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Similar to The Girl On the Train- Teaser Trailer and Poster Analysis (20)
The Girl On the Train- Teaser Trailer and Poster Analysis
- 1. This is classed as a suspense/crime thriller. The teaser trailer length is very unconventional; being 2 and a half minutes long compared to the traditional 1.20-1.40 minutes. These are some screenshots taken from the teaser trailer that I am going to look into further.
- 2. Beginning and Image 1- The 'White' House • "A teacher one told me I was a mistress of self-invention". This is diegetic sound spoken from a young blonde character later seen in the teaser trailer. When this is spoken the camera is framed in a close up, the character looking off screen as though she is talking to someone. Deep focus isn't used and the women is out of focus expressing her challenges in life and the idea that no one really knows her and her life; its all a blur. • This dialogue is the catalyst for the voiceover of the teaser trailer; turning into a voiceover for the whole piece. This dialogue is shortly followed by non-diegetic sound of piano when showing the shot of the house and the same women on the balcony. These shots are of short duration.
- 3. Continued • The music is very important for these scenes. It is made up of piano. This instrumental piece has been edited to the beat of the short shots which adds interest and more flow to the piece. This piece of music is controlling the timings of the teaser trailer, therefore could be responsible for controlling the characters emotions in the piece. Pianos have connotations of tranquility and a sense of an equilibrium. This piano is carried throughout the teaser trailer however the only place where is it sounded alone is the beginning, where the house is shown. It suggests that this house is where it all happens. The piano is a representation of the house. The house is where it started; the event at the house is carried through this characters life (like the piano all the way through the teaser) but there are other things that complicate it (the other instruments introduced to the non-diegetic sound track) that disrupt the once equilibrium. By herself the blonde women (identified at the end by name) is strong and nothing goes wrong but as soon as other characters are introduced everything goes wrong. images from google images
- 4. Continued • The house looks like a traditional home however it is set in a desolate location; there looks like there is no community surrounding it. This instantly arises suspicion. The homely feel of the internals of this house (this mise en scene- picture frames shown later) hides the true idea that what is going on in their life's which is very messed up. • This shot has short duration, being part of a montage (the whole piece is montage editing). This fast edit gives a lot of information in a short space of time, whilst building tensions and giving the audience a chance to figure out some different ideas for the narrative. • It is set at night time, the trees becoming silhouettes as the sun is setting. Darkness and night time have direct correlations especially with crime. There is the idea that crime is more likely to occur at night is an ideology that needed to be portrayed. • The shot of the house is a extreme long shot, tracking around the house as though it is a point of view of someone driving in a car (spying). This alternative idea creates tension and makes the audience feel uncomfortable. • There is no diegetic sound used in the shot of the house.
- 5. Image 2- The Blonde Women on the Balcony • This is similar to the shot of the house but just focuses on the girl on the balcony, a long shot • Her costume is very minimal, wearing a kimono and lingerie. This has connotations of a sexual relationships within the film. This links to the idea in the teaser trailer later on; ex-husbands and nannies and mixed relationships that can link to the crime (of what we don’t yet know). • She is represented as a player and someone not to be trusted later on in the trailer using dialogue of 'secrets', however the grading of the screen is relatively bright connoting innocence and independence. For all the audience know this could be a women enjoying herself and thinking solely to herself, in her own 'desolate setting' home. There is no reason to think that this isn't true until we watch on. This is our first impression of her; she is seen alone showing her independence or could it be her loneliness? Positive or Negative? She could be seen as lonely however her facial expressions look relieved and happy. • The camera positioning is similar to image one tracking around (as though they are in a car spying) as the camera goes past bushes, framed in a long shot. This can objectify women and makes the female audience feel uncomfortable because they could experience things like this in their real life. This shot helps to reinforce gender stereotypes that women are viewed as a piece of meat. • The piano soundtrack is followed through here aswell.
- 6. Image 4 • This is a tracking shot, a mid shot (possibly a point of view of somebody chasing her) of the same women running through a darkly lit tunnel. Alley ways like this have stereotypical representations of being dangerous when your alone so this can instantly alert the audience. It is then cut to a mid shot. Three point lighting has been used effectively, back light being used the most to create the women as a silhouette. • The soundscape was heightened in this shot; all diegetic sounds intensified, building up with a crescendo. The sound of trains mainly mixed with the same instrumental non diegetic track. The piano dominates the whole teaser trailer, keeping structure to the characters life. • This shot is still part of a montage, which is stereotypical for crime thriller genres. • The mise en scene has been well thought out for this shot; the characters costume is made up of running gear- a white hoody and leggings with trainers. This is similar to what I am going to do when dressing Mia Carter for Suspect (our film). The location seems very quiet. I can see a few houses in the background with a train track above the bridge. This is good to build the narrative as there is less likely to be witnessed to her disappearance. This stereotypical location can create enigmas for the audience to consider.
