We watched some teaser trailers to give us editing ideas and inspiration- these were The Omen, Strange Days and Star Wars. We also watched the opening to an episode of The Affair. Watching this wide range of genres, was interesting to look at in terms of editing, because they use a multitude of techniques that we were influenced by.
Using effects post-production to make one side of the protagonist's face dark while the other half is light.
Black screens are used between shots in the Star Wars trailer, to increase the suspense. This was really effective when used with faced-paced straight cut editing.
Contrasting colours were used in The Omen and Strange Days and we have definitely utilised this in filming with the coloured flashing lights at the party, and red spotlight in the drug scene.
In Strange Days, the voiceover overlaps, giving the sense of distortion.
During the montage at the beginning of our Teaser Trailer, instead of non-diegetic light-hearted music, which might sound a bit unprofessional, we are going to dominate the soundscape with exaggerated sounds of each task the protagonist is doing at that time.
Simon Pegg does this in a lot of his films- a good example is from The World's End when the barman serves the drinks:
To film these shots, we placed Bethan in front of a black curtain and shone a bright red light at her.
We are using this lighting for the drug-taking scene because of the connotations of the colour red- anger, passion and sin. These emotions foreshadow the events later in the film.
Having such a bright light meant we could play around with it, filming silhouettes of Bethan and in many of the close up shots- half of her face is lit while the other half is much darker. This represents the split personality a drug as powerful as this one, can bring out in someone if they get addicted.
Although we filmed Bethan before and after taking the drug, we feel that the actual digestion of the drug should be the most dramatic shot and should be the focus of the audience's attention. We attempted to film this from many angles, in a few different ways. One of which was filming Bethan's shadow on the curtain.
Bethan was wearing a dark grey jumper which symbolises the normality of our protagonist's life. While all the people around her at the party are dressed up, in masks and makeup, Bethan is natural and wearing casual clothes. The effect drugs have on the brain and the way they alter your memory, is presented by this.
The opening shot of this teaser tailer is an extreme close up of the protagonist's eye. This is very shocking to an audience and immediately captures their attention, and invades their personal space, forming a sense of discomfort. The character's eye is very wide, dilated and bloodshot, this automatically connotes a sense of panic and fear, and depicts that something is very wrong, to the audience.
The following shot displays the protagonist waking up with her partner. The natural lighting allows for the protagonist the be lit with sunlight, whereas the partner, whose face is hidden, is shadowed. As his face is hidden and he is shadowed this creates negative connotations, and depicts that the male character is hiding something.
Positions of power are established in several ways throughout this trailer, one of which being the framing of characters, particularly in this shot. The audience is presented with a central, front on, medium-long shot of the male character, which focuses the audiences' attention onto him, whereas the female character is displayed through an over the shoulder shot, she is out of focus and heavily shadowed. This gives the power to the male character and grants him with a more superior and pivotal position. Additionally, the low-key lighting resembles the female character's confusion and negative emotions.
This displays very effective use of graphic matching, as the sequence flickers between the protagonist in her home and in hospital wear. This highlights her disorientation, it could suggest that this is a flashback, due to her lack of memory. It hooks the audience as it creates a sense of mystery and tension as it causes the audience to question what has happened in her past.
Several of the shots within this trailer obtain very low-key lighting, which could depict the darkness and deceit found within the film. One example, is this shot, which portrays the protagonist's husband lingering by the door, watching her as she sleeps. This is a very disturbing shot, as it distorts the traditional view on marriage, and creates the impression that the male character's intentions are not as he says, but perhaps are much darker. This is done by creating a sense of mistrust and fear throughout the trailer, this is done through the cinematography, music, typography and the narrative. For example, the use of red in the typography 'What if everything is a lie', connotes pain, blood and evil, which could represent what the protagonist has experienced in her life.
The music is very tense and dramatic, it builds tension by beginning as very slow and eerie, conveying the disturbed nature of the film to the audience. This conforms with the psychological thriller convention of the use of contrapuntal music, as the sound is high pitched, slow, piano music, which would usually be associated with serenity and tranquility, but in this trailer it is distorted by a low pitched ominous swooshing sound, which causes the music to appear dark and eerie, which mirrors the onscreen action and enforces the sense of fear. A change appears when the phone rings and there is a high pitched sound which evokes tension within the audience, this signifies the thrilling side of the film. As the on screen action unfold, the music mirrors it throughout the trailer, as it grows in intensity and creates fear and tension in the audience. The music constantly builds up to a climatic point at the end of the trailer, this creates anticipation, which is followed with very quiet sounds and a non-diegetic voice over of the protagonist.
