HOSTAGE Trailer - Second Draft

First Draft Trailer - Audience Feedback

Audience Feedback

• Music did not fit with the trailer
• The audio was too quiet - couldn't here the voices of the characters
• The music was too loud
• More action is needed to suit the genre
• Needs faster editing to set a fast pace for the trailer
• Quality of video needs to be better
• Overall plot of the trailer must be clearer

Improvements to Make Trailer Better

• Change music to fit the trailer
• Add much more action
• Add more creative transitions and graphics
• Perhaps upgrading to a better, faster software could give us the opportunity to add more variety in the trailer and speed up the editing process.
• Titles e.g. actors featured, director and producers of the film should feature to make it look more like a trailer

Overall thoughts on the first draft of the trailer

There are several issues with the trailer, there is a lack of focus of the key themes of the film, there is no clear unique selling point, and the majority of the shots do not carry any significant importance, which means they don't create a sense of build up, which creates a rather anticlimatic end to the trailer.

However, the improvements are clear and we now undestand what needs to be done to further the quality of the trailer.

Trailer - First Draft

Now that the first draft of the trailer has been uploaded, it will be shown to other classmates, and we will collect their feedback and make necessary adjustments to improve the trailer based on that feedback.

Conventions of a Thriller Trailer

Key techniques:

Enigma codes

Action codes are meaningful events which drive the narrative on in a specific direction. For instance, in the trailer, we will include shots of. Both actions are used to change the scene/narrative for a particular reason but to also keep the narrative alive. They teach the audience new things, for example, something new about a character or possibly the plot itself. They give the viewer needed information.

Film Pitch

HOSTAGE Film Pitch

Film Pitch - Audience Feedback

We pitched our film to 8 people and asked them what they thought of it how we can improve on the plot of our film.

Improvements to the plot

• There needs to be more of a meaning behind why the protagonist leaves the life of crime, rather than retiring.
• To improve, we can change the character of the protagonist's sister to his wife. The wife gives him am ultimatum: it's either her or the crime business.

• There should be more action
• The henchmen should be used more e.g they should be involved in the kidnapping of the wife
• The conflict should be the result of the protagonist leaving the job, and the retaliation is the kidnapping of his wife.
• The climax of the trailer could be when the protagonist is deciding whether to go through with the heist to get his wife back.

Trailer Script

Phone call asking protagonist to do heist 

Antagonist – Alright? How are you? 

Protagonist – Yeah, I’m alright. We haven’t spoken in a while, did you want anything? 

Antagonist – Good, I’m fine. I do have something I need to ask you. Would you be up for one last job? 

Protagonist – If it’s what I think you’re talking about, I retired 5 years ago. So no. 

Antagonist – Not even if the money is good, so good, it’s the biggest job we will be a part of. 

Protagonist – if it’s that good, I’ll consider it, but no promises. 

Phone call to protagonist – refusal/ultimatum/threat 

Antagonist – So, any decision on the job yet? 

Protagonist – yeah, I’m out, I’m not interested 

Antagonist – Are you mad? The money is ridiculous 

Protagonist – I know, but I have my life sorted now 

Antagonist – I guess this is the end of the conversation then. Don’t expect this to be the last time we speak though. 

Protagonist – What is that supposed to mean? 

Antagonist – You’ll see