The trailer for Little birds, introduces the audience
to the two main characters who are said to be
friends in the films voice over.
• In Ginger and Rosa we are introduced to the titular
characters.
• The fact the characters in all three trailers are shown
very early on in three trailer, shows that introducing
the characters early on within a drama trailer is a
convention and is something we as group should
take into consideration when making our trailer, in
terms of whether we want to use this convention or
subvert it.

4. Change in tone of trailer • In each of the trailers, after the primary charters have
been introduced, the trailer shows more of the
narrative and expands on the characters personalities.
After that there is a point in the trailer where there is
a change in the tone of the trailer, which is either
signified by the pacing of the editing or the change in
the music used. This is also something that we will
need to consider when making our trailer and
developing our script.
• In Electrick Children, after the girl tells her mother that
she thinks she might be pregnant, there is a significant
change in the pace of editing. The editing is much
more rapid as she tries to run away from home. This
automatically changes the feel of the film and keeps
the interest of the audience.
• The blonde character that we were introduced to at
the beginning of the trailer, meets a boy and she and
her friend run away with him. Unlike, Electrick
children, the pace of the editing doesn't change as
drastically, but the sound does. We no longer hear the
voice over of one of the charters but we hear joyful,
gleeful music. Showing the audience that there has
bee a change in the tone of the film and trailer.
• The point at which there is a change in the tone of the
trailer for ginger and Rosa, is after Ginger feels that
Rosa is getting to close to her father, and they have an
argument about it. This contrasts the beginning half of
the trailer as we see the two characters start to drift
apart. This shows the audience that within the film
there will be a point of conflict between the two
characters and the film will explore how the
consequences of that unfold.