- 7. Image 8/9 • The use of sound here is important as the lyrics in the song can represent the characters personality. The song says "to a women so heartless". This non diegetic soundtrack can suggest her the blonde character to be manipulative and 'heartless'. This is reinforced in the next few shots of her and a male; she is looking directly into the camera (direct mode of address) which can show her disinterest in him and she is using him, linking back to the initial idea of being a player. In addition using direct mode of address subverts conventions as it attracts attention to the fact it's being filmed rather than reality. This glare into the camera is very sinister and can make the audience wary of her presence as it is held for about 2 seconds. Having 2 seconds of intense staring can confuse the audience; she is showing her independence and strength alone. This subverts traditional gender stereotypes.
- 8. The Ending • The women that witnessed the disappearance of the blonde character has been accused of being involved with her disappearance. • The last shot is a close shot of the brown haired women that is now a suspect. She is framed to the left but following the rule of thirds, fading on screen from a black shot. We can see her emotions very closely. Her facial expressions are down, showing tears trickling down her cheek. Her performance is exceptional and very believable. • The police ask her "Why are you here?" To what she replies "Because I'm afraid of myself". This gives a dark twist to the narrative and instead of the police just accusing her (as shown in the previous shots) she is giving a slight confession. This first person perspective can shock the audience. There is an inner darkness to this 'innocent' women, creating a negative representation of her. • The non-diegetic sound stops, including the base piano sound and the women begins to speak. Dialogue is the only sound that is leading this shot. The idea that she isn't speaking, rather whispering exaggerate the idea of secret and how she doesn't want to reveal to much information to the police. • The teaser trailer starts with the blonde women speaking, and end with the brown haired lady speaking. This can suggest that they have a close connection in terms of their behaviour and the past. They have both experienced the same man (found out in the trailer) and there could be more that they have in common. The trailer have used cyclical referencing- started with the end even if they were different characters. The embodiment that the character at the start was referring to her possible kidnaper. Both characters could be so similar (or even related) that they control the ending of the beginning that they have started.
- 9. Titles analysis- Shown at the end of this teaser trailer (this is conventional of teaser trailers in general) At the end of the teaser trailer, there is the titles shown on the screen. They come up gradually over the space of 3 seconds. They fade on the right of the screen, surrounded by black. Black has connotations of darkness and death. The titles could be a microcosm for the main characters, who are the suspects; They are gradually revealed and then disappear into the darkness (that could be prison or the environment itself, or just bitten by guilt and they can't live with the pressure and guilt). • "The Girl" is shown on screen first, the transition fading onto the screen. There could be a reason for this; not only because it is the title but because the girl has the most importance in the story line (most suspects shown in the teaser are women). The title could have been chosen as this for this particular reason. The use of the word girl connotes childish behaviour and the idea that this crime was coming to her. There is a sinister meaning behind the narrative • The rest of the titles fade on the screen in the same way and they are written in the colour white. Again this suggests innocence (linking to the representation of the childish girl). The contrast of black and white gives a stripped down idea of the film (the audience can create any idea they want because there is no involuntary positioning for the audience- no voiceover to guide them or much dialogue) in regards to the narrative- what happened to the girl? No one knows. It gives more depth and dimension to the narrative.
- 10. Titles within the Montage Edit (The teaser trailer)- Image 3 and 7 • These are some of the titles that are used in the teaser trailer. As you can see there is a use of contrast. • At the beginning the light background and dark font colour is used as the audience have yet to see what the narrative entails. The audience is vulnerable to the characters emotion and actions- they are oblivious of the next shots. • In addition the dark writing (one week ago) suggests something bad has happened in the past to cause negatives on present. • The text is placed central so it is easy to read and looks presentable • "Based on the thriller that shocked the world". This title fades onto the screen, the camera looking as though it is zooming in to give the illusion the audience are affected by this film. This phrase uses buzz words and exaggerates the scale of the event to entice a wider audience and instill fear into the audience based on the characters experiences.
