FILM TRAILERS

Psycho Trailer (1960) :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTkrSlsNfxQ&feature=related

It is a horror film trailer, it exists to promote the film to its audience, it is vital that the trailer is good so the audience are attracted to the film and want to go watch the film.

M the music is very slow at the beggining and then during the trailer as the narrative develops the music begins to go more faster and becomes more dramatic- the effect of this is that it then is clear what the genre of the film is.
Also there is no voice over in the trailer, writing appears from time to time and diolouge is mostly used. the trailer thus leaves the audience to make their own interpretation of what is happening. also as the diolouge cuts off many times it leaves the audience curous of what may happen next thus may attract them to watch the film.
The shots tend to begin off slow but then over time they go faster building up the tension.
The ending is significantly disturbing, the woman is screaming which is alarming for the audience. this is therefore what the audience would potentially remember the most.
'Psycho' appears right at the end, which is also memorable, it appears in the colour red which connotes, danger, blood and violence.


I 'Alfred Hitchcock presents' it appears that he is imporatant for it to be shown central to the film trailer. He was known particularly for as being a highly influential director and producer.

G the genre is horror, this is recognised by the music, the characters expressions, the diolouge, murder that happens and the screaming.

R It is interesting too see how the woman is the victim and the man is the killer and the pyscho
also how the old woman is seen to be the murderer in the trailer when it is really not the woman.

A the audience would be those who are familiar with Hitchcock's work and are fans. Also those whom enjot the horror genre.

I the woman is shown as the victim and the men in control and power. when the woman is stabbed with a knife that could be seena s a phallic symbol. The voice over also appears to be significant as it is of a man.

N is in chronological order, this therefore does not confuce the audience also it helps bulid up the tension.

Halloween Trailer (2007) :

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kww5KSqzV9U

M

fast montage
voice over
it has text and a voice over of a man ...
dark mise on scene
mintage at the beggining
it has a striking ending after holloween a

I

institution appeasr foirst emphasising its importance

G

horror- the continous reminder of the man in the mask...reinforces the genre, the screamiong also

R

the voiceover is of a male, suggesting patriachal idealogies

when a young woman is shown her legs are shown also. #

A

are likely to be teenagers

ESSAY:

Film trailers, Psycho (1960) and Halloween (2007) both show similarities and differences, both being of the same genre consist of generic conventions to establish the horror genre however there time differences in which they were made shows significant changes.

Ultimately Psycho appears to be a subtle horror trailer in comparison to Halloween. The string music contributes to the intensity the audience feel as they watch the trailer. As the trailer develops the music also tends to and ultimately leads the end when the title of the film appears. The title appearing at the end remains particularly significant as it remains memorable to the audience. ‘Psycho’ actually appears in the colour red which connotes blood, violence and death, which is appropriate to the film. Alternatively Halloween consists of sounds at the beginning, which is then followed by a heart beat which engages its audience as though something intense shocking would happen. The music then develops and helps emphasises what goes on onscreen. Furthermore it them becomes silent when towards the end when the title appears in green, initially green connotes gruesome and slime suggesting the film would be brutal.

There is no voice over in the trailer of Psycho and it only consists of text and dialogue from the film this therefore allows the audience to interpret what is on screen themselves, and allowing them to concentrate more. Also as at times the dialogue cuts off it leaves the audience curious to what may happen next thus this fulfils the trailers objectives of attracting the audience to watch the film. Halloween however consists of dialogue and text which essentially reinforces what it says and also brings the audience’s attention. The voice over in Halloween is a deep voice of a man’s suggesting patriarchal ideologies. In addition in the representation of women within the trailer is shown as weak and victims, as they are the ones shown to be attacked. Also there is one particular shot showing young girls legs which seems unnecessary. Psycho is also guilty of this as the woman is the victim and the man is ultimately the one in power. It is also interesting that in the trailer the ‘mother’ is seen as the psycho when all along it was the man.

The edits in Psycho begin of slow which contributes to its intensity, then the edits begin to develop and go faster and faster which eventually leads to the disturbing sounds the audience witness. The woman screaming is alarming and distressing for the audience and it being the last scene is memorable. The audience thus want a proper conclusion as the end does not provide them closure; ultimately they would then go watch the film. Halloween also finishes its trailer with similar intensions. The title of the film appears slowly and then a scene reappears slowly which then shocks the audience with the character screaming and the pace of the edits being extremely fast. Alfred Hitchcock was known particularly for being a highly influential director and producer thus the trailer does not consist of his name perhaps as he was so established that he felt it was not necessary. Halloween’s trailer however consists of the institution appearing first which emphasises its importance to the film and how much the film relies on its institution to promote the film. The narrative in the trailer Psycho appears in chronological order thus the audience easily follow it all the way through as it builds up. In Halloween however the narrative id not in any particular order and the trailer is shown as a montage with quick clips from the film. Between clips however the trailer consists of an emphasis on the man with the mask which reinforces the genre of the film.

Both trailers consist of a dark atmosphere which is typical conventions of the genre. Psycho consists of a particularly isolated area with emphasises on the dark mysterious house on the hill. It seems appropriate at the time of when it was made as gruesome scenes were not allowed to be shown thus typical conventions of the horror genre had to be emphasised as a reminder to the audience. Halloween being made recently in 2007 obviously had different intentions, as more brutality and extreme horror is more accepted the film is set in more of a ‘normal’ area, which may not seem to be particularly scary. The actually narrative therefore compensates for it. The audience of the film are most likely to be teenagers and the trailer consists of teenagers. The shot showing the young woman’s legs suggests perhaps an audience of young men. Psycho’s audience is most likely to be Alfred Hitchcock’s fans, those whom at the time understood his intentions as an artist.