Trailer research

In class today, we decided to research various horror trailers in order for us to have some inspiration towards our own trailer. We feel we need more varied ideas and we want some inspiration in order for us to develop our ideas further. We studied horror-genre trailers in particular, due to this being the theme of our own trailer.
From this, we went on www.traileraddict.com and watched various trailers that were released within the last decade (in order for them to be up to date, therefore contributing well towards our trailer which is also set in the modern era)
Here are the trailers that we previewed, with points underneath each one which we think would contribute towards both our ideas and our teaser trailer:

'THE DUNWICH HORROR' (2009)

• Whip sound
• Flashing of stuff
• Eerie voice explaining the plot
• Books/newspaper clips connoting media/research - the use of dissolves between varied shots makes this look more rushed
• Range of lighting - from light to dark (equilibrium)
• Weather shown
• Black between shots
• Strange jump cut of man screaming and distorted

'THE AMITYVILLE HORROR" - (2007)

• Rumbling sound
• 'based on a true story'
• Newspapers
• The date is shown
• Voice over explaining plot alongside news articles - a presenter?
• Thunder and lightning - a pounding sound
• Heart pounding sounds
• Violin sounds and screeching
• Breathing sounds

'THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE' (2006)

• Heartbeat
• Photograph sounds/insects sounds
• Award mentioned by director
• Silent sound
• Chain noise - along radiator?
• Jumpy scene at end

'JEEPERS CREEPERS 2' (2003)

• Birds/crows - iconographic of graveyards
• Running

'THE DESCENT' (2006)

• Flashback in black and white
• Cave
• Lights - darkness
• Reaction shot - close up
• Fade in of words
• Distorted/echoe sounds
• Night vision - 'freak' behind person - eerie and prepares suspension
• Blood in a bath/running watery blood
• Close up of eyes with mud around face

Although these were useful, they are full-length trailers. We found teaser trailers difficult to find across our research in school due to many video websites being blocked. However, we came across these few teaser trailers, which were also useful towards contributing to our ideas.

TEASER TRAILERS:

'BURIED' (2010)

• 'Paul [ ] is not ready to die' - shocking statement
• Black with frightened sounds - causes inquisitiveness

'28 DAYS LATER' (2003)

• Alarm sound
• Days shown through - zooms in/flashes = moves across
• Telephone's hanging - has an eerie effect
• Close up of eyes (blood around face)

We thought we'd research some trailers from other countries, due to this being further research. These trailers differ slightly in theme, but are still useful towards are ideas

FOREIGN TRAILERS:

'THE HOST' (2007)

• People crying
• Fast then slow violins
• Heavy breathing/bang sounds
• Blood on face
• Big establishing shots
• Fast drum beat
• Critic quotes

'LET THE RIGHT ONE IN' (2009)

• Hitting things
• Bloody muddy fingers tips
• Slit on face

Photos from Day 1 (November 21st)

Video Diary Update

Update on filming: sound

In today's lesson, we experimented and edited our video further. In another blog, as a group we will discuss our progress so far, as well as discussing in detail as to what decisions/changes we have made
However, today we edited various shots of our trailer (e.g. making them all the same colour) but also developed further onto our sound; making this the main focus of today's lesson. We targeted the opening sounds of our trailer, which we wanted to record on the Mac's with natural sound. We did this by simply pressing record on our video, and letting the natural surroundings take over. The video below shows this, alongside the shots we have already edited in the early stages for our trailer:

The opening sound correlates with the first shot. This shot shows our protagonist in distress, as emphasized through her torn,bloody clothing and tormented emotions. The slow paced editing also adds to the trauma. We wanted a moaning, distorted sound to correlate this, to represent: the unknown; to introduce the eerie theme of our trailer, as well as possibly illustrate the sound of the point of view persona. However, we felt the sounds featured on the above video were lacking a creepy vibe. Although moans were ideal, they actually highlight another group's talking, which made the tones sound random and inconsistent.
From this, once the other group had left the classroom, we re-recorded on the Mac. This time, instead of only recording the natural surroundings (as this may have only produced a buzzing/static sound) we chose to make varied noises from the objects around us. These included tapping a computer screen, flicking pages from a notebook, hitting the table with our hands, scribbling fast on paper, circling a computer mouse on its side, as well as typing random numbers on a computer keyboard. Through these random diegetic sounds, we produced this opening noise:

We feel that this method was far more successful. We listened to the sounds and heard them as expected, although we then went on the edit this - through slow-pacing - which produced the above slow, moany, almost growling noises. Although not concluded, the sounds are ideal alongside the remainder of our trailer, as well as representing our initial ideas.