- 11. Poster analysis There is a billing block at the bottom of the page. This is conventional for a film poster as it credits the crews and cast. The tagline "What did she see?" is shown just above the billing block, at the bottom. With different posters the location of the tagline is subject to the film. I feel as though the italic typography and white colour of the text creates a contrast to the background and works very well. The actress is credited above the title. This is common within film poster as famous actresses like "Emily Blunt" attract their fanbase. 'Based on the novel that shocked the world". This is a statement that usually you would see on the magazine cover but it works on the poster because it grabs an audience's attention and suggests a tense and eerie atmosphere which obviously reflects this crime thriller. Secondary background image of the train. This links to the title of the film; using the noun of train. There is direct correlations from the images "In cinemas October"- This Release date is important so the fans and audience know when to expect the film to come out. This helps with box office figures especially in a film's opening weekend. I have collected data from box office mojo that express the importance of the opening weekend. Marketing campaign like this can help boost revenue for the film, which is the main aims of promotional activities. The colour palette is very grayscale, with the blue tinge to the image. This is very conventional of the thriller genre, which allows the girl of the train to generate a consistent house style. We also see this colour palette in the teaser trailer and magazine front cover. There is the protagonist on the front cover, positioned to the right of the central point. Stereotypically the protagonist/ main image is placed central as they are the main perspective of the poster but in this case this poster shows the importance of the fact she is sitting on a train and shows the reflection of a white house, as well as her. She is in focus (they have considered depth a field to express her importance, even if she isn't placed central. The background is important as even if deep focus isn't being used, instead shallow depth a field it sets the scene to the audience, as reinforced in the teaser trailer and magazine cover
- 12. These are screenshots from box office mojo. They show the budget of the film and the Gross Profit that it made. As you can see a lot of money was made. The title, is central to the poster just under the eyeline of the character. The character is something that instantly grabs the audience's attention and then it directs us down to the title. The title has used shadows to lengthen it and add more interest. This is something I haven't seen in any other poster.The titles typography is bold, and in capital letters. It has been edited so that the titles look like a train going past very quick- the idea that a shadows is created. There is direct links to the mise en scene as well as the typography. The location of the train and external settings reflect the shadows in the titles. There is use of white and blue colour's for the writing. The white gives a good contrast from the back as well as having connotations of innocence. Is this women (that we are shown on the front) a victim and not a suspect? Or does the colour blue connote a sense of calm and she is playing an actor- she is covering up a murder she committed? This is the amount of money that was created on the opening weekend, the most crucial part of a film's success (usually) There is use of low key lighting, this is carried through from the teaser trailer as well as the magazine front cover. This is conventional for a thriller genre film.
- 13. How does this help me with my own planning of "Suspect"? • There is constant use of low key lighting in this trailer, especially in the montage scenes. The majority of the shots are set outside in the evening. This is because stereotypically at night time is when crime arises and there is connotations of danger. This puts the audience in an involuntary position to experience what the character is experiencing. This can cause instant fear. This is very common within thriller genre teaser trailers. • The use of low key lighting is important to constantly portray in my teaser trailer, as they have in this trailer. As a crime thriller it is crucial in order to build tension. • I do believe there was great success when building the soundscape for this piece as the slow non diegetic sound built up with a crescendo through the 1.40 mins an eerie atmosphere. This is something that we need to focus on for Suspect. • Also the editing technique was majority of montage, typical of thriller genres which is something I need to use for my piece. • The narrative for our piece is very similar to the Girl on the Train but we are giving Mia Carter a chance to figure out the investigation before she is sentenced to imprisonment. I feel as though the investigation is similar but the backstories will be different (for the characters)
- 14. They have used spotlight and the three point lighting system to manipulate the lighting in this alley way. This is a technique that we want to use on filming day and the location; somewhere desolate is something that I feel will look effective in "Suspect". An idea is on Reigate High street where there is a tunnel. They have added a blue tinge to the screen. This is very stereotypical of a thriller genre, as well as the use of low key lighting.
Editor's Notes
- #6: · Mise en scene – what mood is created and what information is given (setting – time and place, characters, costume, character performance, colour and lighting, etc.)? · Editing – montage or continuity? Use of transitions? Short fast edits or long sequences? What is the effect of this? · Camerawork - what shot types are used? Framing? Angles? Movement? What is the effect of this? · Sound - what diegetic and non-diegetic sounds are used? Does one type of sound dominate? Consider use of music, voice-over (style of voice as well as what is said), sound effects, etc. · How are text graphics used? Consider information, placement and style.
- #7: · Mise en scene – what mood is created and what information is given (setting – time and place, characters, costume, character performance, colour and lighting, etc.)? · Editing – montage or continuity? Use of transitions? Short fast edits or long sequences? What is the effect of this? · Camerawork - what shot types are used? Framing? Angles? Movement? What is the effect of this? · Sound - what diegetic and non-diegetic sounds are used? Does one type of sound dominate? Consider use of music, voice-over (style of voice as well as what is said), sound effects, etc. · How are text graphics used? Consider information, placement and style.