Billy: COVER SKETCH

this is another idea for the magazine cover it is a more conventional alternative to the other design idea

Billy: SKETCH STORYBOARDS NEW AND OLD

this is the original storyboard I drew up we shot the first few scenes will the girl in the room and the parents coming to collect her but these shot were unusable for variose reasons (under exposed, out of focus) there will be a blog post of some of these failed shots

this is the new storyboard for the teaser trailer as you can see the narrative focuses entirely on two characters and the cinematography will be allot more styled and simple i think this will be allot easier to shoot and i think it will tell a better story the shots may be rearranged slightly during editing

Billy: LAYOUT SKETCH (magazine cover & poster) 2

These are some preliminary sketches trying to work out what the cover may look like I used this to work from when I made the photoshop mock up. There are definitely benefits to working in this way by getting ideas on to the paper quickly sketching them then seeing if you can achieve the desired effect on the computer using photoshop each stage helps the next.

Billy: mock-up magazine cover

This is another mock up of what the magazine cover could look like I thought it would be cool if the entire publication looked like an unholy book of spells.

I think this is potentially eye caching as people are used to seeing sleek cover designs on shop shelves so when they see a worn looking book they will be compelled to investigate.

I created worn leather by overlying a worn leather image set to a low opacity over leather that I thought was the right colour and texture I then used basic textures and low opacity to create the look of branded leather the only thing I think may not work is putting cover lines in my interfere with the overall look I could try and work around this by using a font that fits in with the old worn look.

Beatrice: Audience Research Preparation

When starting my Audience Research I was faced with the challenge of coming up with 20 questions which had to be answered by 40 people and all the data collected. The questions that I was asking had to in the long term help me to create my film trailer which would entice viewers to see our film trailer which would then hopefully influence them to be interested in watching the film.

When brainstorming I had to take into consideration questions which would give us brief background information to the people which were answering our survey. For this I asked for their Sex and Age as we would be able to tell whether their personal features would have an effect on the final outcome. I then wanted to know their personal preferences on movies in general and so Questions 3, 4, 5 and 6 all give me this information and also the effect on the final outcome.

I asked Question 7, 8, 9, 11 and 14 so that I would have a Point of View on their knowledge about teaser trailers. This would show us the general importance of teaser trailers to a segment of our target area (16-19) and would contribute in the outcome of our trailer. Question 11 would help us in deciding how long our trailer would be, this is necessary to know as we want to know how long they would spend actually watching a teaser trailer before getting bored. Question 14 will help us as well because it will show what we would definitely need to put into the trailer and the importance of it

To help with the making of our magazine cover I asked Question 10 to show the importance of a magazine in general. I asked Question 13 to also highlight what makes a film poster stand out and so the outcome will determine what we focus on the most.

The rest of the questions are based on the trailer directly and will contribute to the outcome of it.

1. Are you Male or Female?

2. How old are you?

3. Do you enjoy watching Films?

4. How often do you watch films?

5. What's your favourite Movie Genre?

6. Do you prefer British/American horror Movies?

7. Do you take notice of Film Teaser Trailers?

8. Do you think trailers are essential in advertising a Film?

9. Would you consider going to watch a Film based on a Film Trailer?

10. Do you read Film Magazines?

11. How long would you expect a Teaser Trailer to be?

12. What attracts you to a Film?

13. What makes a film poster stand out to you?

14. What makes a good trailer?

15. Do you prefer actual Horror Film or Spoof Films (i.e. Scary Movie)?

16. Which do you find scarier?

17. Which age group do you feel horror films are primarily aimed at?

18. Out of the following upcoming films for the rest of 2009 and in 2010, which would you most likely go and see, based on their trailers?

