Script for Movie Trailer

Location Release Form

Audience Feedback on Pitch

Feedback 1

I feel that the pitch is very basic, and quite boring. It doesn't really show the creative side of the creators. However, it does give a detailed explanation of the film, but not in a very creative way. The way it is portrayed seems opposite to how the film should be portrayed. It seems extremely rushed and could be of a much better quality, because I do not find the pitch appealing at all and because of this, even though I quite like the story, there's a chance that i would be put off watching the film when it's released. 

Feedback 2

I enjoyed the story, and I would definitely watch it, but the way that it was put across in the pitch could've been a lot better. The background music is extremely cheesy, they don't seem very enthusiastic about the story and it seems extremely rushed and as if no thought went into it, with them reading scripts from their phones. It seems as though they just wanted to get it out of the way and start work on other things rather than spend time on creating their pitch.

Feedback 3

The pitch, in my opinion, seems very rushed. It seems as though it was planned 5 minutes before it was filmed, especially as they are reading off of their phones. It doesn't show much enthusiasm in the story, which is the opposite of what I expected, and it may put me off watching it, even if the story itself is actually quite good. It's quite boring, and quite dreary, especially the way they talk - it seems very business-like to me, which I don't really like.

Front Cover Layout Sketches

Poster Layout Sketches

Question 1A - Research and Planning - Plan

24/11/17

Photoshoot Planning

Time & Date	Shot type	Location & Lighting	Props, costume, hair	Character used
8th March 2018 15:20	Low Angle	Staff Work Room	Taped mouth and tied arms (Eve) School Uniform (Eve)	Laura Gill (Eve) Michael (Charles) Kurt Rees (George) James Deakin (James)
8th March 2018  15:30	High Angle	Staff Work Room	Taped mouth and tied arms (Eve) School Uniform (Eve)	Laura Gill (Eve) Michael (Charles) Kurt Rees (George) James Deakin (James)
8th March 2018  15:40		Staff Work Room	Taped mouth and tied arms (Eve) School Uniform (Eve)	Laura Gill (Eve) Michael (Charles) Kurt Rees (George) James Deakin (James)

Risk Assessments

Actors Contract

Production Schedule

Pitch

Production Company Logos

Research

As can be seen from the image, there are a wide variety of different designs for film production company logos. The larger companies typically don't use things that you'd associate with film because their logos have become associated with film themselves, and therefore don't need to. In addition, they also use elaborate 3D designs or their original designs from when the companies were first created. In some cases, the 3D logos are based on older logos of the company's and they have just made 3D versions of these logos. In addition, as some companies include the founder's names, the logos use these - such as Disney and Warner Bros (WB). These kind of logos can only be used be companies that are named like that. In addition, it may be expensive to develop an elaborate 3D logo, which a low budget company like Slick Motion wouldn't be able to afford.

Location, costumes and props

Location list


Plantsbrook school- The majority of the trailer will be filmed in Plantsbrook School. This is because the film is based in a school so the shots need to show the main location of the film. There will be many different rooms used including the sixth form common room, senior management office, the drama room, the dining room and also classrooms. The outside of school will be filmed also such as the entrance of the school. The drama room will be used where the hostages will be kept by the kidnappers and also when the video is filmed which is sent to the manager who sacked the kidnappers fathers. The senior management office is where the ex SAS officer will be filmed for the majority of the film. The sixth form common room is where the heroes will be located in the film but they will be shown in many different locations around the school.


Red Mercedes C class 2010- The car will be used for the kidnappers travelling to the school. The kidnappers will be driven to the school and many shots will show the kidnappers inside the car and also running out the car. Extreme close up shots of the car will be shown in the trailer.




Costume list

School uniform- The students will be in school uniform as the film is set in a school on a 'normal' day.
Black suit- The kidnappers will be dressed in black suits as they like to look smart. The ex SAS will also be wearing a suit,.
Balaclavas- Balaclavas will be worn by the kidnappers to hide their identity.


Props

Black gloves- These will be worn by the kidnappers to prevent any finger prints being shown.

