AimsAims

• To be familiar with the codes and conventions of film trailers

• SEAL/PLTS: To be independent enquirers

Film TrailersFilm Trailers

• Are film trailers:– Advertising?– Publicity?– Promotion?

• Why do you think this?

What is a Film Trailer?What is a Film Trailer?

1. What is the purpose of film trailers?

2. What information might they contain?

3. What else do we expect to see in them?

4. Where do we expect to see them?

Film Trailer Codes and ConventionsFilm Trailer Codes and Conventions

• In small groups, come up with a list (up to 10) of conventions that film trailers contain.

Film Trailer Codes and ConventionsFilm Trailer Codes and Conventions

• Voice over• Release date• Reviews• Title of film• Actors/actresses• Between 7–9 key scenes from the film• Music• SFX• Montage editing• Institutional details – cast, crew, production company…

Recognising ConventionsRecognising Conventions

• Watch the following trailers and fill out the sheet.

• What conventions of action-adventure films do you recognise?

CHARACTERS SETTING COSTUME/ PROPS

SITUATIONS/ EVENTS/PLOT TRAILER

FILM 1

How Effective are Film Trailers?How Effective are Film Trailers?

• Pick one of the film trailers seen in today's lesson.

• Write a short paragraph stating who the target audience was and how effective the trailer was in terms of getting an audience interested to watch it.

• Extension: Try applying an audience theory: uses and gratifications, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs or Dyer’s entertainment and utopia theory.

Satisfying Our Needs• The ‘Four Needs’ (or ‘Uses and Gratifications’) theory by Blumler

and Katz suggests that audiences use the media in four different ways.

•

1. Entertainment and diversion: to find personal pleasure and enjoyment; emotional release from everyday life and its problems.

2. Surveillance and information: to learn about the world, new experiences, other people; to satisfy curiosity; acquire new knowledge.

3. Personal relationships: to enhance and explore relationships with other people, find companionship or substitute friendships on screen.

4. Personal identity: to find support and reinforcement for one’s values and beliefs; to help understand oneself; to help explore one’s own identity.

• How far might these explain the popularity of action-adventure with audiences?

Reviewing the AimsReviewing the Aims

• To be familiar with the codes and conventions of film trailers

• SEAL/PLTS: To be independent enquirers