Aftermath (2014)
I really liked this trailer and I will use it as my main inspiration. I particularly liked the editing which I will discuss in more detail.
This trailer starts off with the conventional foreshadowing of the apocalypse through news reports which is effective as it clearly shows the audience what caused the apocalypse and clearly shows them what genre it is.
The editing and camera shots are really impressive. I especially like this open framed canted angle, showing something is 'askew' or not quite right;
I like the idea of fast editing and flashes of single shots that matches the music and actions of the characters as shown in 0:55 and 1:38. I also like how they cut with a gun being fired (a shot with a shot if you like) at 1:08 and 1:35 and is shown again at 1:38 when it cuts in time as the actor 'cuts' or slams down. I think this is very effective and makes the audience jump like it's realistic and creates empathy.
The studios at the beginning and the credits at the end are a necessity and are conventional in trailers.
Monsters (2010)
I really liked the various camera shots and framing used. Again, the theme of hope vs. hopelessness is present (seeming to become a conventional theme of post apocalyptic films) and is shown through hopeful non diabetic music which silences when the candles go out and becomes darker as the trailer progresses. The sound effects also echo which adds a eerie feel to the trailer and shows emptiness as it echoes.
This trailer uses a video like effect on the credits and sentences they use. The words tell the backstory which is similar to Aftermath's rather in using a voice narration. They have also included various critic reviews to persuade the audience to go and see the film.
Again this one has the conventional credits at the end and also links to the Facebook page and website, promoting their film further. They also have the conventional green certificate at the beginning to possibly warn the viewer of any restrictions on the trailer.
The Road (2009)
This trailer is very similar to the Monsters one above with words telling a story (however here, The Road uses one word at the end (Run. Protect. Sacrifice. Kill. much like the book with its simple use of language suggesting language is dying out, like the world) to create a snappy impact on the audience and fits with the fast edits), a video effect and also has some traits from Aftermath's with news reports and fast edits to create suspense in the audience and edits to recreate a gun shot (such as the very end shot) and cuts with the music (e.g. at 1:26). The soundtrack music of eerie, screechy strings (making the viewer on edge) quickens as the trailer progresses with more action packed scenes.
I really like the above shot of skulls with a 'negative' effect to show the darkness of the shot and to scare/disturb the viewer.
Again, we see the conventional green certificate at the beginning of the trailer and credits at the end. This one is slightly different with their release date saying it's released "everywhere" furthering the impact on the audience and giving a scary and eerie atmosphere.
I could also take inspiration from the novel and how the narrative is set up, the language used and the mise-en-scene of the different characters and settings and how the apocalypse is revealed to us. I might not do the cannibalism idea and just go with the conventional virus idea for budget.
Alone (2014)
This one, unlike the others, uses a voice narration, therefore, challenging conventions. I really like how it fades to black and all we can hear us the narrator saying "..but I was wrong" giving a sense of hopelessness and creating goosebumbs in the viewer, but there is some hope shown in the trailer e.g. the light streaming through the very first shot and the helicopter near the end, but it is snatched away from us.
However there is some words used which flash up every time there is a thud in the music (especially at the end with the title of the film) creating a dramatic effect and enticing the audience. Although, I don't really like the font or how they have edited in the credits during the actual trailer (e.g. "directed by..."). It's not subtle.
Supernatural - "Swan Song" (05x22) (2010)
Technically this isn't a trailer but it deserves a mention and has some really interesting points I can use as inspiration.
I really like the idea of the melancholy echoed bell toll which I would like to include in mine (I have researched into songs I could use and found a really interesting one called 'No Man's Land' which I will discuss more on a seperate post). This creates a desolate and eerie atmosphere. The actual location furthers this with the abandoned graveyard with the mise-en-scene of the "no trespassing" sign.
Much like the trailers above, this one uses short and snappy sentences to grab the viewer's attention.
One shot used in this episode I found was really interesting and effective;
In this scene, Sam (our protagonist, in the mirror (mise-en-scene) which is broken, which reflects his broken personality in the episode) is talking to Lucifer who is possessing his body. This scene must have took a lot of planning out but it's done really well with great, chilling acting. I really like how it's done in a mirror and reflecting his soul and clearly separates them.
I have decided that the genre of my project will be post apocalyptic. However, I have not decided whether it should be a short film or a trailer. So I have selected a variation of both to analyse and get inspiration from.
Not Over, Till It Ends Within by Alexander Alexandrov from Ben Trovato on Vimeo.
I really liked this short film. Some of the open framing shot types really echoed the idea of how empty the world is after the apocalypse.
