Pitch

Teaser Trailer

When coming up with an initial idea for the movie teaser trailer I brainstormed anything that came to mind, most of which featured some kind of thriller/horror theme.

My inpiration for the style of the trailer has come from Guillermo Del Toro's latest movie trailer for 'Don't be afraid of the Dark'. It includes almost snapshot like scenes from the film, which flash on the screen dramatically. I want to create this type of quick flashing scenes for my own trailer. Something that doesn't give the movies plot away too much.

The Story

The films genre will be a mix between a psychological horror/thriller, set in modern day. The story sort of created itself when I began brainstorming locations, props and music. The trailer will feature 2 main characters, one of which will be a young adult female and female child. The narrative follows the older character's journey after the disappearance of her family. It will show her gradual psychological breakdown and collapse of reality. There will be snapshot type scenes of different naturistic surroundings which are fused with a supernatural event or memory. The childs appearance will feature through out, as our main character attempts to work out whether she's really seeing her missing family, if they're dead, or if she's just going crazy. A conversation will act as a brief narration for the trailer, the young adult's taped conversation with what sounds like a shrink or police officer.

Locations

The three main locations will all be outdoors. I want to shoot in a clear field, in a forest and in a graveyard. These may alter as the storyboard is developed. These settings have been chosen as they can each symbolise different mind sets, and as the character is going through psychological changes, I want the locations to show this.

Editing

I want the trailer to have simple editing, as the films settings will be natural, and I want to keep it as realistic as possible. The first two scenes will be fairly slow paced, and after this the snapshots of scenes will flash on the screen with some kind of classical music layed on top. One of the scenes will be shown in slow motion, for the rest I hope to keep it as simple as possible.

Sound

The only sound that will feature in the clips will be a classical song (to be chosen) and the conversation recorded between the young adult and mysterious other man. I may choose to use foleying to add in a few sounds depending on whether it is needed for effect, this will be decided when filming commences.

Film Name Ideas

Sanctum - an inviolably private place or retreat.

Could relate to how the main character retreats inside her own mind?

Requiem - The Mass celebrated for the repose of the souls of the dead.

Relating to how the family in the film could be trying to reach the girl from beyond the grave

Exhibition

I think this film would be shown in an Arthouse cinema as its concept is probably less 'blockbuster' than films shown in larger mainstream cinemas. Usually more low budget, foreign or strange and 'artistic' films are often shown in smaller cinema's, which is probably where I would place mine.

Target Audience

Due to the themes of the film, the target audience would have to be above the age of 15, I would probably aim for the 18-20 year old market. The main character will be around this age, and so the audience may be able to relate with her. As the characters are primarily female it would suggest the main viewing audience would be female, although the genre may attract both sexes.

Film Magazine front cover

I would like the second scene in the teaser trailer to be on the cover for the movie magazine I will create. This is of the young adult standing in a clearing letting go of a balloon, it is shot from behind and the lighting shows it's almost sunset. I think this would be photographically pleasing and would be attractive to buyers.

Poster for the film

I would like the poster for the film to be darker than the front cover on the magazine. My initial thought is to have the main character lay on her front on the floor of a forest looking towards the camera, and to have the family's distorted silhouettes standing in the distance behind her. The main character looking slightly bedraggled and psychotic.

Inspiration

Much inspiration for my ideas have come from movies that have really stuck in my head for one reason or another. My locations have been inspired by the film Antichrist, the surreal but natural locations really struck me, the film was so photographically beautiful. I wanted to create something that could show this.

Initial Ideas for brief 2

Don't be afraid of the Dark - Official Trailer