The narrative such as 'Sometimes when the truth is painful I don't always have the strength' and 'He says he's protecting you, but don't trust him' reiterates this lack of trust and sense of fear, as it suggests that the protagonist has a very disturbed past and is now left confused and unable to trust anyone in her life.
Evidence of her disturbed and traumatic past is conveyed repeatedly throughout this trailer, such as flashbacks to her attack. These flashbacks are presented in black and white, along with this being done to convey to the audience that these are flashbacks, this effect could be used to depict the darkness and the trauma of the events.
The past paced editing used in these sequences highlight the panic felt by the protagonist as she is being attacked. Additionally, as conveyed in the narrative, she is an amnesiac, therefore, cannot fully remember her past, so the fast paced disjointed editing represents her inability to remember the events properly and chronologically.
At the beginning of the course, we presented our initial ideas to the class. Since then, our ideas have developed and changed:
We have now established our teaser trailer genre is going to be completely Psychological Thriller. The storyline has also been altered slightly and now consists of a montage displaying our protagonist's simple, easy life. Then she will take a drug and the party scene will occur through her eyes. The audience will then see shots of her life as a result of her addiction to the drug, which is now complicated and frustrating.
Our initial ideas of shots have stayed the same, apart from the idea of having a shot outside the party. Although our venue looked good with the lighting inside, it looked less impressive from the outside, and also too dark to film properly.
These were very rough ideas for a title, which we have now improved on. Our title options, as we put in our survey are:
The Tranquility of Ecstasy
Indulge in Ecstasy
Euphoric Rhapsody
Harmonious Delirium
Our favourite and also the favourite of the people who did the survey is Harmonious Delirium.
Our main inspiration for our film was Limitless- both the film and the TV show. These are some of the shots we liked the best and were very inspired by.
We like the extreme close ups of the eye as the pupils dilates- representing the sudden effects the drug has on his physical well-being. This is a technique we might attempt in filming, to clearly demonstrate the imminent effects of the drug.
The red lighting of this shot is something we will definitely use in our trailer, for the shots of the protagonist taking the drug. This will contrast both the high -key lighting we use for the opening montage and the low-key lighting used to represent her psychological and physical breakdown.
We liked these shots due to the contrast between the cool and warm tones. The shot of the clenched fists is warm toned, suggesting the power he has gained and how he it utilising this to his benefit. The shot of his palms suggests helplessness and a sudden realisation of the extent to which his powers affect his life.
One of the most significant props in our trailer is the drug. We are opting for a similar drug to the one used in The Matrix. We decided for the drug to be the colour red because it has connotations of lust which is synonymous with addiction. We also plan to use a translucent drug because we might be able to get some interesting shots with the light reflecting through the drug.
We chose our protagonist based on the knowledge that she has had acting experience, taking part in A2 Level Drama studies. Therefore we are confident that she will be a professional and effective actor for us.
We decided to subvert the conventions of casting in a Psychological Thriller by choosing a female to play the lead.
As these photos display, Bethan is comfortable in front of the camera due to her previous filming experience- she starred in an AS piece of Media Coursework as well.
Bethan could be described as an English Rose- and this is another reason why we cast her as the lead. The idea that our protagonist is an "attractive girl with a delicate, fair-skinned complexion" is apparently the epitome of Britishness within a female.
The house we are filming at is purposefully modern but basic- we want to create the atmosphere of a completely normal teenage girl's life. This will completely contrast the shots later on in the trailer, in which she has become addicted to the drug and this will be reflected by her surroundings. The contrast between the pale walls and the black floor show the opposite ends of her character, before and after she becomes addicted to drugs.
The trailer starts with an establishing shot of an empty living room with the television on. Low key lighting is used, conveying a sense of uneasiness to the audience. This is followed by a split screen shot of a woman sorting her pills. There is a close-up pan of the different coloured pills on the table, indicating that the pills are a central part to the plot of the film. This further shown through the repetition of the voiceover used at the end of the trailer by the woman sorting the pills, where she says" Purple in the morning, Blue in the afternoon, and orange is the evening." This suggests the woman may be addicted to these pills, again conveying addiction as one of the central themes of the film.
There are a variety of different camera angles and movement throughout the trailer. A fish eye is used in one of the scenes shown. This may be used to create a sense of disorientation for the audience, as well as a sense of uneasiness felt by the characters. Close-up shots are used frequently throughout the trailer, also creating the same effect.