19. What builds suspense in a thriller?

20. What is it that you like about Horror films?

Beatrice: Audience Research Questions 11-20

We also gathered that our teaser trailer should be under one minute long, however it should be more that 30 seconds. This tells us that this length is long enough to keep a viewer entertained, but not too short as to leave viewers in suspense. What attracts over than 50% of viewers to a film is the teaser trailer and so we have to make sure that our teaser trailer does exactly that and for the poster we have to make sure that the main image also stands out as this is what stands out to 75% of people. When making the trailer, we should include suspense but also include originality and make sure it is an actual horror and not a spoof which includes 'evil humans' and not the paranormal. When filming we are going to take into consideration twisted plots and the music whether it is diegetic or non-diegetic. When we asked about previous horror films, the most popular was 'The Last Exorcism' which we have incorporated into our teaser trailer as we too are going to have a possessed child in our trailer. Before research had started, we decided to have a target audience of males and females aged 16-25 and in our survey everyone voted for the 2 categories-aged 16-18 and 18-25 which is within our age range and so we don't have to change any requirements to our trailer.

Beatrice: Audience Research Results Questions 1-10

From this Audience Research the information we gathered was that we interviewed more females than males and they they were mainly aged 17 years old. With 38 people who enjoyed films we found out that only just over 50% of these people watch films every so often. The genre of our film is horror and only under 25% of people choose it as their favourite genre. Not to our surprise over 75% of people choose American films to British films however just under 75% of people take notice of teaser trailer which is a benefit to us. The fact that 37 out of 40 people find it essential in having a trailer to advertise a film, this shows the importance of our trailer if we want our film to be successful. Also 35 out of 40 people would consider going to watch a film based on a trailer and this highlights that this trailer should attract potential viewers. Not to our surprise however, only 10% of people actually read music magazine.

Beatrice: Audience Research Questions

1. Are you Male or Female?
2. How old are you?
3. Do you enjoy watching Films?
4. How often do you watch films?
5. What's your favourite Movie Genre?
6. Do you prefer British/American horror Movies?
7. Do you take notice of Film Teaser Trailers?
8. Do you think trailers are essential in advertising a Film?
9. Would you consider going to watch a Film based on a Film Trailer?
10. Do you read Film Magazines?
11. How long would you expect a Teaser Trailer to be?
12. What attracts you to a Film?
13. What makes a film poster stand out to you?
14. What makes a good trailer?
15. Do you prefer actual Horror Film or Spoof Films (i.e. Scary Movie)?
16. Which do you find scarier?
17. Which age group do you feel horror films are primarily aimed at?
18. Out of the following upcoming films for the rest of 2009 and in 2010, which would you most likely go and see, based on their trailers?
19. What builds suspense in a thriller?
20. What is it that you like about Horror films?

Daniela: Diary Entry Of The Progress of 'Devil's Orphan'

9th November 2010

So far a lot has changed since the pre-production of 'The Possessed' till now. We started filming the sequences of 'The Possessed' like three - four weeks ago in one of the performance studies rehearsal rooms. We used a range of equipment to film such as a Canon EOS 7D, lights and a tripod. We used students from our class to act as some of the characters in our teaser trailer for example Lauren is the possessed child; Fenetta and Jide are the un-biological parents and Bobby is the priest who is carrying out the exorcism.

To be honest three - four weeks of filming a 30-50 second teaser trailer is a very long time, but considering the fact that we had relatively major set backs and only two days in a week to film, I think we done alright for our first attempt at filming. Some of the set backs that prolonged our filming time was getting the heavy equipment and props from the media department (north building) all the way to the performance department (south building) which was not easy. Another set back was the fact that on some days some of the actors could not film with us because they had to do their own work; if they did film with us then it was done in a rush. Setting up the room was a slow process as we had to place the props in a certain way for example sticking up all the drawings on the wall and making sure that it looked right. The room that we filmed in consisted of three walls, one wall at the front and another wall on the left and right. To begin with we stuck all the drawings on the front wall and when we set up the filming equipment we realised that the lights wouldn't move very far because of the positioning of the sockets to plug the lights. Because of this reason we had to stick the drawings on the right wall which gave us more space to film and for the lights to move further. 

Throughout the past couple of days, its come to our knowledge that calling the film 'The Possessed' is very cliche and that it gives away what the film is about. We came to a group decision, after trying to figure out new film titles, that the film will be called 'Devil's Orphan' which is more catchy and original. When we went to the editing room to see how the film for the teaser trailer was looking, we were not happy at all as most of the shots were underexposed. We also realised that some of the filming equipment such as the light stand, was visible in the shots. All of these problems and others issues, made us come to a decision that we would film the teaser trailer over again. We comprehend that  the teaser trailer due date is fast approaching; but now that we know where we went wrong and what exactly we have to do, we have told ourselves that we are going to work extra harder and be a lot more organised.

