Film posters and trailers

Film poster key conventions

• Central image
• Secondary images
• Title
• Tagline (like a slogan)
• Release date
• Stars
• Critic reviews
• Production blurb

Film trailers: key conventions

• Institutional details – film studio, actors, director etc.
• Short clips of key moments in film to introduce characters and narrative
• Fast paced editing to suggest drama and excitement
• On-screen text (replaces tradition of voiceover)
• Stars – usually early on
• Title and release date – always at END of trailer
• Critic reviews / quotes
• Social media hashtags / website details
• Production blurb (usually final shot of trailer)
• Music that communicates genre and ‘feel’ of film

Film language notes

Sound

Sound in film includes:

• Dialogue
• Sound effects
• Music
• Voiceover

Diegetic and non-diegetic sound

Diegetic: sound that is coming from within the sphere of the film. Remember: the characters can hear it. Example: dialogue.

Non-diegetic: sound that is NOT within the sphere of the film – only the audience can hear it. Example: soundtrack/music/score.

Mise-en-scene

Mise en scène literally translates from French as ‘putting on stage’. 

We use it in film studies to describe everything that appears in front of the camera.

When we analyse mise en scène, we need to look at the following:

• Actors (placement, movement, expression)
• Costume and make-up
• Setting and props
• Lighting and colour

Film posters and trailers: blog task

You are currently working on a case study for the film you have chosen from our list of 10. Complete the following tasks on your blog:

1. Create a new blogpost called ‘Film trailer and poster analysis’
2. Find the poster on Google Images and the trailer on YouTube for your chosen film
3. Embed them in your blogpost (you may need to save a small version of the poster to ensure it displays correctly)
4. List all the film poster key conventions you can find. How do these attract a potential audience?
5. List all the film trailer key conventions you can find. How do these attract a potential audience?
6. In your opinion, do the poster and trailer successfully promote the film you have chosen to investigate? Why?

If not finished during the lesson, complete for homework - due next Tuesday