The setting of the house is used to show Stacey and her mental state - mostly in a negative light. This setting is used to empathise her deterioration and the effects the death of Zac has had on her. She is seen sipping alcohol from the bottle, looking at her suspect sign and waking from nightmares.
Another setting used was that of the school. It is used to show the last conversation Zac has before his death - which is with main protagonist Stacey. Then he enters the toilets ominously and is not seen again until his body is discovered. Clips of this graphic scene will be incorporated throughout the trailer along with clips from Staceys POV after the tragedy has happened. The graphicness of the scene will entice the audience to go and see the film as they will question what has happened.
We used Photoshop in order to create our film logo. We had many options but decided this was the best fit for our film. We focused on the font 'Chiller' as it resembled blood and violence which the plot of our film has a large focus on. We then decided to put the word 'blood' in red and 'shed' in white to further empathise the thriller and dark elements of the film.
We decided to film some shots outside the local police station. We believed incorporating this setting would attract the audience as the indication of crime will intrigue and excite them to discover what the plot entails. We had to receive permission to film outside the station however we we're swiftly granted it and the filmed the scene of 'Stacey' walking past the sign and also a shot of the station.
We decided as we are making a thriller movie that we needed a different production logo to last years. We decided on the name 'Cutting Edge' as it not only describes being innovative and completely original, but also connotes the ideas of being cut with a knife which sounds violent and scary. We believed audiences would want to see a film made by a production company with this name as it sounds intriguing as to why it would be so fresh and extreme. Also thriller genre fans will likely identify a production company with this name as making content perfectly aimed at them due to its negative connotations. We used red san-serif font on a black black background so it is easily identifiable to audiences and connotes blood or gore.
Masthead - the magazine name and logo is clearly displayed in the stereotypical format - being the largest and most prominent words on the whole front cover. However what is counter typical about the masthead is that the name of the magazine doesn't match with the consistent display of the magazine's logo as it blends in with the skyline background.
Anchorage text - the enticing words 'mind-blowing' is displayed over the foreground of the main image which is stereotypical placement. These texts are clearly used to make the reader feel as if they are missing out if they don't find out what the "27 most mind-blowing" movies are, thus making them buy the magazine in order to find out.
Cover lines - these are also in stereotypical placement for a magazine front cover as they are placed on the sides and show only additional information for the audience. Titles such as 'first looks' and 'preview' provide the reader with additional incentive to purchase the magazine.
Main image - once again placed in the conventional position the main image is the largest and the counter-typically only image on the front cover. It displays the main protagonist of the features film which is stereotypical, and that main character is one of the most famous actors in the world - which immediately draws the attention of the reader through the use of star power.
Barcode - displayed on the side of the magazine which is typical.
Date, issue, price - all in small font at the top of the magazine, stereotypical.
Tagline - the magazine's tagline is displayed at the very top of the magazine and reads "the mind-blowing issue" - this immediately draws the attention of the audience and suggests to them that this magazine will include something hugely important and unmissable which increases sales.
Buzz words - many are used in the magazine, some notable being "first look", "mind-blowing" and "ultimate". These all grab the attention of the reader and make it feel worth buying.
Banner - the banner describes the featured movie as the "ultimate head-trip", this identifies that the featured film belongs in the psychological thriller genre and fans of the genre will be interested in discovering more about the film. Also this term is used as a persuasive technique in order to sell the product.
Film logo - The name of the film is stereotypically displayed in the middle of the main image. The font of the logo is like that of the marketing however the colour has been changed to a silver for the magazine cover in order to fit the colour scheme shown and to make the title stand out in the minds of readers.
Masthead - clearly identifiable and is the most prominent text on the front cover. The magazine name is the same colour as it is branded in nearly every issue which will make the product instantly known to the reader with little brainpower needed. It is conventionally situated behind the main image when it overlaps.
Anchorage text - Displayed in a typical fashion over the main image, the text adds additional information tot he reader about the featured movie which will give them a better understanding of if they'd like to purchase the magazine.
Cover lines - once again in their typical position on the sides of the cover, however the text runs in a parallel order which gives them the effect of being 3D like. This is eye-catching to an audience and draws them immediately to the cover, it also reads with additional articles that will be included in the magazine some of which will be enticing for the audience. All names of featured films are seen in bold on the magazine, thus putting empathises on films others would want to see.
Main image - the main image is stereotypically centred in the centre of the magazine and includes the protagonist of the main film featured in the mag. This clearly identifies to the audience what the film is and who the main actor is, (a man who is one of the most famous actors on the planet, generating star power), which makes the reader feel the need to discover more and buy the mag.
Barcode - situated on the typical bottom of the page, however they have made it fit the theme of the issue which audiences would find special.
Date, issue and price - shown in stereotypical small writing near the logo.