What went wrong last time that will not happen this time, was the lack of organisation and communication within the group and the actors that we needed. Before, we told all our actors on the day that they were needed and  made them get into their costumes and make up (it wasn't guaranteed that there would be enough time to film using all the actors). This time there will definitely be more communication and instead of telling the actors that we need them on the day, we will give them prior notice. We have come up with what we believe is the best method of filming the teaser trailer faster, which is by filming the scenes where the most actors are needed  so that we can get it out of the way and not occupy their time as well. We know that we have a lot of work to do but I believe and know that we will get it done and produce an excellent teaser trailer. 

Daniela Tome'              

Billy: mock-up poster

This is a simple mock-up using photoshop of what the poster may look like in the end its also a way for me to visualise the layout and practice creating effects on photoshop.

I came up with the idea for using a shadow because it can be used as a powerful tool for instance; it can be distorted to create an imposing effect much like I did in the draft, it also can describe someone or something with ought actually showing it keeping it a mystery. This idea has been used a lot throughout the horror genre a classic example is in 1922 film Nosferatu and its famous shadow sequence seen below.

I also experimented with creating the dark, hemmed-in effect that is fast becoming a tradition in modern horror posters like the ones seen below.

I have also noticed that there is a trend of using textures on horror posters to give a decayed, worn and scratched feel to both the images and text the poster for 'Survival of the dead' seen above is a very good example of this we definitely want to incorporate these details in or final product I think it will add depth substance to our work and will hopefully result in a very atmospheric poster.

I came up with the idea to put devil horns on in the girls shadow at the last minute and I think it gives the poster another dimension I definitely want to include this in the final work in a slightly more subtle way so that when people look at it for a second time they notice it and will point it out to a friend, its things like this that generate a small amount of interest about a film.

Billy Waterworth

Daniela :Shooting Script

Our shooting script consists of only two scenes as the majority of the trailer will be captions. As a group we decided to do this as it minimizes the amount of the storyline that we give away to the audience and as its facile to film and produce. 

Scene One - 'Esther'

Interior Location - Karlos' Studio
Time of Day - Night 
Non-Diegetic Sound - Instrumental Created by Billy
Dialogue - None

Description

The greater part of our shots in the teaser trailer will be made to look like its set at night time; this will be accomplished by the sort of lighting, the brightness of the lighting and the blue screen that will be made use of in later shots. 

n this shot, a long shot of Esther sitting on the floor wrapped in a navy cloth will be revealed. This long shot will present her sitting on the floor surrounded by lit candles and her drawing some masonic pictures on a piece of worn out brown paper. A variety of camera shots will be explored for example a pan unveiling the contents stuck on her wall, which are loads depictions of satanic and masonic symbols. The majority of the camera shots and angles that will be used in this scene will mostly focus on the protagonist, Esther.

Example 1 - Satanic Ram

 

Example 2 - Star (2 triangles put together)

Example 3 - The all seeing eye

Scene Two - 'Spiritual Cleansing'                                                                                                           

Interior Location -Media Room 
Time of Day - Night 
Non-Diegetic Sound - Instrumental Created by Billy
Dialogue - None

This scene will be filmed in the media studio in front of the blue screen, to create a dark setting. In this scene there will be a tilt (going up) revealing the priest who will carry out the exorcism (Billy) and various close up shots of him getting ready and picking up props such as a wooden cross, small bible and holy water. A medium long shot will be used when the priest is carrying out the exorcism of Esther who at this point is laying down on the table moving dramatically and crazily. This scene ends with an extreme close up of a reaction shot of Esther screaming. 

Example 4 - facial expressions that will be seen from Esther









As well as the story line, some of the events in ' The Exorcism of Emily Rose' (trailer) are similar to the events in our teaser trailer for example, the whole scenario of having a young girl possessed by a demonic spirit and the priest carrying out an exorcism which stirs some controversy around town. 