There is a close up of one of the characters in a nightclub, and another close-up of the lips of someone smoking, again conveying the theme of drugs to the audience. This is further shown through the close-up of an eye where the pupil grows bigger. This allows the audience to see the effect of a drug on the character. These types of shots allow the audience to see what is happening in a very creative way. This can also be seen in the shot of the orange, where it disappears in the next shot to show passing of time. Another shot showing this, is when one of the characters is walking down the street, whilst other people pass her in fast motion. This adds a sense of confusion for audience, linking to the conventions of a psychological thriller.
Fast paced editing is used in the trailer to show the variety of locations, as well as not giving too much away in what is happening in the trailer, as the genre of Requiem for a Dream is a psychological thriller, therefore not giving enough information to the audience in order for them to completely understand what is happening.
Our genre is Psychological Thriller, which typically is aimed at teenagers and adults. Some are rated 15 while others are 18, due to the conventions of this genre- drugs, alcohol, murder etc...
After researching on IMDB, 60% of the top Psychological Thrillers are certified 15 rather than 18. This broadens the audience more, allowing younger viewers to watch.
According to these rules from the British Board of Film Classification, our film would be rated a 15. It is likely that our film will contain strong language, and definitely drug taking. Our film would not 'endorse discriminatory language or behaviour'. As a psychological thriller that focuses on drugs, there would not be a strong focus on sex, but perhaps a few indications of it. Our film will not contain sexual violence and overall will display the negative effects of drugs rather than promoting them.
From this question we can infer that our predominate demographic will be female. However, we aim to cater to a wider audience, consisting of all genders, as our trailer is not gender specific.
Due to our survey results for question 2, we have decided that the certification should be a 18, as the majority of our audience is around 18. Additionally, as our film tackles the negative implications and effects of drugs, this is a suitable topic for this age range, as it is not overly taboo, but very relevant to our audience.
As our results display that our demographic obtain a clear preference for the title 'Harmonious Delirium'. Therefore, this is the film title we have decided is best suited to our teaser trailer.
Due to the results of our survey, we have decided to subvert the convention of a psychological thriller by having a female protagonist.
After completely further research we have decided to use Studiocanal Production Company, as this is the production company for many of our main influences including Before I Go to Sleep.
Regarding the genre of psychological thrillers, one theory that is prevalent is Tzvetan Todorov's theory on Equilibrium.
He explains that most narratives start with a state of equilibrium, in which the protagonist leads a 'normal' and happy life.
Equilibrium, Disequilibrium, Attempted Repair, New Equilibrium.
Aristotle's Theory of Tragedy is also applicable to our trailer genre. He said that all narratives can be divided into 3 sections: the Protasis, Epitasis, and Catastrophe. The German novelist Gustav Freytag then split these up into 5 parts: Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action and Denouement.
Because of the fact that this is a Teaser Trailer, and is the first time the audience will get a glimpse of the film, it wouldn't make sense to end with Denouement- especially considering the genre is a Psychological Thriller. We plan to end our trailer on the climax, so that the audience will want to find out what the falling action and denouement consist of.
The Exposition introduces important background information.
The Rising Action shows a number of related incidents leading up to a consequence.
This consequence is the Climax, which changes the protagonist's fate. The situation changes from good to bad for the character.
The Falling Action stage contains conflict between the protagonist and others.
The Denouement should eventually create a sense of catharsis, ending the conflict.
Roland Barthes was a French Philosopher and Literary Theorist was said that texts are either open or closed, and are influenced by 5 codes:
Hermeneutic Code/ Enigma Code- this relates to clues and subtleties within a story. It leaves the audience wanting to know more which is exactly what a teaser trailer should do. Proairetic Code- contains sequential elements of action in a story. These add suspense to the ambience, which adheres to the purpose of our genre: Psychological Thriller. Semantic Code- these are aspects of the story that have more than one meaning. Since the trailer is so short and shouldn't give too much of the plot away, the audience will be able to interpret our trailer in a number of ways. Symbolic Code- this refers to symbolism within a text, certain aspects of mise en scene can be used to show contrast, create greater meaning, create tension and add character development. Referential Code- this code probably applies the least to us, and refers to cultural, historical and scientific knowledge.
These are some of the shots from our part scene footage: We used a fisheye for some shots and strobe lighting to create a distorted, but colourful effect that corresponds with what our protagonist may see after taking a drug.
