Harold and Kumar’s Trailer Questions.

Harold and Kumar’s Trailer Questions.

1. What aspects of the film are emphasised in the trailer? Why do you think this is?
The action is emphasised within this trailer as the characters are show in a number of shots in an active form. The lighting and sound also convey the aspect of action within this trailer.

2. How is the genre of the film established in the film trailer? (refer to the mise-en-scene including editing and sound in addition to visual/symbolic/written iconographies).
The genre of the film is ‘comedy’ it is established throughout the film through many aspects one of witch is camera movements the use of camera movements e.g. the fast cuts may connote the comedy as being very passed. Also the mese-en-scene of some scene also shows the audience that this film is a comedy.

3. From the information you see/ hear on screen only (and not from prior knowledge) who are the target audience of this film and how do you know?
From the information we see in the trailer, the primary target audience appears to be adults18 and over. This is because the trailer features a lot of sexual reference and also a play on word so it would obviously not be appropriate for a audience any younger than 18year olds unless with an adult.

4. How does the trailer show that this film is worth coming to see?
The trailer shows the audience that this film is worth coming to see as the storyline is briefly show however some of the clips shown crate an enigma leaving the audience with un-answered question making them want to watch the whole film. Also people may want to watch this film for escapism since it is in the comedy genre.

5. Trailers are not 'mini-films'. They are a genre in their own right and have their own set of easily recognisable conventions. List the conventions of film trailers
*Quick edited shots
*Close ups on the characters
*Captions.
*Timeing (Last 2-3mins)
*Diegetic Sound – Voiceover

Extennshion Taskk HomeWork . . .

Prom Night
The first image I choose to analyse was this shot from the thriller ‘Prom Night’ I decided to choose this shot since it is a medium shot showing clear facial expressions. We can see that the girl is shocked and confused this creates an enigma for the spectators as it leads to suspense as they would like to know what has caused the little girl to be frightened. Moreover, the terrified look on the little girls face can connote that there is something troubling her, which we as the audience do not know. Therefore, this leaves the audience questioning what it may be.



Hostel
This image from ‘Hostile’ is a close up shot; it shows clearly a boy in the foreground with a man a little blurred in the background. We can see that the man in the back has a gun in his hand and since this is a horror, we can gather that something may be wrong. This image shows the audience clear facial expressions we can see that something’s wrong and the child may need help.


HellBoy
This medium shot has a very heavy impact on the viewer; it shows strong facial expressions and clearly follows the conventions of a action movie. The prop held by ‘Hellboy’ is the gun, it is in the viewers face although this is not the focus of the shot, the man is the focal point in this shot. Furthermore this is a point of view shot as we are looking at the actor through the defendants’ point of view.


Scarface
‘Scarface’ is the last shot I looked at I choose this shot because it was a long shot, it includes the whole body. This Gangster film is in full action in this shot as we can see the main protagonist firing his gun. Body language can be analysed in this picture since it can be seen as well as the Mis-en-Scene.

1) Choose Two Extracts From Different Eras and Analyse The Cinimatography. Whay are The Key Differences?

Psycho (1960)


Sunset Boulevord (1950)


A lot of camera framing has been used throughout Psycho, there are a range of shots varying from Close-Up’s to Low and High angel shots. This contrast with the trailer of Sunset Boulevard were only basic camera movements have been used.

Many close-ups and medium shots have been used in Psycho this may have been done to show facial expressions or to create a suture. The music used in Psycho creates a tense atmosphere it connotes the genre of the thriller movie. The conventions of a thriller have been conveyed very well by Alfred Hitchcock.

Sunset Boulevard, has uses a voice over this is not very normal in film trailers. Unusual cuts have been used in this trailer like wipes, these are not very much used in trailers or even films, however this may have been because the technology was not very technical. Basic fades and wipes have been used very much throughout this trailer. It is not fast or paced.

Overall out of the two trailers I think Psycho is a more successful trailer since it has conveyed the conventions of its genre very well and it is successful in using cinematography.