I also liked how it challenged conventions by showing the positive side as well as negative side to the apocalypse- the world looks like a happier place and we appreciate things in life more e.g. literature like in this screen grab.
However, there is no dialogue in this short film which can be positive and negative. Positive because it is open to interpretation, shows the silence of the world after the apocalypse, and doesn't rely on acting skills. Negative because it maybe too open to interpretation and doesn't confirm any narrative. Also, the film focuses more on the locations and includes impressive mise-en-scene, such as the character's clothing, than narrative. I would like my project to have both.
REMNANT (Post Apocalyptic Short Film) from Thanos Kermitsis on Vimeo.
I really liked the power and symbolism of the silence in this short film, diagetic and non diagetic. It shows he is the only one left with no one to talk to, isolated. The mise-en-scene of the dolls and the pictures of his loved ones added to the alignment of the protagonist and created empathy.
The low key lighting was also used to to their advantage to show the antagonist as 'shady' with something to hide. The locations used too were impressive with various urban decay to show the decay of civilisation from the apocalypse. I really liked the canted angle used at 9:42 and the jump cuts near the beginning to show time passing.
However, I felt like the music used at the end credits do not match the narrative, creating a juxtaposition but not in a good way.
Purgatory - Short Film from Joao Filipe Silva on Vimeo.
This short film really challenged the conventions of the post apocalyptic genre. The main factor (despite it being in a different language) that shows this is the fact it is in black and white, symbolising the dullness and sameness of life after the apocalypse- it has drained the colour of the world away. The narration of the short film also challenged short film conventions as we typically find narration in trailers (see my trailer analysis post), plus, it's a narration based off a letter (a true story?) creating empathy in the audience, making them wary of what the world could become.
This short film also challenges convention by having a sub genre of steampunk as show in the mise-en-scene, e.g. the 'eye protection', making it stand out and appeal to different audiences.
The film also used cross cuts to their advantage to show hope (e.g. when he releases the lantern) vs. hopelessness (e.g. when he walks alone outside with open framing).
Sacrifice from Eric Wostenberg on Vimeo.
This short film was just... weird! It's like Les Miserables with zombies! It's... definately challenging conventions with a mixture of different genres; "A post-apocalyptic sci-fi horror musical", widening their target audience. However, I do not think a post-apocalyptic musical fits- it's just too weird and too much juxtaposition! I still found it oddly entertaining and wanting to see what happens next. However, this short film seemed very long compared to the others, and the dialogue seemed very unnatural.
They have used symbolism, camera shots and very impressive mise-en-scene (such as the costumes, the location, the props, etc.) especially to their advantage in this short film.
The idea of hope is shown through the mise of the protagonist's acting, cuddling and comforting the child. The theme of hopelessness is also present with the use of pathetic fallacy of the rain outside, foreshadowing danger and a not-so-happy-ending. Thunder is also shown through the use of handheld camera which I found very effective. There are also constant cross cuts/flashbacks of the protagonist and her child- a constant reminder and showing how history is repeating itself.
The Walking Dead Title Sequence (season 3) from
Michael Lane Parks on
Vimeo.
What I particularly like about this title sequence is how the mise-en-scene represents the characters the actors play on screen, e.g. Norman Reedus playing archer Daryl with the mise-en-scene of the arrows.
There's use of bleak, filtered locations which is fairly easy to edit compared to The Last of Us (see below).
Cast credited; main actors, executive producer(s), developer, "based on the graphic novels".
The writing of the cast here have no transitions from each shot (apart from the out of focus fade of Norman Reedus' name) giving a sense of monotony and again, mimicking the apocalyptic atmosphere.
The Last of Us - Title Sequence from
henry hobson directing & design on
Vimeo.
I really like the simplicity of these titles, even though hard to film, with some effects used to create the effect of the water turns into fungus, subtly foreshadowing the cause of the apocalypse.
http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-last-of-us/
Cast credited; Production company, director(s), lead technical artist, programmer, animator, designer, effects, editor, audio, lighting, music, actors, co-presidents.
Since this title is for a game, the main cast credited are different to those of a tv series or a film e.g. with a main focus on the animators and artists rather than the voice actors, credited later.
The writing of the cast vary; some wipe and some are already present on the next shot, giving a sense of uneasiness.
Similarities
The fonts on both of the title sequences are block capitals in a bold font. There's nothing pretty- it's dull like the apocalypse. Both also have their titles on black backgrounds again mimicking the bleakness and darkness of the apocalypse.