Example 5 - The Exorcism of Emily Rose Trailer

Treatment For Teaser Trailer

Evolution Picture Production presents "The Possessed"

Format - Video Trailer

Genre - Horror Movie, based on bewitchment, demonology, religion

Length - 40-50 seconds 

Precise Summary of "The Possessed" (Idea) : This teaser trailer will consist of a little Caucasian girl (who's face is not shown as its covered by her long brownish/black hair) sitting on the floor in her bedroom drawing a masonic sign on a piece of brown worn out paper. Behind the little girl, are loads of drawings of devilish and masonic signs, writings and drawings drawn in black chalk stuck on the wall. Her parents who are black are aware that their adopted daughter is not normal and so seek the advice of a local church priest. The parents take the priest into the girls room to show him their daughter and her illustrations. The priest declares that he has seen enough and without delay tells the little girl's parents that she is possessed and that he must perform an immediate exorcism. The little girl is taken to a dark room and placed on top of a table where she laying down with her hands and legs tied. The priest starts reading verses out of an exorcism book whilst splashing holy water on the little girl. The little girl starts shuffling around as the water is getting on her; her movements start to become more violent and aggressive causing the table to shake. In the background you see the father holding the mother as she is traumatized and petrified at what she is witnessing. As  the little girl's movements become more vigorous  and brutal the priest splashes more holy water on her. Finally the girl breaks free from the ropes and throws her head back and has her mouth wide open. This is when the audience first see her face. 

Not all that is written in this summary will appear in the teaser trailer

Some Camera Shots That Will Potentially Be Used (Rough Idea): Throughout this teaser trailer we will be using a digital camera and final cut pro when we edit. We thought that it would be effective to do a pan of the room which exposes the drawings on the wall, so that the audience know where this shot is set and to also set the mood. Followed by the pan, there will be a tilt which will reveal the little girl sitting down on the floor with her legs crossed, hair covering her face, drawing. There will possibly be and extreme close up of the father struggling to open the door of the little girls room; an extreme close up of his face to show his reaction (reaction shot) to the surroundings and a shot of the father walking towards the camera angrily( the little girl) which will look as if he walking towards the viewer. The will be a long shot of the mother standing behind her husband, with her hands over her mouth as she is shocked at what she is seeing in he daughters room. An Elliptical shot will be evident when the audience see that the father drags the little girl out the room and all of a sudden she in laying down on the table tied down. A high angle shot will be used to show the girl laying down and to also connote that the priest is in power. The lighting of the basement ( where the exorcism will take place) will be very dark and we might possibly paint a bulb red, to give off a red light which sets the tone, mood and  consists of many connotations. An extreme close of the girls face will be used that will appear right at the end of the teaser trailer, which will expose her identity as its unknown to the audience. The extreme close up of the little girls face will expose her dark scary face, which will be done with the use of dark make up. Many more shots will explored throughout the teaser trailer, this is just a rough idea.  Sound will be thoroughly explored to manipulate the audiences emotions for example with the use of foley sounds, design sounds, background sounds etc. We decided that it would be best not to include dialogue from the characters, to create suspense for the audience.  

Definition Of Horror Films and Their Purpose: Horror Films are unsettling movies that attempt to extract emotions of fear, disgust and horror from the viewers. They often consist of scenes that frighten the viewer through the means of macabre (In works of art, macabre is the quality of having a grim or ghastly atmosphere. Macabre works emphasize the details and symbols of death. Wikipedia definition) and the supernatural, which causes an overlap with fantasy and science fiction genres. Horror also frequently overlaps with the thriller genre. As well as having the purpose to entertain, Horror Films deal with the viewers nightmares and worst hidden fears, revulsion's and terror of the unknown.     

Target Audience: Horror films obtain a very wide and diverse fan base. Horror movies are considered to be in boom cycle; not only are horror movies produced each year, but their gross is increasing rapidly and becoming more gross, explicit, vivid and gruesome. As a group we decided that our target audience would be people ranging from the age of 18-24, as we specifically want to attract a young and modern audience; an audience that are up to date with the ever changing trends of this era and that know what they want and like. As religion comes into this teaser trailer (Catholicism)with the use of the priest, we are aware that some audience members may be offended. So for these reasons we have decided that instead of dressing the priest in a stereotypical costume, we will dress him up in normal old fashioned clothing and instead of him using a Bible, he will use an 'Exorcism Book'. 