Plastic guns- At least three black guns which are going to be pistols which the kidnappers and the ex SAS will use.

Laptop

Phone

Car

Camera

 

 

School Run Logos and Logo Inspiration

My Logos

5 Film Logos

These logos are all of action films. It is noted that all of them use a sans serif font, and that two of them look to be damaged or dirty, whilst one of them features a gun. This will be taken into account when designing my logos.The colours of black and white also feature prominently, with one logo also having red as part of it.

Some of the logos seem cleaner than the others, one of which clearly shows an 'aim' for a gun. These logos don't look dirty or damaged, however they feature gun related graphics - which have been incorporated.

My logos will merge these two ideas.

Theoretical analysis of my product (how my product links with theorists theories)

Character Profiles

Shot list

F: 13th November 2017

Research: Analysis of three movie magazine front covers

Movie Trailer Production Treatment

Questionnaire Response Analysis

New Narrative Idea - to be developed

The narrative will be set in a school.

Equilibrium

New Equilibrium

Disruption & Realisation Stages

Repair Stages

It’s a normal day, a group of friends are in their lessons on a what they think will be a normal Monday. During period 5 they decide to stay in the common room to get some work done, because they’re meeting with their friends who have lessons during period 5 afterschool.

Suddenly, two people, disguised as Carrilion workers – who are doing work on the building – walk into the common room via the study room and lock the students in. They threaten them with guns and they plant a bomb.

Their friends walk out of school after period 5, and call the friends that are being held hostage in the common room and ask where they are. They tell them what’s happening. They go to the school reception and tell them that they need to speak to a senior member of staff, who calls the police. However, these friends want to save their friends, so they find a staff laptop left in the sixth form office, logged on, and look at the CCTV. They finally see the real nature of the situation and they know that they need to act fast. The police said that they’d be along soon, to the senior member of staff, but they don’t arrive for an hour. The students must keep their friends safe during the ordeal – before the police arrive. One of the terrorists, disguised as a carillion worker, leaves the common room and refuses to negotiate. The terrorist then chases the students around the school, aiming and shooting his gun, but the students outrun him. They wait until he’s run out of bullets, and then do their best to corner him in an IT classroom. By this time, the terrorist in the common room has started to broadcast the situation online, so a student logs on and starts watching the situation from the IT room whilst they fight. They know that they must not injure him, because if they do their friends will be shot and a bomb will be set off in the common room.

During the fight, the police turn up and try to negotiate through the common room windows – even though they’re on the ground floor. The friends decide that this is their chance – the terrorist in the common room is distracted, so they knock out the other terrorist in the IT room. One goes to the sixth form office, one stays in the IT room – to keep an eye on the terrorist in the IT room and look at the cameras - whilst two head for the common room and another heads for someone with keys. They somehow manage to take the keys from another staff member’s pocket without them noticing, and then head for the common room. Whilst the terrorist is distracted by the police, the friends sneak in via the study room, where they find the terrorists bag which contains bullets for the terrorist in the IT rooms gun. They get their friends to bring that gun to them, and then ask the police if they will get in trouble for shooting them. Due to the situation, the police inform them that they can shoot. They then enter the common room via the study room door and shoot the terrorist – in the head and in the back. They inform the police about the other one, and the police then head up to do their investigation and collect the body.

Two weeks later, the school reopens – albeit with the common room closed – and the friends are seen in an assembly, where the police present them with bravery awards. They are then seen carrying out daily school life, with lessons, as normal.

Research: Analysis of three film posters

Poster 1

Billboard

Poster 2

Key Concepts 4: Audience (Mr Love)

Updated based on feedback - not the PDF version To view a PDF version, click here

Film Trailers - Convention Research

Film 1

If the link to the trailer in the presentation below DOESN'T work, then please click here or type: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6reo6h7h1wk.

Film 2

Trailer

Audience Survey 1

If you cannot see the survey below, please click this link (https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/JXWKVSV).

