Shots analysis
We looked at 6 very different horror trailers and took an average of the shots per second in order to gain an understanding of the amount of shots we will be required to film so that we can have the most professional looking trailer possible. Although there will be obvious variations in the number of shots per second in a trailer, it will allow us to know our margins when planning and shooting our trailer.
1. Knock Knock
We watched the trailer for the upcoming horror movie knock knock, this trailer was 115 seconds long and consisted of 113 shots, this gave us an average shot length of 1.06 seconds. This creates a highly intense atmosphere and can allow for the trailer to be thrilling and have possible action within, due to the highly intense atmosphere this trailer creates we have established an understanding on the amount of shots we would need to produce our own trailer with this sort of effect. The aim of this quick tempo trailer is to keep the audience hooked and on the edge of their seat eager to see more, questioning what is going to happen and guessing why it is happening.
2. The Visit
We also watched the trailer for the recent horror 'The Visit' which was 119 seconds long containing a total 58 shots resulting in average shot length of 2.1 seconds, a slower paced trailer than the Knock Knock trailer we watched previously. These longer shots provide a less tense atmosphere however can provide a more suspenseful feeling to the trailer. The aim of this slower tempo is to create a more eerie feeling in the trailer and although it does not provide the tense feelings the previous trailer brought it creates a different sort of horror. This has given us an understanding of how to create a trailer that focuses on creating a longer build up for the audience as oppose to a fast paced, more jump scare orientated trailer.
3. Lights Out
The Lights Out trailer has a time length of 143 seconds and includes 102 different shots. This works out that the average length of a shot is 1.4 seconds, this demonstrates an intense trailer. As as result a large amount of tension is built and makes the viewer feel enticed within the shots. We can use this trailer as an example however, 1.4 seconds as an average is still not as an intense as we can make ours.
4. Don't Breathe
Don't Breathe is a 126 second long trailer with 108 shots which equates to 1 shot per second this is a good example for us because its fast paced which is perfect for a slasher because the general pace of slasher trailers are fast enough to keep the audience engaged. We want to make a fast paced trailer to keep the audience entertained, ecstatic and completely aware of what is to happen in the film.
5. Sinister 2
Sinister 2 is a 150 second long trailer with 138 shots, in total. This means that there are 1.1 shots per second. This means that the trailer has a fast pace to keep the audience engaged. This trailer has an average shot per second rate for a slasher film movie trailer. Even though it is still fast, we want ours to be faster.
6. Insidious 3
We watched the trailer Insidious 3 which was 125 seconds long and consisted of 58 shots which resulted in an average shot length of 2.1 seconds. Like The Visit this is a relatively slow paced trailer as they both have the same average shot length therefore we have two examples of how to make a more suspenseful trailer as oppose to a quick paced thriller style trailer. Since we have seen multiple versions of slower paced trailers we have a more diverse understanding of what sort of shots and what sort of shot length can produce a tense trailer.