Trailer Market Research

Crimson Peak

• Universal Studios and Legendary Pictures - large american production companies
• Key selling points are the well known actors, and the unlikely twist of a house being haunted rather than a person
• The costumes suggest that it is a victorian period feature
• The soundtrack with bass creates a feeling of tension and suspense. This added with the isolated surrounding of the feature house in the setting creates an eerie feel 
• Rapid crosscuts between different scenes to capture the varying plot and create a feeling of the unknown as it is too fast to make an assumption, only allowing the viewer to make out ambiguous figures or shapes 
• The transfer between the introduction and disruption occurs 1 minute into the trailer with short cuts showing an ambiguous figure 
• Very dark and monochromatic colours are used as a whole with dominant tones of red signifying blood 

13 Minutes

• Studiocanal; Beta Cinema and Lucky Bird Pictures - low budget production companies 
• Sound reflects idea of ticking/loss of time, similarly to the title and subject matter conveyed about a bomb 
• Foreign language film but aimed at a wider audience, as the trailer contains subtitles and sub-headers appearing roughly every ten to fifteen seconds in english
• Set in WW2- signified by the use of  spoken German; costumes resembling the period of the 1940s and Nazi memorabilia 
• Nazi costumes- from their point of view 
• Unlike many films about WW2 as it focuses on the occurrences within Germany rather than outside influences 
• Historical action thriller film
• Plot - German assassin tries to kill Hitler 
• Aimed at a wide audience but primarily 35+ 

Birdman 

• 20TH Century Fox and Regency Pictures - big budget hollywood films 
• Opens with a shot of Micheal Keaton 'hovering', suggesting superpowers; but when combined with the opening line having an almost comic sound, it makes the audience believe it is actually delusional
• Use of intrusive camera angles makes it feel more like an art house/indie film 
• Hand held camerawork effect as the camera is never still but instead continously moves following the actors
• High contrast between light and dark scenes, shows variation
• Aimed at an audience of 20-50 years old 
• Large star cast attracts the audience rather than the plot which appears confusing and unknown 
• Set in Broadway in present day New York, following the life of a struggling actor
• Costumes try to resemble as close to 'normal' as possible with common plain styles and colours worn
• Music - Knarles Barclay -'Crazy' ( reflects the meaning of the film)

2001: Space Odessey (Re-release)

• MGM and Warner Bros - big budget 
• very atmospheric music, iconic of Stanley Kubric 
• Establishing shot of space along with modern space looking clothing gives the feeling that it is set in space in the future 
• Reviews appear between shots making the viewer confident it is worth watching 
• Contrast between old classical music and futuristic modern space
• Minimal lines spoken- soley relies on atmosphere 
• Wide range of colours used - more vivid/reflective of real life thus making it more believeable
• Aimed at a 15+ audience 

Nightcrawler

• No studios referenced- may suggest multiple counterparts contributed
• Atmospheric set at night 
• Artificial lighting creates a greater sense of tension and 
• Twists the idea of the 'American Dream'
• Young audience 15-35 due to modern music and the idea of finding the 'american dream' which people strive for primarily when they are young.  Furthermore Jake Gyllenhaal attracts a young primarily female audience whilst the substance of the film attracts a male audience. 

The Raid

• Studiocanal; Beta Cinema and Lucky Bird Pictures - low budget production companies 
• Immediately shows film festival winnings as it has no famous principal cast to attract audiences 
• Few words used as foreign language may put off some English speaking viewers without seeing the film
• Focuses on martial arts rather than gun fights making it more attractive to the viewer due to higher tenacity 
• Portrays the film as an non-stop action packed 'thrill ride' 

Whiplash

• Sony pictures and Stage 6 - mid budget film- surprising it was made as it was a mid budget and there was little possibility of a sequel due to storyline 
• tension heightens in trailer due to increase of regularity of drum beat 
• Surprising sense of a thriller simply from a film based on a drummer in an orchestra
• Basic costume suggests attention on meaning and characters rather than era 
• Multiple sound bridges 
• High contrast between light and dark colours with a palette of orange hues 
• First minute of the trailer focuses on a single scene in the film

Watchmen

• Paramount; Warner Bros; Legendary Pictures and DC comics - Big hollywood companies = large investment in project 
• Takes inspiration from the trailer of Alien and 2001: Space Oddesey as minimal lines are spoken, atmsophere and story is held by soundtrack
• Costumes suggest superhero film 
• Set in the 1980s, but dark twist taken due to moody darkened colours of film

Film trailers can attract audiences through the portral of their product in a variety of ways; as seen with two variations of the trailers for whiplash. One appeared as if it was selling a romance film whilst the other, a thriller.  

I believe that more sucessful film trailers are made when minimal lines are spoke, however, this then soley relies on the quality of the shots. It is effective because it does not give the whole plot line away to the audience, giving them no reason to see the feature, it simply 'teases' the audience making them want to continue watching.

EJ