Research and Planning: Teaser Trailer Analysis 1

Insidious Directed by James Wan Distributed by FilmDistrict Studio and released 1st April 2011.


I have decided to analyse this Teaser Trailer because its similar to the genre film I want to produce and uses the same cinematography and editing. I will focus on each element and discuss why they have used it.


The genre:
Insidious is a Horror/Thriller as its rated certificate 15 thematic material, violence, terror and frightening images, and brief strong language. The film keeps you on the edge of you seat throughout and has a great story line too it, which in my opinion, is what a successful horror film needs.


The Audience:

The audience targeted for the Insidious Film Teaser Trailer would be ages 15+, particular between 15-25 years, as its a paranormal Horror/Thriller that most people around this age enjoy for the thrill, most people enjoy watching these types of horrors at the cinema with friends as it creates more a 'buzz'. I'd say the film targets both sex as its story is based around a family situation rather than a specific social gender group. The target audience interests vary from reading magazines, watching TV/Film to playing with the latest technology. 


Representation:

In the clip above, we get an insight of the plot rather than a 3D view of the characters to identify a certain representation however we see that:

• The young boy who comes across as the victim in the trailer, is represented in an Innocent way, this may be due to his young age.
• The family seem to be middle class due to the mise-en-scene (decor)  
• There is a mix of gender, however the middle aged woman has this representation of fragile, possibly passive shown through a number of shots.

Narrative:  
Insidious teaser trailer uses Todorov's theory, as it has an equilibrium, disruption and peaks and troughs, however doesn't give an insight of the new equilibrium or it would be pointless for the audience then to go watch the full movie as they've gave too much away before watching the whole film.

It tells a story of a family who are in search of helping son Dalton who mysteriously fell into a coma one ordinary morning, little do they know that there is much more to this endless sleep than meets the eye, they explore the paranormal and rediscover the past for the key to get their son back.

Media Language: Cinematography

• A Close Up is used of a young boy who is pushed to the left of the shot, the surrounding is dark and uses a low angle shot, however the boy seems to feel vulnerable or threatened
• An Extreme Close Up of what it looks like bulbs in lines are shown, this may be a clue or a taster for the audience when watching the full film. 
• A  Long Shot is then used, showing a glimpse of  the boy lay up in bed, however the shot  seems to be from someone or somethings eyes as its high angle shot at the bottom of the bed.
• Cuts to a Medium Close Up of the young boy lay in a hospital bed that doctors think is a coma, this shot may be used to give us an insight of the boys life in more depth.
• Another Medium Close Up follows that zooms in slightly whilst a young woman framed in left hand side of the frame where we are eye level too, possibly creating a sense of reality within the film or we as the audience will try to see things from her view that links to what she's saying.
• A Extreme Long shot is used to introduce the house, zooming in letting the audience in and know that its an important place within the and where the problem escalates from.
• A Mid Shot is used of a Man who seems to be confused, this is highlighted by the low angle that seems to have a shallow focus too suggests that he's oblivious to his surroundings and his facial expressions show this too.
• The Birds Eye View  looking down on the action, she seems small and timid suggesting this is he frame of mind at the time, this shot give the audience a godlike position and suggesting that were looking down on her we should feel sorry for her in someway.
• This quickly cuts to an extreme close up of eyes that seem dark and unfamiliar this may be used for a dramatic effect. The tight focus requires the audience take extra care and thought. 
• Quick cuts of A Close up of the little boys foot and a hand mark what we suspect blood on the bed sheets which our main focus is on and a Long Shot of two young girls who are center frame however come across shy by the body language used, and the dark colours surrounding them.
• Again a number of very quick snip its of shots giving clues to the audience, one of a low angle medium close up of an old woman screaming that seems to be almost touching the camera suggesting she needs the audiences help.
• A Tracking Long Shot shows the journey through this tight framed and dark hallway building suspense. 
• Straight Cut to a Medium Close up, highlight the seriousness of the woman who is explaining whats happening to this family.

Media Language: Sound

• At the beginning of the Teaser Trailer  non-diegeticdiegetic sound of children's laughter that gives it the audience feeling of insecurity of the film.
• There are scenes where Dialogue of the woman is used however there is a score used in the background showing that that false security still remains.
• However as the trailer paste speeds the score used becomes sharper and off screen sound of parts of the clips show, making it difficult for the audience to hear the exact words but the paste highlights the characters state of mind.
• When the tracking is used the sound becomes quiet, almost silent but off screen diegetic sound of a child whispering is heard and the woman explains 'its not your house that is haunted its your son' in this calm voice, suggests she's a trusted character within the film.
• Followed by a climax of a loud score that almost sounds like a screeching, in need of help.

Media Language: Editing

• The Teaser Trailer starts with a MPPA warning, telling the audience that its being approved for all audiences to watch by the Motion Pictures Association of America.
• This then fades to black showing the film distributor studio 'Film District'
• Quick cuts are used at the start to give the audience a quick peak of a basic explanation of the boy before he was in the coma
• Fades to black are then used, whilst the boy is in hospital that could represent death, sorrow.
• Also the Teaser Trailer uses several title frames that are black with white writing on, giving this morbid, ghostly effect that connects to the film, also flashes of the writing that grabs the audiences attention.

Media Language: Mise-en-scene

• Low key lighting is used throughout the Trailer following the horror conventions, by using this type of lighting, it gives it this dark, haunted feel that works well with all the other types of elements we include in a film to give off this atmosphere in a horror genre.

• The use of decor all seems to be dark colours representing a dark mood, for example the home doesn't seem welcoming and homely especially for a young child.
• The performance of all characters shown are not happy, they come across frightened and exhausted within the film and this is shown by the costume and make up too, wearing dull clothing dark clothing suggesting they're almost blending with the decor and that to a certain extent they're losing hope.