Key Concepts 3: Representation (Mr Love)

Audience Profiling

The Ultimate How To Guide to Making Trailers

Source: Ian Wall, Media Magazine, April 2014

The Purpose of Trailers

Trailers have an obvious purpose - to make people want to see a film. The purpose is essentially to give the audience an idea of what the film is like.

To find a film pleasurable, it needs to have something new about it but also it needs to build on the knowledge and experience of the audience. 

Franchise films use this.

Unique selling point

In order to market a film, the distributor needs to decide what sets the film's USP (unique selling point). They need to look at the aspects of the film that set it aside from other films in that genre. They will look at the storyline to see how the film differs from others in the same genre and see what the key parts of the story are. In addition, they will look at the actors that star in the film, the director and any special effects.

The USP of a film will help potential audiences come to an understanding of what they might expect when they go to see the film.

The target audience

When thinking about the USP, they will also be considering who the target audience for the film is.

The target audience is best defined as the specific largest group of people that would be interested in seeing the film.

The target audience will affect the where and how parts of the marketing campaign (where the film is promoted and advertised and how to reach that specific target audience.

Whilst the target audience is important, the distributor will try and attract the widest range of people as possible.

The Trailer

A trailer is almost certainly the most cost effective advertising technique that is available to film distributors.

It can be shown in cinemas, on TV and online. 

Extracts from the film are used because these excite the audience. 

Trailers work by using a combination of moving images, graphics and a voiceover to create a narrative image of the film.

They are shown in cinemas before films that might attract a similar audience.

Looking at trailers

Films have to be positioned by considering the USP against an understanding of age, gender, lifestyles and activities of the audiences.

The target audience can vary from film to film.

It is the distributors job to define who the audience for any one film is, and each film has to be treated as an individual product.

There are points that need to be considered including: How long is each trailer, how many shots are contained in each trailer, how long is each shot approx., what different devices are used in the trailer and others.

Learn from other student trailers

Common errors found in student trailers include:

• Too long
• Far too long
• What is included resembles the opening sequence of the film
• Shots are too long
• There isn't a variety of shots
• Trailers lack pace in editing
• Sound quality of dialogue is poor
• No use of captions/intertitles.
• No voiceover
• No clear idea of what the story is about

Creating the trailer - the story

The starting point of a trailer is knowing the complete story of the film. A trailer editor will watch the whole film and select scenes, moments and pieces of dialogue which will al contribute to creating the narrative image.

The narrative image that you want to convey must be considered. Things such as what is the idea of the film, the narrative image, that you are trying to get across.

Creative choices

Thought needs to go into the overall feel of the trailer, such as is a voicerover going to be used, are there going to be captions, and will there be - and what is the - background music.

If the answer is yes to any over those, then the words that are going to be used need to help develop the idea of the narrative image. They must tease the viewer into wanting to watch the film.

Filming

The most creative part is the edit. Lots of choices of shots are needed in order to make the edit easier, therefore these must be thought about during filming.

How many ways can you film someone doing something.

A variety of shots need to be filmed.

Music

The music must reflect the mood and feel of the film. It must give the audience a feel for the film. The genre of the film should be considered and the music that si chosen should be perfect.

The edit

Adding the music track at the end should be avoid. The music should be laid down before the editing of the images begins. The beat of the music will help the trailer be constrcucted.

The music should be lowered when the voiceovers are added, and when there is dialogue, so that it could be heard.

Things to think about once finished

• Make sure that there are no shots that are extremely long compared to others
• Make sure it isn't longer than two minutes.
• Compare the trailer with the synopsis

Key Concepts 1: Genre (Mr Love)

Updated using feedback in book.

Key Concepts 2: Narrative (Mr Love)

2 x Action Narratives

Modern Movie Trailers

*All examples taken from 2017 trailers

The Vocabulary

The Turn Line

This is the part of the trailer where the music drops out and there is dialogue. This is usually the point where the action starts. (Good examples:
)

The Rise

This follows the turn line. It lead to the big finale that the trailer builds up to.

Hits

Pounding dramatic booms used to punctuate trailers. (Good example: )

The Button

This is the scare or joke that comes immediately after the main title reveal. It ends the trailer with a bang.

