RESEARCH AND PLANNING - Twilight Trailer Analysis

I have chosen to analyse the trailer of the film Twilight. I think this trailer is very cleverly constructed through the use of quick cutting shots and the transitions between them. It is these effects which we are hoping to successfully apply to our trailer. That, and the clever way in which the background music fades in and out in order for the dialogue to come across clearly.

This trailer can be found through the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2T7d8j6I5I

The calm music applied in the background at the start of the trailer instantly relaxes the audience into a false sense of security. Throughout the first half of the trailer the film is portrayed as a simple love story between a human and a vampire. However as the plot pans out it becomes clear that there are complications of a more dangerous nature than those which a usual couple would encounter. The pair must overcome many obstacles and break many boundaries built between the world of humans and the world of vampires in order to stay together. However, in doing so they break the few walls of protection which Bella had from others of Edward's kind, and are forced to endure the consequences.
The first shot of the trailer instantly sets the scene for the film, showing the dark and gloomy landscape of Forks the small American town in which Stephanie Meyer chose to set her novel, Twilight. The way in which the clip is sped up, showing the fast motion of the clouds against the still and Serene countryside of the town could represent the fact that, although the setting of the film appears to be still and peaceful, it actually plays host to a fast paced and dramatic story line, the quiet landscape, mirrored in the audiences first impression of the beautiful vampires, is not all it seems to be. The first caption to inhabit the screen is the date on which the film will be released. All of the text shown through out the trailer appears in the same sparkling typography. This could be to represent the goodness and innocence of the female character Bella, in contrast with the supposedly dark nature of the vampire, Edward, which is represented by the impenetrable inky blackness which surrounds the words. This subtle reference could also represent the light which Bella has brought into a world which Edward had grown to despise.
The next few shots are simple and effective, showing quick cuts of a the two lead characters who, at first glance, seem perfectly normal. However as the scene progresses and more of the plot is revealed, it becomes clear that this is not just a simple romance film. The use of such fast editing as the action begins disorientates the audience and causes a rush of adrenaline, making the trailer seem dramatic and exiting. As the out of control vehicle spins towards the "damsel in distress" Edward rushes to her rescue. The way the image of him stopping the car flashes into negative colours, imprints the scene on the mind of the watch and emphasises it as a key point to the plot. The dramatic colours caused by this colour change seem bright and fiery, possibly representing danger. It could also signify the point in Bella's life when everything turns upside-down, and she is draw into the supposedly mythical world of Ware wolves and Vampires. The close-up shots of their faces, demonstrating how important Bella's reaction to the situation is make their emotions clear and illustrate how her character is not the typical "damsel in distress", but someone who will dive into the action headfirst and be keen to get to the bottom of the mystery around Edward's secretive life, despite the suggestion that there could be danger involved.

As the trailer then moves deeper into the plot the background music speeds up, becoming more cheerful in contrast with the setting. The scenes begin to show the two characters in the same shot, rather that have individual shots for themselves, mirroring how they have become closer together, and are beginning to understand each other. Over the shoulder shots are used in the shot of them in the restaurants, using a medium close up to show the characters faces, but also their body language towards each other. Warm lighting is used to reflect the mood of the scene and to show that, although Edwards character appears very reserved and unapproachable, he is actually caring and affectionate. As it becomes clear to the audience that Edward's character is distinctly inhuman, a composition of shots are thrown into the trailer, showing his various unusual acts as a vampire. The dramatic sound effects which are Incorporated into the music are cleverly positioned to fit perfectly with the transitions between shots. As Edward says "What if I'm not the Hero. What if I'm the bad guy?" there are several brief shots of various parts of the film before you see her reaction to this statement, shown just after a fade to black which is shown along with a harsh slicing sound in synchronisation with the scene transitions. these fades to black are shown right before a shot of a mist covered full moon, something which is often associated with fear and Halloween, showing how the narrative of the film is based on a traditional myth. However this shot then fades into a view of the couple lying in a flower strewn field, which is clearly filled with a mood of happiness and contentment, showing that everything which you think you understand, like the significance of a full moon, is about to be re-interpreted. The voice overs which follow are taken from various parts of the film, however they are matched with shots of the couple together, happy and comfortable around each other. The contrast of shots of the kiss that follows, shown before scenes of drama and violence makes the plot of the film seem even more exiting, in demonstrating that the film has a hybrid genre, ranging from romance to action, allows it to appeal to all ages. Fast dramatic clips of a murder shown interlinked with shots of Bella's father explaining that a man was found dead give the audience a taster of the action and inform them that the film may also be considered dark and dangerous as well as calm and sensitive.

As the mood darkens and Bella is in danger the lighting also grows darker. the outdoors scene is shown as if at night and others are dimly lit. Short shots of the jeep roaring through the trees match the fast pace of the music as the action draws to a climax. As the shots become shorter and the rhythm of the flashing images becomes fast the music grows ever louder to mirror the mounting tension. One word captions flash onto the screen, adding to the dramatic impression and working with the action filled images to create a rush of adrenaline. The dark scene of the fight between Edward and the evil vampire is shown in a room which is full of great shafts of light which reflect of the mirrors and disorientate the audience still further. The way the music pauses to hear Edwards heroic declaration "I'm strong enough to kill you." makes the phrase sound all the more dramatic, as it is as though everything has frozen, showing its significance. This technique is repeated as he speaks thew words "you are my life now" to a terrified Bella who is positioned just below him in the shot to show how she is the weaker character, and is completely dependant on him. The clap of thunder which echoes as the title Twilight flashes onto the screen emphasises the presence of the mist-like clouds which surround the word, another reference to moonlight and Halloween related fairy tales. The date which the film will come out is also shown in the same light-filled lettering as the title, linking the two together.

The trailer of Twilight is extremely cleverly constructed, the use of mise-en-scene, editing, and camera work all come together to portray a perfect representation of the final film, giving a taster of the plot line without revealing the ending. I hope we will be able to successfully apply some of the techniques which i have identified in our trailer production.

Lucy :)