Editing in trailer research

By: Annamaria Noto

Psychological Horrors

Psychological horror trailers usually have black backgrounds with white titles. This has inspired me to perhaps adopt this idea in my coursework.

What are some immediate editing techniques they use and why?

• Fast pace editing – used to engage the audience and build tension as it makes the audience feel on edge. E.g. In ‘The house of good and evil’

• Flash cuts – to show flashbacks (to a memory or thought – usually a crucial of the narrative). E.g. In ‘Unknown’

…

• Cross cutting – between the narrator and the main story line or events that take place, to make quick connections in a short time, so that the audience know what’s happening. E.g. Unknown

• Titles – to aid the viewer’s understanding of the plot when there is a short time to fit in many shots. E.g. Identity

How does the pace change and why?• At the beginning of the trailer, the pace is usually slow.• The pace of editing speeds up as the score gets louder too.• This creates tension and suspense which intrigues the audience

as enigmas are created too.• This leaves the audience wanting to continue watching and

gives them an insight into the film.• E.g. In Black Swan

What editing techniques are used in different genres and why? (what editing techniques are conventional

to specific genres)

Genre Editing techniques used

Drama Conventional techniques: match on action, eye-line match (shows what the character is looking at). This has a dramatic effect as it allows the viewer to make the connections between what they are shown. There tends to be a medium pace but it can occasionally fast to create emphasis on a dramatic part.

Romance Conventional techniques: flashbacks, slow to medium pace editing. Flashbacks give the audience an insight into the background details/ story. Slow to medium pace is used as there is no fast actions (as in action films) so it is not needed and this pace sets the mood.

Horror Conventional techniques: Fast pace editing, insert shots, black screens. Fast pace editing heightens the audiences senses, making them more engaged and intrigued. This is more effective when accompanied with insert shots. Black screens create suspense and tension as the audience anticipate what will happen next.

• The editing techniques used differ depending on the genre.

How does the editing connect/ compliment the plot and narrative

structure?• Fast pace editing is essential for creating the mood and engaging the

audience. The editing needs to compliment the genre, otherwise it can confuse the audience and the meaning of the narrative can change.

• E.g. ‘Taken’ trailer uses fast pace editing as it is an action thriller and therefore compliments the plot and narrative structure.

What editing techniques do you find inspirational?

• Fast pace editing – as it is most appropriate for this genre and is a conventional technique which the audience expect. Moreover, it is successful in creating the mood and capturing the audience’s attention.

• Non linear narrative – to intrigue the audience from the start as want to find out what happens.

• Flashbacks – as they add mystery and leave the audience with unanswered questions. They are effective when recounting a past, or a background story essential to understanding the narrative.