The Soundtrack

It is important that the right soundtrack is used, as they are a very important part of the trailer. Some soundtracks are made specifically for the trailer, which makes them fit perfectly with the scenes that are in the trailer. Sometimes, this is not the case.

It is important that the soundtrack effects the person emotionally, as this will mean that they are more likely to go and watch the film. The soundtrack helps to sell the film within the short amount of time that is available in a trailer.

Editing and Camerawork

Shots have become shorter and more fragmented, and each year the average length of a shot decreases. This is because the audience absorbs the information faster. Typically the cuts become quicker near the end, or with the action, and they often go along with the sounds.

There are comparisons with old films, with their trailers being much longer than the trailers of new films and also having less shots and cuts. 

Examples 

Summer Homework

Film 1 (Q1/2) - American Film

Poster

Media Language

The title is written in the largest font, with 'the' being slightly smaller. In addition, the title has three words, with multiple words being common for this genre of film. This is also a convention that has been followed throughout the film series because the names of the films are identical to the names of the books that they are based on - with the last word changing for each film. The use of the same words at the start of the title will, therefore, make the poster stand out to people that have seen the previous films and motivate them to go and see the new film. In addition, there is a strapline at the top - which refers to both the release date and the film and also links nicely with the image that has been used. Straplines are often like this, with "this summer" or "this autumn" often being used.

Mise-en-scene

The two posters that I have uploaded are very different. The first shows the back of Bourne's head and a city. Bourne is facing the city, instead of the camera, showing that he is returning to the city from somewhere else. In addition, whilst there are no visible facial expressions, you can clearly see that Bourne is standing upright, which suggests that he is ready for something.

In the second poster, we see  Bourne facing the camera. His jacket appears to be coming off, which could suggest that he is moving, and he also looks slightly tired, which could suggest that he has been doing something (potentially what he was looking ready for in the first poster). It looks as though he's walking, and his face is turned slightly to the left, which could suggest that he is talking to someone.

Representation

The representation is different in both posters. The first poster shows that Bourne is ready for something, whatever that may be. Whilst the second poster seems to represent the action of the film. The first poster also shows a setting for the film, whilst the second one doesn't. Both posters clearly represent Bourne as the main character, which is true.

Images & Camera

Both posters feature the main character, which the film (and series) is named after). The first one links well with the strapline, with an image of Bourne in front of his 'home' - with him facing it, to show that he's returning. The second poster shows a slightly blurry image of Bourne facing the camera. The blur could suggest that the film is an action film, which it is, due to images often becoming blurred when there is action in them.

Magazine

Trailer

Media Language

Media Language includes the text that is seen at the start of the trailer, which refers to the events of the previous films in the series. This could have been used to make people who have seen the previous films think about those, and then want to know what happens next in the story.

Sound

The trailer uses non-diegetic sound, that gets faster and then fades out and slows down nearer to then. The music is repetitive near the end, which could be to build up suspense - especially during the scene where they are talking on the phone. The fast paced nature of the sound links with the fact that the film is an action film.

Images & Camera

The trailer uses a variety of shots, including close ups, medium long shots, over the shoulder shots, two shots and long shots.

Mise-en-scene

The mise-en-scene gives a feel for what the film is like, showing things such as car chases, fights and also other important events. In addition, it shows weapons, such as guns, which feature prominently in the film. This shows that this is an action film. This is particularly evident after Bourne speaks.

Editing

The trailer features a lot of quick cuts, between various action scenes within the film. This is typical of films of this nature because it shows the action.

Question 3

The posters, for sure, definitely have links. For example, the font used and the colours used are the same. This allows for some uniformity across the brand/franchise of the film and makes it obvious that it's the same film. 

The magazine, however, is completely different to the posters. This may be because other films are also featured on the front of the magazine, and therefore less uniformity is present. It also worth noting that the magazine is published by a completely different company to the film's production company and studio, which may also have something to do with this.