By Daniela Tome   

 

         

 

Tamika: Teaser Trailer Textual Analysis of Nightmare on Elm Street

The textual analysis will be focusing on the teaser trailer for ‘A Nightmare On Elm Street 5: The dream child 200’, which was distributed by ‘New line cinema’. The teaser trailer is 47 seconds long, which is just in between the 40-60 second mark.

Media trailer

A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child 1989 it was directed by Stephen Hopkins and the writers are Wes craven john skip and Robert Endlund, Lisa Wilcox and Kelly Jo Minter.

The video,’ A Nightmare On Elm Street 5 Dream Child’ teaser trailer starts with a green screen and it says that the preview has been approved for all audiences to watch by the motion picture association of America. The words ‘PREVIEW’ and ‘ALL AUDIENCE’ are in capital letters. This makes it clear to the audience that the movie is suitable for people to watch.

The teaser opens up with a fade from a black screen into a blue screen showing a silhouette of a push chair with sticks sticking out of it. A non- diegetic sound of a high pitched laugh and a lullaby called ‘rock a by baby’ is symbolic to the trailer because the song connotes a baby. The video also shows a push chair made out of wood. The branches are sticking out of it so it makes it look quite dangerous. As the song increases the push chair moves with it and the camera goes from a long high angle shot to a close up of the push chair. There is a fade in of a orange/red light that appears to show in the pram. Also, you can hear a faint sound of a baby making noise. As the camera is still, it follows the pram using a panning shot. The pram then disappears showing a jump cut. The setting is quite cloudy/ foggy and dark, making it look scary, using low key lighting. 27 seconds into the teaser the pram swings a little from left to right as if someone is rocking the push chair.

Then there is a cut from a side shot of the pram to the front of it showing a orange bright light in the pram with smoke surrounding it. There is a zoom in to the pram and the song starts to slow down and stops, then there’s a scream at the same time suddenly freddy’s hand appears from the push chair to the camera. There’s a quick zoom in to a black screen and red line scratches where the words a nightmare on elm street 5 on it.  

There is also a deep scary voice saying “spring delivers a nightmare on elm street part 5 The dream child” as it says that the red scratches fades out and fades into a blue coloured screen but at the side of the black screen with the push chair which is black covered with the blue coloured screen. The words ‘a nightmare on elm street’ are in blue just like the main colour used throughout the teaser and the words  ‘the dream child’ is in green writing. Most of the colours that are used for the title is the same colour scheme a used in the teaser.

There is a loud raspy laughter after the voice finishes talking and as the laughter continues there is also a fade out of the title to a fade into a black screen with white writing showing who produced the film and who the actors are the producer and editor. At the end of that it says “coming in august to a theatre near you” it is in capital letters, the size of the writing is bigger than the rest and it is in blue writing which makes it stand out more so that the first thing that people will see because  its in colour and remember will be it.

 The lullaby then starts and there is a fade out to a black screen.

Daniela : Teaser Trailer Textual Analysis of Saw 3D

 Saw 3D Teaser Trailer

The Saw 3D teaser trailer begins with a green screen, telling the audience that this teaser trailer has been approved for "APPROPRIATE AUDIENCES"; which is written in block letters to emphasis that the contents of this teaser trailer is not suitable for any age. In the green screen, it tells us that the film being advertised is rated "Restricted" and that viewers under the age of 17 should be accompanied by an adult or guardian that is of age. The fact that this green screen provides all of this essential information, shows that they are doing their job of trying to protect unsuitable viewers from the contents of the film, as well as helping parents decide whether the images shown in the film are appropriate for their children. The green screen lasts for about 6 seconds, giving the viewers sufficient time to read the text.

