How I Will Use My Analysis

Teaser Trailers

From the trailers that I have analysed I have acquired knowledge on the typical codes and conventions of teaser trailers. The most clear convention of a teaser trailer that creates the mystery surrounding the film that I will use in my own product, and that is evident in all the trailers that I analysed, is the hiding of the film's main plot. By only giving away the outline of the film and not including the main events in the teaser trailer, I can retain the mystery that is likely to attract viewers to watch the product.

Despite not revealing the film's main events, a teaser trailer must still have a narrative structure. Usually included in this is a less in-depth version of the full film, however I have not used this technique. I have used the convention used in the trailer for 'Knocked Up', by only introducing the characters and the opening events of the film and not any footage or direction of the ending. This will entice the audience into viewing the film to find out the ending.

Another convention of teaser trailers that I have learnt from the trailers I have analysed is the use of an underlying sub-text, which is most evident in 'Harold and Kumar' of the trailers that I have analysed. By placing a sub-text in the trailer and the full film, the makers create something extra for viewers to consider when watching the movie and portray certain feelings or opinions on a subject. I will use this convention in my own product as a way of making it more interesting, by creating something else to consider, and also to address the majority view on the subject in question, teen behaviour.

Movie Posters

Through my analysis of movie posters, I have recognised how the costumes of characters are important in reflecting the themes of the film. Of the trailers that I analysed, the use of costumes is most clear in 'Anchorman.' Through my research I have discovered that by placing characters in costumes relating to the specific subjects of the film, the target audience who are also likely to have an interest in the clothing style, will be attracted to the costumes. They will also recognise how they might reflect a theme they are interested in and can relate to. I will develop this into my own product be placing my characters in clothing that my target audience can relate to, male teen fashion.

Another aspect of movie posters that have recognised the importance of through my analysis is facial expressions and body language. Like the costumes, the posture and expressions of characters on movie posters are important in reflecting themes and genre of the film. In the example of my research, the poster for 'Harry Potter' involves expressions to reflect the action nature of the movie and the poster for 'Anchorman' includes expressions to represent the comedic themes towards the news in the film. I will use the conventions in my poster of body language and expressions to reflect the themes by representing the cheeky comedic nature of a teen movie.

In the instance of text within a movie poster, I learnt through my analysis how this is important representing the genre of the film. In an action film, the tag line will reflect the fast paced and probably violent aspects of the film and in a comedy poster, the tag line will show how the subject of the movie will be mocked to create humour. The tag line in the poster 'Harry Potter' introduces the themes of the film and also reflects previous movies in the series. I will use the convention of tag lines in my product by using a line that will represent the cheeky aspect of the teen comedy. 

Movie Magazine Front Covers

A common convention of movie magazine front covers that I have learnt from my analysis and that also seems to be included in most products is the use of the featured film name as the headline of the magazine piece, for example in the 'Empire' and 'Entertainment Weekly' magazine front covers that I analysed. Although, this is a common convention, I will not use it completely within my own product as I intend to use a pun of the movie title instead of the exact name.

The importance of hooks and tag lines across the front cover of a movie magazine is another aspect that I have recognised through my research. As is evident in all of the products that I analysed, the front cover mentions other films and articles within the magazine away from the main feature to attract a wider audience and boost sales. Another way that the makers of the magazine may attract the target audience to the product is by including posters or other hooks, which the audience will see and if they are interested in the subject will want to buy. I will incorporate this into my own product by mentioning other films as well as my own as the main feature and by attract the audience through posters and other hooks.

Similar to the movie posters, the images on movie magazine front covers are used to reflect the themes and genre of the featured film, for example in the issue of 'Empire' that I have analysed James Bond (Daniel Craig) is standing in a forceful and determined posture to represent the action genre of the film. Another way in which the image is used on movie magazine front covers is how the 'star persona' of the person involved is used to attract the audience. If someone is interested in the person involved, they are likely to buy the product. I will include these conventions in my magazine front cover by placing the actors involved in postures and expressions to reflect the comedic nature of the film. Despite the actors involved in my film not having a 'star persona', I will use the fact that the target audience can relate to the actors as teenagers to attract them to the image.