The trailer links with both posters. For example, when Bourne first speaks in the trailer, he seems still, a lot like he does in the first poster. And then later, we see action which links with the second poster. This could have been done on purpose, to link the films with the posters or to show that whilst the film is mostly action, there are a few others parts in there which lead onto the action.

Film 2 (Q1/2) - British Film

After much research, I am able to complete the work for a British film. The amount of research required proved to me how much more well known American films are, because i've had to go with a British film that I have never heard of.

PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE GONE FOR A FILM THAT DOESN'T HAVE A MAGAZINE COVER! THIS IS LIKELY TO BE BECAUSE THIS FILM WASN'T RELEASED AT THE TIME OF COMPLETING THE WORK.

Poster

Media Language

The title is written in a large red font, and is directly in the centre of the poster. The type of font is very common when it comes to action films. The actors in the film are above this, in a smaller font. These could have been placed here to get fans of these actors interested in the film and make them want to see the film.

Mise-en-scene

The poster contains two main images. The one at the top shows a man, presumably the main character, holding a gun. The second shows what looks like a beach, with an explosion happening on the left and a boat on fire on the right. In the centre, we see the same man, holding a guitar (he is a rock star) holding a gun.

Both of these images seem to follow a common convention across action films, with explosions and guns featuring in them.

Representation

The representation shows that, in my opinion, the character is ready for anything. This can be seen mainly in the second image, where it looks as though he could potentially have caused the explosion and fire but the damage doesn't really bother him based on his stance and look.

Images & Camera

The poster features two images of the main character. The first image shows a close up of his face, maybe to show his expression but also the gun. The second shows a medium shot of him, walking away from some chaos (the explosions and fire) that he has seemingly caused.

Trailer

Media Language

There isn't much text, however there is a list of films that the director has previously worked on. This could potentially be to lure in people that have seen those films. There is also text near the end of the film that gives names of actors, possibly to lure in fans of those actors and also the name of the film in large text.

Sound

There is a non-diegetic soundtrack that gets fast and then also stops during various conversations. There is narration from the main character, or what seems to be narration, and later on there are conversations.

Images & Camera

The trailer uses a variety of shots, such as over the shoulder, establishing, close ups, different medium shots and long shots.

Mise-en-scene

The mise-en-scene gives a feel for where the film is set and the kind of people that are involved. For example, the costume worn by the main character gives evidence of the fact that he is a rock star. In addition, there are guns seen in the film, which show that its an action film. However, in my opinion, there seems to be too much conversation which detracts from the fact that its an action film.

Editing

Lots of quick cuts, potentially to show the action.

Question 3

In my opinion, the two don't have links. There are things that are similar, such as the font used on the poster and in the trailer, and there is also the continuous usage of the colour red.

In my opinion, there is poor continuity between the trailer and poster, but that may have been because the poster was released a long time before the trailer. In addition, there may have been other posters that I haven't come across online, because I certainly haven't seen them when out.

The reasoning behind this could've been the budget because it may also have been to do with the target audience. The film came up after a search online and I found it interesting, I had never heard of it before, which could be proof of this, which could have something to do with the target audience and the  poster and trailer seemingly being different

Question 3

Question 3 can be seen underneath each films section.

Preliminary Task Evaluation

1.What new skills, techniques and knowledge have you learnt from producing the preliminary activity? 

While producing the preliminary activity, I have learnt various different things including how to use the camera and tripod and how to use iMovie to edit the footage that has been filmed. 
I now know how to correctly setup the tripod, setup the camera, film using various different types of shot, import the filmed footage into iMovie, add titles (at the start of the trailer, and in between various different clips/shots/scenes) and add music (a soundtrack) that fits with the genre of the film that the trailer has been created for.

2. How did you work with other people in your production team?  

Overall, I feel that we worked well. However, there was some lack of discussion when the script was changed (although apparently I had been messaged about this). I feel that working in a team to create the preliminary task has helped me with my team working skills, particularly when we were filming the footage - because this was when teamwork was really needed. It also allowed me to see how the production teams would work, and what we'd have to do in our teams, for the main activity/task that will be completed next.