The teaser trailer begins with non-diegetic spoken dialogue, which we later realize is Jigsaw Killer aka Misnomer speaking. The tone of Misnomer sets the tone and mood of the teaser trailer as he has this deep, vindictive, malevolent and guiltless tone. There's a quick flash of a fuzzy TV screen, which is replaced by a black screen with text saying ' Every Master Craftsman' ; the text in this black screen grows, so its almost as if its coming straight at you. A straight cut from the black screen to a long shot of what looks like a garage with a care that is being fixed, is seen. Behind the car there's a long shot of a man; the low key lighting doesn't reveal his face. The male voice starts to list 3 words and with each word their is a shot to represent it. (1 )"FEAR": As the teaser trailer progresses, we see a mid-shot of a woman in blond hair. The mid-shot reveals that she is tied to something, as her arms are spread and stretched out and as her muscles are contracted. Using a woman with blond hair stereotypically suggests that she is dumb, naive, an easy target, hence explaining why she might be in this situation. The reaction shot of this woman reveals that she is afraid, due to her NVC. A fade transition is used to go onto the next shot. (2) "SUFFERING" : A side mid-shot is revealed of a man who has bruises and tattoos going down his arm. The reaction shot also shows that he is afraid and that he is trying to escape, as we see signs of struggle. An eye level shot is used which reveals that he sitting in a car witch shattered glass. By using an eye level shot, intensity and tension is created as its as if the man is looking straight at us (the audience, the viewers viewing the teaser trailer). A fade transition is used to reveal the next shot. (3) "DEATH" : A high angle shot is used to expose two people (two shot) struggling to hold onto chains, to prevent them (two people) from falling into the multiple numbers of spinning blades. The use of the rhetoric feature of triplets (triadic structure) and listing, persuades the audience to go to the cinema and watch this movie. as well as creating tension and suspense. Throughout the lighting in the shots mentioned above are in low key, which fits the dark nature of this film as well as the character Jigsaw Killer aka Misnomer. Non-diegetic music is heard throughout this dark part of the teaser trailer; this is only specifically heard every time there is a transition to a black screen with text on it. Diegetic sound is explored with the characters screams.  

A pan of the top of a high building (crane shot) is shown which is then quickly interrupted by elliptical editing, which reveals an establishing shot of this new location with loads of pedestrians walking around. The establishing shot is used to set the scene and reveals what looks like some sort of business/ accounting building society. The establishing shot also brings  back some sense of realism to this teaser trailer, as we are finally seeing light and pedestrians who are freely walking around and not in some life or death situation. We are moving away from darkness and gritty scenes to light; this is short lived. There is a straight cut into a wide shot of  a large crowd of people standing outside a shop watching the active window display.  The teaser trailer goes back to its dark nature and with this the non-diegetic music which builds into a crescendo, therefore causing a climax in tension. A high angle shot of a man in a cage reveals him reaching out to pull a chain, which in fact is a leaver and opens up the bottom part of the cage making him hold on to the metal bars of the cage to prevent him from falling into blades facing upwards. A zoom of the upright blades are shown to show how sharp they are and consequently the music also becomes sharp. The blond haired woman is shown again, this time in a long shot which shows her standing upright with her legs and arms spread put wide. The music speeds as we see some sort of machine with a sharp pointy blade heading towards her at full speed. What the large crowd of people were seeing on the window display is shown to us. Diegetic sound is heard of the man screaming and struggling to push a spinning blade that is pushing its way towards him. The mans screams and noise coming from the blade creates anxiety and suspense, as we want to know whether the man got hurt or not which makes the audience want to go to the cinema to watch the film as the teaser trailer doesn't reveal it.

At the end of the teaser trailer we see a 3D writing of 'SAW" and a blade cutting through the 'W'. The month of the release of the film is written, alongside a metaphorical cover-line ' THE TRAPS COME ALIVE'. 

Daniela Tome' 

 

       

Billy: Teaser Trailer Textual Analysis of [REC]

[REC.]

Teaser Trailer

The video starts with the diagetic sound of walkie-talkie static and chatter over a blank screen with the studio logo that flickers like it has some kind of interference wit it this suggests the paranormal and fits the feel of the rest of the teaser the sound connotes an emergency or police or fire fighters which is related to the main content of the teaser.

The transition to the next shot is done as if the camera has just turned on which suggests the film has an ammeter element to it and is trying to portray it as real

The shot is cantered and the colours are mainly black and white this is immediately unsettling for the viewer the figures shot are in shadow and are not immediately recognisable as friendly leaving the viewer still feeling unnerved.

