MOVIE TRAILERS VS MOVIE OPENINGS

In order to further our understanding in regards to how to edit our film opening, it was important for us to know the differences between a film trailer and the opening of a film.

Trailers
Trailer editing is about how you can condense a film into a 1-2 minute preview. A well cut trailer will have a flowing motion to it, a sense that everything follows one sequence to the next and the the viewer on a mini experience of the film. Trailers build up excitement and anticipation, and a keen sense of rhythm heightens those sensations. What plays a big part in the effectiveness of the trailer is the music used within it. Generally there are three music  cues, a basic formula of a trailer has been devised something like this: Act one; Introduce films' characters and environment. Act two; complicate the world act one has set up to overcome. Act three; intensify the conflicts and build up tension/excitement/humour(normally with a heightened pace and jump cut montage editing). There can be four acts but there also can be one it all depends on the material the editors have to work with. Most importantly; the editors never resolve anything within the trailer, this is because they don't want to give the plot of the film away at any point. A good trailer just reveals the movie's potential to be great. If the trailer has a seductive rhythm to it and an arresting structure the viewer will be more interested in seeing the finished product. Trailer editors, are disrespectful, they de-contextualise everything, the editors have to see everything  for what they are inherently, not how they function in the context of the film. They have to unpack the feature in order to repack it and turn it into a trailer. There are so many familiar editing tropes in trailers; dissolves, fades from black, fades to black, white flashes with slams, fast paced flutter cuts, double exposures, speed adjustments, audio rises, audio drones, audio stings. A romantic film for example, the editor will use dissolves and fades. In an action film, the editors will use fast cuts that crescendo in a metal door slam and white flash. The editors have to sell the story as well as tell it in its simplest form.

Depending on the studio and the project, the marketing work is often split between the studio's in-house marketing department and one or more outside agencies. These agencies are known colloquially as "trailer houses". A trailer is a condensed version of a feature, so it should be a collection of its greatest elements, lead with its merits. The genre of the movie will often determine how the trailer is edited, for example if its a comedy the editor will include som of its funniest moments, a good comedy trailer will include some funny moments without giving away the most hilarious jokes.

Openings
An effective film opening will have to grab the audiences attention straight away to make sure they'll continue watching. The film maker s will have to quickly introduce the characters briefly, with a couple of broad strokes and then throw them into the pit right away and over the course of the film let the audience see if and how they'll claw their way out. It should tell the audience the genre of the film right away and the setting/location. It should introduce one of the storylines and give the audience a taste of the narrative. Usually there is music and quick editing, particularly to create an element of suspense. The audience want to learn, in these opening minutes- the tone, the atmosphere, the stakes and what the characters have to overcome.

• Scream(horror)- In this brilliant opening the phone rings, a cute girl answers and a freaky voice is heard. The audience is given a few pieces of pop culture dialogue about horror films, the tension builds as the tension builds the killer begins to get more violent , her boyfriend ends up dead. Then the audience finally sees he masked killer. The girl (played by Drew Barrymore- who did a lot of the promotional material for the film) dies. The audience know the stakes ANYONE can be killed, now they're engaged.
• Star Wars (sci-fi)- The opening threw the audience into the world of the film. The star destroyer coming into endless view in pursuit of the smaller ship, the droids making their escape, the entrance of Darth Vader, his confrontation with Princess Leia where the audience learn about the pans, by the time the droids make their escape the audience know what they're in for and are engaged.
• Raiders of the lost ark(adventure/action)- In this classic opening the audience sees Indiana Jones, barely hear one word from him and learn next to nothing about his back story. He's a man of action, the audience learn about him by his actions and by the time he escapes from the natives and he film cuts to him wearing glasses and teaching a university class, the audience are hooked- where will this character take them next.