Tagline - This issue of the magazine does not feature the tagline it almost always includes in every issue. This may be due to the fact a psychological thriller is the focus of the issue so the brand is wanting to show something different and unrecognisable.
Buzzwords - Not many are used on the front cover (some that are include "plus" and "dream access") however there is a huge amount of exclamatives used on the front cover, with almost every sentence ending with an exclamation mark. This will capture the attention of the audience and will empathise words in their head.
Banner - The banner is situated in a typical position over the main image. It provides the audience with additional information concerning the featured film inception. First of all it uses star power by identifying it is a film directed by Christopher Nolan who is a hugely famous director. Also it gives the idea of the genre concerned by mentioning two extremely successful franchises and calls them a mix of both but "on steroids!". This to the audience would be a huge incentive to but the magazine and discover more about the featured movie.
Film logo - The film logo features on the cover is that same as that features on the marketing, this makes the brand easily identifiable to an audience who have seen posters and advertising and also will be beneficial to the magazine as those who have seen this in the past will be more inclined to buy the product.
'The Girl On The Train' is a thriller movie trailer in which many conventions are displayed. The opening of the trailer immediately shows the production companies logos which is typical for every trailer.
The trailer then opens to a close up shot of the face of Emily Blunt who is the protagonist in the movie. This is a stereotypical use of character introduction as the audience will be immediately drawn to her and connotations will be brung that she is the most important character of the movie. In the trailer the lighting is low-key with extreme colour saturation which gives the impression that Emily's character is glum and depressed - which in turn sets up the themes for the thriller genre film. At this point high pitched non-digetic piano music plays which gives off eerie and sinister connotations which fits perfectly for the thriller genre, along with diagetic speech from Emily's character.
Then the focus shifts to a large house in an establishing shot. Houses have been commonly associated to suffering and horror due to the fact they continuously appear as motifs throughout the genre as places in which negative activity occurs. As this shot is on screen the non-diagetic high pitch piano music continues along with a voice over from Emily Blunt's character as she continues speech from the previous shot - a voice over is a conventional element in many thriller trailers and it helps move the audience along the story through the voice of most usually, and in this case, the protagonist.
The next shot is that of a female in her underwear standing on the balcony of the house. It is a stereotype for sexual themes to be apart of thriller films due to their high age rating - however it connotes to the audience through character introduction that the female is not in a larger role of Emily as she receives a long shot instead of a close up shot. The voice over continues.
An inter title is included after over dramatic non-diagetic music only as violin sounds have been added to the piano - suggesting that something ominous is happening. The inter title reads "one week ago" which connotes to the audience that something insidious in nature occurred. Dull colours are used for the inter title which is conventional for a thriller trailer colour scheme.
The dramatic yet somber violin and piano non-diagetic music continues through to the second inter title which gives the audience more information. The inter title reads "at 4:36 PM", this brings connotations of a detective theme as police are known for recording exact times for when there has been a situation of importance. This entices the audience to keep their eyes glued on the trailer - also these detective themes are rife in the genre thriller.
In between the inter titles are many fast shots including puddles of water, a train and the blonde female character on a jog. The dramatic non-diagetic music continues into the next inter title which connotes to the audience shock and excitement as to reads "a woman disappeared". This plot device is a typical one of thriller films as mystery is a huge component to many or nearly all of them.
The next frame is of Emily Blunt's character looking stunned and scared which connotes that from the train she is seeing something dramatic and horrifying - all thriller genre tones. Silence is not over the trailer however there is a voice over from the frantic character of Emily Blunt as she declares that she saw the woman in question.
The next frame is an inter title that reads "based on the thriller that shocked the world". This will immediately draw to the attention of the audience that this trailer if they hadn't realised is for a thriller and the contents of this thriller has extremely shocking elements that are on a global scale. The inter titles have now become black with white writing suggesting that the trailer is beginning to get darker in tone as the plot unfolds. Non-diagetic even more intense music plays now and there is a robotic sounding voice in the background which makes the tone more ominous.
The frame after is of a low-key lit tunnel which gives connotations of violence and horror as these kinds of walk ways have previous negative representations in individuals minds. The non-diagetic music still plays and Emily Blunt's voice over begins again as she explains what she saw - which entices the audience to listen and find out the mystery.
The next frame is of police outside a neighbourhood of houses. The presence of police is a convention of the thriller genre and is stereotypical as they are seen to be those who solve the mystery the majority of the time. Also their presence suggests crime has been committed which is another thriller convention.
The next frame is of a wooded area - a stereotypical thriller setting - with caution tape around it. This suggests to the audience that there has been a possible murder and a body or piece of evidence has been found - linking directly back to the thriller genre through the use of murder and crime. The subtle yet dramatic robotic sounding non-diagetic music continues.