The camera angle is corrected from the cantered position but still retains the hand held ammeter feel the mise en scene suggests the that the men are firemen as they enter the light in a two shot the setting seems to be a darkened house the sound is entirely diagetic such as the walkie-talkie and a scream adding to the realistic feel the teaser is trying to portray, both fire fighters look up showing its from upstairs this connotes immanent danger, it then flickers to a black screen with white writing on that reads “last year Spanish emergency services  received over 23 million calls” the text slowly emanates towards the viewer, the non diagetic sound of dial tones is heard over the top to illustrate the “call” element, there are clearly three digits to the number which suggest an emergency call which denotes distress.

The teaser then cuts to a tracking shot of the fire fighters running up the stairs presumably to investigate the scream the shot is hand held or steady cam so is wobbly maintaining the first person, ammeter element to the filming suggesting its real and un-staged. The mise en scene is a darkened stairwell.

There is a cut to another black screen with white writing

That reads “ the firemen of Barcelona attended to 15,003 incidents” this use of facts almost makes the teaser feel like it’s for a documentary again the non diagetic sound of a telephone it is ringing this time building up tension as it is someone waiting on an emergency call. The filming never really strays further than a medium close up which makes the scene feel claustrophobic therefore making the viewer uncomfortable it also doesn’t give away to much information. The shot of the firemen hurrying up the stairs in the same manner continues there is another there is another black screen that reads “fires: 4,171” the delivery of this text is a lot faster which also builds tension and reflects the emotions of the characters as they near the source of the scream the non diagetic ringing continues. The next shot is a bird’s eye view shot from over the banisters looking down the spiralling stairwell and the firemen ascending them the camera is moving which suggest it is a point of view shot this hints there is someone waiting up there for them the high angle also suggests the firemen are powerless, one of the men look up as if he has noticed whatever is looking down on him. Another black screen flickers on reading “rescues: 4,059” again with the ringing, then the firemen reach the floor they want to one tunes towards the camera as if looking for reassurance this shows they are scared the camera is close p to him showing they are all huddled together. A black screen reads “other: 6,768” this way of braking down information is hinting at and building up to a climax of some sort. The next shot is a close up tracking shot of a fireman walking towards the camera he is looking around with his torch, suddenly the trap door in the ceiling swings open with a the camera pans around to see it but there is noting there this is a false climax moment in order to keep audience members on the edge of there seat and to further the build up of tension. The meise en scene is a darkly lit apartment.

The final blank screen appears and reads “unclassified: 4” the screen goes fuzzy and the number 4 is subtly changed to 5 connoting that what we are witnessing on screen is an example of an unclassified case meaning the film has a paranormal element to it.

The screen flickers to a canted shot of a small figure in a doorway which we find out is a little girl later she is lit from behind from the slightly ajar door opening she is nearly all in shadow but you can till make out he legs and she is standing completely still which is unnerving as she dose not react the fire fighters presence the fact is canted makes it more unsettling. The firemen cautiously walk towards her and non-daigetic music is playing which is like a drone connoting tension, danger the camera tracks close behind in a two shot placing the viewer in the scene the girls face remains in shadow making viewers expect the worst is yet to come, suddenly the girl springs to life and screams as a bright light tilts onto her face revealing her to be pale with black eyes in the short glimpse we get before a black screen cuts in with the title of the film “[REC.]” which is designed like the graphic seen on video cameras reflecting the hand held point of view nature of the filming in the film there is a non diagetic beeping sound that is synchronised to the flashing of the red dot of the film logo which is tracking towards the camera much in the same way as the “facts” used previously.

The teaser trailer ends with the deathly looking girl screaming and struggling against the firemen who seen to be trying to hold her back the camera work is shaky and is braking up is shown from all the movement a black screen reads “coming soon” and the audience would feel relieved that what they think is the “scary bit” is over when a flash of the girl lunging at the camera and head butting the camera is shown to finish it, this is cleaver because it leaves a lasing image of the film in peoples minds but manages to obscure any detail thus retaining the films mystery.

I think this teaser trailer is simple but affective and definitely has the desired affect on viewers.

Billy Waterworth