The conventions of film trailers

Before specifically focusing on one set genre I am going to gather together the conventions used in trailers in general.

• Firstly there are always voice overs featured in a film trailer as this is used as a speaking narrative for the audience. It is also often used to build up tension especially when used in the horror genre.
• Often close-ups are used so that the audience can familiarise with the characters and places, by using close-ups the directors do not give away too much.
• Montages and fast-paced editing is extrememly popular in trailers, and often the editing hops back and fourth from quick to slow this keeps the audience interested whilst watching the trailer.
• Non-diegetic music is featured often at the beginning of the trailer so that it can set the scene and the tone of the trailer.
• The title of the film is featured at the end of the trailer this is because it makes the trailer appear more dramatic, words and text can be used throughout the trailer acting as narration picking out key words which fit the codes and conventions of the genre.
• Often trailers feature dramatic words or phrases used by one or some of the characters featured in the film, this is to perhaps make the film appear exciting and possibly make the audience want to know more.
• They always end in cliffhangers and not give the ending away so that it gives enough for the audience to go and see the film.
  
  Conventions of Horror trailers
  When watching a horror trailer there are many key conventions which the producers use to create fear and excitement. At first trailers usually give off a happy atmosphere so that the audience can become familar with the main characters and environment. However mysterious and creepy music is often featured to show the negative downfall and to make clear the horror genre of the film. Other conventions used in horror are the final girl, a frightening place, themes of death/destruction and iconography such as knives and masks. The frightening place is often a castle or an isolated house however in the horror film 'Scream' the main location is that in a domestic home this then disobeys the conventions of horror as a domestic home is seen as warmely and comforting and creates a false illusion. However in 'Scream' they use classic icons of horror that also immediately signify fear for example a knife can be seen as an extremely violent weapon. 'Scream' is also clever as in it presumes that the audience know of the key conventions used in horror as they are frequently used and discussed. The location in horror films and horror trailers often turns very gloomy and the weather is often raining or dramatic thunderstorms are present. Generally narration is used to tell the audience the story in brief and give them an image on what the film is about, this is often used by short quotes of texts which often use dramatic words or phrases from the film which could perhaps make the audience want to find out more. The diegetic sound used reguarly features screaming or shouting, the screaming featured can be young children as this appears more spooky and spine tingling as children are never normally viewed in this light.