This scene is entirely post-drug so we wanted it to be colourful and eccentric. The protagonist has lost some of her senses and is feeling lightheaded but ecstatic. Her vision is distorted and she is surrounded by people who are invading her personal space while doing more drugs.
Some people are wearing masks and this is something we would like to include as a theme within the party scene. Adding the bright colours only make the masks more creepy.
Dark shadows and silhouettes can be seen around the room and this adds to the thriller element of our teaser trailer. Seeing these ominous shapes moving around creates a sense of the unknown, and hints at the potential danger than our protagonist will encounter.
By not showing our protagonists face in the party, we create a sense of mystery surrounding her. All of the shots are from her own eyes, which allows the audience to experience everything as she is experiencing it- while on drugs.
One of the most famous directors of Thrillers is Sir Alfred Hitchcock, who has been named The Master of Suspense.
Hitchcock always said he's choose suspense over surprise and explained his choice with this aphorism: "There's two people having breakfast and there's a bomb under the table. If it explodes, that's a surprise. But if it doesn't...."
He also liked to make voyeurs of the audience with the use of point-of-view shots from obscure places.
Hitchcock popularised the 'MacGuffin which he often used in his thrillers, and since then, many other thrillers. This is when a protagonist in the film desires a particular thing (place, person, object...) for a reason unknown to the audience. An example is the plans for the airplane engine in The 39 Steps.
Another director famous for his Thrillers is Christopher Nolan.
A great article that explains 'Why Christopher Nolan films look like Christopher Nolan films' is in the link below, but the main points of it are:
One of the features that might make an audience infer it is a Nolan film, is the use of IMAX.
He also makes use of colour- his final project is always "epic and crisp" which is enhanced by the larger format of IMAX.
For almost all of his films, Nolan works with the cinematographer Wally Pfister, who contributes to the widescreen, aesthetically pleasing films we see Nolan directing.
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/07/the-reason-christopher-nolan-films-look-like-christopher-nolan-films/260087/
A third director who is well known within this genre is Darren Aronofsky, the director of Requiem for a Dream and The Black Swan.
In his early films (Requiem for a Dream), he was renowned for his extremely short shots. While most films have 600-700 cuts, Requiem has over 2000.
Black Swan is one of his more recent films and one he filmed using a muted palette and grainy style to showcase the acting and narrative instead.
Similarly to Nolan, Aronofsky has worked with the same cinematographer for 6 films and this type of close relationship between a director and cinematographer enhances the quality of the film.
One last director who has had influence in the world of Psychological Thrillers, is David Fincher.
He has directed a number of films in this genre, and therefore has many distinctive features that label his films as his own:
Single Frame Inserts- when there's a flash on the screen in the middle of a scene.
Silhouettes
Low-key lighting with blue and green tints Wide shots
Displays end credits as slideshows rather than the traditional method
Low angles
Flashbacks
Several of the shots within this trailer obtain very low-key lighting, which could depict the darkness and deceit found within the film. One example, is this shot, which portrays the protagonist's husband lingering by the door, watching her as she sleeps. This is a very disturbing shot, as it distorts the traditional view on marriage, and creates the impression that the male character's intentions are not as he says, but perhaps are much darker. This is done by creating a sense of mistrust and fear throughout the trailer, this is done through the cinematography, music, typography and the narrative. For example, the use of red in the typography 'What if everything is a lie', connotes pain, blood and evil, which could represent what the protagonist has experienced in her life. 
The trailer starts with an establishing shot of an empty living room with the television on. Low key lighting is used, conveying a sense of uneasiness to the audience. This is followed by a split screen shot of a woman sorting her pills. There is a close-up pan of the different coloured pills on the table, indicating that the pills are a central part to the plot of the film. This further shown through the repetition of the voiceover used at the end of the trailer by the woman sorting the pills, where she says" Purple in the morning, Blue in the afternoon, and orange is the evening." This suggests the woman may be addicted to these pills, again conveying addiction as one of the central themes of the film. 
There are a variety of different camera angles and movement throughout the trailer. A fish eye is used in one of the scenes shown. This may be used to create a sense of disorientation for the audience, as well as a sense of uneasiness felt by the characters. Close-up shots are used frequently throughout the trailer, also creating the same effect.
In his early films (Requiem for a Dream), he was renowned for his extremely short shots. While most films have 600-700 cuts, Requiem has over 2000.
One last director who has had influence in the world of Psychological Thrillers, is David Fincher.
Single Frame Inserts- when there's a flash on the screen in the middle of a scene.
Wide shots