Comparing the effectiveness of a trailer and a poster when advertising a film Essay Example
Comparing the effectiveness of a trailer and a poster when advertising a film Essay Example

Comparing the effectiveness of a trailer and a poster when advertising a film Essay Example

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  • Pages: 5 (1208 words)
  • Published: December 21, 2017
  • Type: Analysis
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In this essay, I will analyze the effectiveness of advertising a motion picture through a poster and a film trailer. Various methods can be used to advertise a film, such as the Internet, posters, and film trailers. I will compare the film trailers of Harry Potter, Lord Of The Rings, and Shrek to determine their usefulness in marketing a film.

In the Harry Potter film trailer, the WB logo initially appears but then transforms into a multitude of owls that swoop down towards the audience. This distinctive feature, known as a unique selling point (USP), serves as a reminder to the viewer about the film's production company and its title. The film's soundtrack complements the mystical and magical theme of the story, with music consistently aligning with the film clips and overall narrative. Throughout the trailer, the logo is repeatedly displayed as a means to reinfo

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rce the connection between the viewer and the company behind the film.

The trailer utilizes a voice over, typically performed by a renowned actor from the film, to explain clips that may not be in chronological order. The initial focus of the trailer is on Harry, the main character, with his face prominently displayed to ensure audience recollection. As the trailer nears its conclusion, it reveals the release date and website along with extensive information about various companies involved. At this point, lightning flashes intermittently, unveiling additional details after each flash. This distinctive feature adds visual intrigue to the trailer.

The Harry Potter poster has several unique selling points, presented in a pictorial view. For instance, the colors of the writing and background contrast each other, making the poster visually captivating. Additionally, th

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writing itself is shaped like lightning strikes from a magic wand, adding an intriguing effect. These features contribute to the overall visual appeal of the poster. Furthermore, the characters are cleverly overlapped in order of importance. Notably, Harry is positioned at the center, emphasizing his role as the main character.

Just like the background pictures placed in a clockwise manner around Harry, the first picture going clockwise holds significant importance as both are unique selling points. This is an effort to create a lasting impression of the main character and highlight the significance of their role in the film. While the WB logo on the poster cannot be emphasized as much as it can in a trailer, it is always visible. Additionally, more website addresses are included as there is more time available to explore them.

The film trailer for The Lord Of The Rings commences with the "new line cinema" logo, followed by a spinning ring against a fiery Hell-like backdrop. A deep-voiced narrator warns of the ring's power to enslave the world if it falls into wrong hands, emphasizing the need for its destruction. This sequence serves to alert viewers that this is a quest film and introduces its theme. By showcasing the significance of the ring through an extended clip, it reinforces its central role in the story. The choice of a fiery Hell-like background resonates with the cautionary tone of the voice over, suggesting that if possessed by an unworthy individual, chaos will ensue.

A boy's hand reaches up and grabs the ring. As the fist opens, the view passes through the ring, which sparkles, and then transitions to the next clip. This unique

feature showcases the ring in its smallest form, highlighting its significance in the film. The director aims to continuously remind the viewer of its importance. The camera then zooms in on the young Frodo, shifting the focus onto him. A woman's voiceover accompanies this shot, stating that even the smallest person can change the future. This quote is from the film and serves to suggest that it relates to Frodo. It serves as an introduction to the main character. The soundtrack contributes to the mythical atmosphere of the film. When action clips appear, the music changes dramatically to enhance the impact. This sudden change in music is another distinctive attribute that makes the film memorable.

Each clash of the symbols triggers the display of a new clip. These clips, presented out of sequence, aim to intrigue the audience and promote interest in the film. Subsequently, each clip introduces a character in descending order of importance, thereby reinforcing their memorability to the viewer.

The film's title is not revealed until the end, which creates suspense for the viewer and leaves a lasting impression. The title, "The Ring," is then shown faded and spinning horizontally across the screen slowly, with sparkles that stand out. As the sparkle moves across the screen, it reveals the release date and locations where the film is being shown. The film company's logo and websites are also displayed at the end to help viewers recognize the company. The title of the film is shown once again at the very end to reinforce its name and leave a lasting impression. The poster for the film is long and thin, emphasizing the main character, Frodo, and

portraying him as a star. Frodo is depicted holding a long, thin sword, mirroring the shape of the poster. This effect is intended to enhance viewer recall of the film.

The writing color is filtered gold, resembling the color of the ring. This is meant to symbolize the film's focus on the ring and reflect its style and font, making the poster visually captivating. The "new line cinema" logo features a unique design of tape cut, aiming to establish easy recognition for the Film Company. The only character prominently featured is Frodo, the main protagonist, emphasizing his role as the star of the film. The background is intentionally slightly blurry, drawing attention to the young boy and ensuring he remains memorable. Shrek's film trailer incorporates various effects to leave a lasting impression on viewers and generate anticipation for watching the movie.

The "Dream Works" logo and name initially appear to serve as a reminder of the film's production company. Immediately following, actor Eddie Murphy, known for his comedic talents, provides a voiceover as the character donkey. This strategy aims to attract viewers through the presence of a well-known funny actor. Donkey proceeds to introduce the film trailer, utilizing a voiceover since the clips are presented in non-chronological order. The initial clip showcases princesses and dragons, while the subsequent clips introduce the two other main characters. The voiceover enhances clarity in understanding the actions of the clips, which are presented in a disordered manner.

The clips in the trailer are intentionally shown out of sequence in order to captivate the viewer. The film's title is prominently displayed multiple times throughout the trailer to ensure it stays in the audience's

memory. In addition, the main character's name, Shrek, is repeated in the clips to further engrave it in the viewer's mind. Towards the end of the trailer, the date and venues where the film will be shown, as well as websites, are featured to help the audience remember these details. Unlike posters, trailers have a better ability to effectively convey the film's title, characters, and setting. Both posters and trailers have their own strengths and weaknesses, but they complement each other effectively.

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