The next frame is an inter title with the production companies names "presenting" this trailer to the world. Both are famous companies known to be in the "Big Five". A loud non-diagetic crash in the music occurs as this inter title begins to disappear suggesting the pace is building higher and higher.
The next frame is of Emily Blunt looking fairly haggard drinking alcohol - which is known to be a damaging and lethal substance for those with abuse issues which she is presented through her look as having. This dark issue of alcoholism is a common on in thrillers and will entice the audience who are fans of the genre to discover if there was a link between that and the murder of a girl. The dramatic non-diagetic music is still present however so is voice overs from Emily Blunt and the detective character who is asking questions about her alibi for said night - suggesting that Emily may in fact be a suspect which is counter-typical for a main protagonist to be.
Many fast paced shots pass before this next notable one which is a male in low-key lighting looking very ominous. It connotes that he may be the antagonist of the movie however there seems to be a personal sexual relationship between him and the dead girl indicating that the theme of adultery takes place - which brings negative connotations making it likely to be a thriller genre theme. The same music continues however a voice over from the husband of the dead girl plays over which links the characters together.
The next frame shows a male covering Blunt's characters face suggesting that she is in the middle of an altercation - a common practice that occurs in thriller movies. It shocks the audience as they have grown a connection to the character as she has been the most prominent throughout. The dramatic music has not increased in volume but the crashing sounds are more frequent and in time with intense moments such as the mouth grab.
This frame shows Emily's character with visible bruising and blood which is a conventional sight to see in a thriller - this further excites and bewilders the audience as they want to find out why this has happened which entices them to see the movie more. The sound is fairly silent with voice over from the character continuing.
This frame shows an unidentified woman hair being grabbed and pulled from behind which connotes violence and possibly murder is being shown in the trailer - both conventions of thriller. It also disturbs the audience and further attracts them to the screen. At this point the music has begun again and sounds as if it is reaching a crescendo as it has never been as loud as it has been at any part of the trailer.
There are numerous extremely fast and quick shots in this climax of the trailer including this one of Emily smashing a mirror with a golf club. Seeing this will make the audience question the character as she is seemingly becoming more and more violent and this will attract them to watch the whole movie to discover the truth of the plot. The non-diagetic music is very loud with multiple crashes as it reaches its climax - this builds intensity and excitement.
In these two last frames the music has reduced back to the somber quiet piano after the dramatic climax. They show the name of the film on a black background and then the release date of october - a conventional thriller movie release month due to its proximity to halloween and the season changing from light and warm to dark and cold. The use of black connotes that this film will be sad and ominous in tone like traditional thriller films. Also there is information for a social media profile which people can visit - something that the young thriller target audience is likely to do as social media is known to be a big part and marketing tool in young individuals lives.
The editing of the trailer was very fast paced with an estimated 270 shots in total with over 120 being in just the climatic part of the trailer - this is conventional as thriller trailers are known to be paced with a fast middle and slower beginnings and ends.
Film production logos: The film production logo should be seen mainly at the beginning of every trailer.
Film title: The film title should be visible towards the end of the trailer usually at the climax of the trailer and before an additional short scene.
Age certificate: The age certificate is sometimes seen at the end of the trailer with the release date and social media information.
Social media: sometimes social media links are provided at the end of the film so the audience can find additional information of they wish.
Character introductions: Characters are usually introduced at the beginning of the trailer with more sometimes in the middle - however thriller trailers usually focus on a small number of characters.
Dramatic/Dark Music: Dramatic intense music is a common convention seen in nearly every thriller trailer there is. This is to signal to the audience that the events seen are impactful and edge of seat viewing.
Voice over: A voice over - mainly from the protagonist - is used to guide the audience through the plot and chaotic pace of the trailer.
Name captions: Named actors, directors or producers who sometimes generate star power are shown in the trailer in titles separate to the scenes for many trailers.
1:30-2:30 minuet length time: The standard time for a trailer is between this bracket, however thriller trailers tend to be shorter due to the fact that mystery is usually needed to be kept for the film so there are a lack of scenes to be shown to not give away the plot too much.
Release date: Release dates are shown traditionally at the end of the films trailer, most thrillers tend to be released in the autumn/winter time as the cold and dark scenery outside mirrors the themes shown on screen and they are more popular in these seasons.
Intertitles: These titles how taglines, additional information and sometimes rhetorical questions in order to draw the attention of the audience and give them a feel for what the plot is and what they will be getting in the feature length version.
Editing: Fast paced editing is the most common convention for a thriller trailer as a chaotic and out of place feel is needed to empathise the fact that the plot is mysterious and dark in tone. Also transitions and special effects occur frequently in thriller trailers as their form is supposed to be different and abstract from normal scenes seen in a comedy for example.