3 What role did you play in the production? 

I had various roles in the production. These included acting (which I believe I could have done better at), helping write the treatment and helping to choose between the three narratives (and eventually choosing Taylor's). 

I feel that I could have done more, and had more roles in the production, as this would have helped me gain skills in script writing and also deciding which shots would be used, skills which may be useful next year when I come to working on the main task. 

4. Would you have done anything differently? 

I would have spent more time working on the script with the others, rather than just leaving it all to them, because this would've made it fairer and would've split the workload but would also have helped me gain skills in script writing that I will need for the main activity, when I come to do that next year.

5. What parts of the process did you find most challenging?  

I found choosing the soundtrack the most challenging, because the kind of music that is associated with the genre isn't the kind of music that I would normally listen to, which meant that I wasn't really sure whether or not the music was the right kind of music for the genre of this trailer.

6. How did you overcome this?

I used the internet to research the types of music that would be used for this genre, and then searched for some royalty free music that would fit. This allowed me to make sure that the kind of music was correct for this genre of trailer.

7. How successful was your final media product? What are the strengths and the areas that you need to work on in future projects?

I found that one of my weaknesses was choosing the correct music for the soundtrack, but as I said above I managed to overcome this by doing some research on the kinds of music that are used for films of this genre. Another weakness that I have is spreading the work equally because I feel that I did less work than the others in the team, although I didn't mean to do less work than them. 

Preliminary Task - One Day Trailer

Shot List

Shot number	Camera shot	Camera Angle	Camera Movement	Shot Description	Shot length (seconds)
1	Establishing Shot	Level	Pan	Shows the setting of where the characters are.	4
2	Medium Shot	Level	Moves to focus on the characters	The boss is talking to Gonzalo about the drugs.	3
3	Extreme Long Shot	Level	Pan	Rubinito is chasing Gonzalo	3
4	Close up high angle shot	High Angle Shot		Rubinito is on the floor with the boss kicking him.	4
5	Long low angle shot	Low Angle Shot		Gonzalo with the drugs.	5
6	Tracking Shot	Level	Tracking	Gonzalo running away from the boss.	3
7	Over the shoulder shot	Level		The boss and Gonzalo speaking about the drugs.	4
8	Close up	Level	Zoom	Close up of the drugs	5
9	Point of View Shot	Level	Tracking	Rubinito is chasing Gonzalo	3
10	Long shot	Level		Briefcase with the drugs in	4
11	Medium Close up	Level	Slight zoom	Medium close up of characters.	5

Script

The Boss- James
Rubinito- Taylor
Gonzalo- Dan

There will also be a narrator in the trailer as the shots of the trailer are being shown to create tension.


Introduction and copyright pop ups- 5-6 seconds

Establishing shot of location- 2 seconds

Narrator speaks- My name is Rubinto,

The Boss-  "Ah Rubinto sit down"-medium close up- 3 seconds

Point of view of Gonzalo getting chased with stolen drugs- 2 seconds

Close up shot of drugs- 1 second

Medium shot of Gonzalo with actors name on screen- 2 seconds

Rubinto on the phone- High angle shot- 1 seconds

Extreme close up of gun- 1 second

Over the shoulder shot- Rubinto and Gonzalo- Rubinto "So you have the money"- 2 seconds

Medium Shot of The Boss with actors name come up on to the screen- 2 seconds.

Low Angle shot of Gonzalo- "HAHAHAHA" 2 seconds

Tracking shot of The Boss speaking standing up looking forwards- 2 seconds

Close up shot of Gonzalo with a zoom to his mouth- "No"- 4 seconds

Music becomes more dramatic

Gonzalo and Rubinto have a fight- Long shot- 3 seconds.

Medium Shot of Rubinto with actors name coming up on the screen- 2 seconds

Tracking Shot of Gonzalo running with briefcase- 3 seconds.

Medium shot of boss punching the desk in frustration- 2 seconds

Long shot of Rubinto with a gun in his hand pointing it and firing it- 3 seconds

Black screen with name of film come up- 3 seconds

End credits- 4 seconds