Sight and Sound Cover Analysis - Introduction

As I have decided to do a Neo Film Noir, which is an independent film genre, I have chosen the appropriate publication for the magazine front cover for my film, which is Sight and Sound.

I am going to be analysing 5 different Sight and Sound magazines in terms of layout, colour scheme, font, images and more, so that when it comes to creating my own magazine cover I can use the conventions that represent independent film magazines, to make it appear as authentic as possible.

Film Noir Teaser Trailer Analysis - Nightcrawler

Below is the teaser trailer of "Nightcrawler".

• The trailer starts with a montage of establishing shots and a voiceover of the male protagonist, along with melancholiac music 
• By saying these things the voiceover immediately establishes that the lead male is a hard worker, sets high goals and is persistent. 
• In between the montage shots tagline appear
• The music gets faster and more intense matching the manages shots
• Reference to awards 
• Several shots of the protagonist saying his "motto" are used giving the trailer a comical feel, the last him he says it, he screams it suggesting he is desperate for it to be true
• The last image used is a shot of the protagonist sitting at a news table infant of a camera, suggesting his initial goals are reached
• The trailer ends with the film title in a light shade of blue, followed by the release date with the beat of a clock 

Film Noir Teaser Trailer Analysis - Brick

Below is the teaser trailer of "Brick".

• The trailer starts with the production company logo and the title of the film in waves of smoke and intense, thrilling music
• We see the male lead in a telephone box at night talking to someone who claims to have "messed up" immediately indicating the genre.
• At this point we see a montage of the male protagonist trying to figure what happened
• Reference to awards are shown in the same style as the title 
• Comical scenes are shown 
• A montage of shots show the male protagonist getting beaten up and him talking to an authoritative figure who offers no help
• Another montage of shots show the outline of the narrative with reviews and tagline's
• The trailer ends with the film title in smoke with unusual, unfitting and unsettling music
• The credits appear

Film Noir Teaser Trailer Analysis - Sunset Boulevard

Below is the teaser trailer of "Sunset Boulevard".

• The trailer begins with exciting and exhilarating music and tagline's 
• The creators names appear with reference to awards
• The film title with the production companies name is shown 
• The first protagonist we see is a female talking on the telephone, giving orders
• A montage of newspapers is used with the voiceover of the male lead
• The male and female protagonist are shown falling in love
• A montage is used showing the characters that will appear later in the narrative 
• At this point thrilling music is used as we see a scene between the male lead and a female character having a disagreement 
• Images of the female protagonist is shown indicating she will be the lead female 
• Stars names are then shown, along with exciting, thrilling and exhilarating music
• At the end of the trailer the film title, the directors name and the production company logo appear

Film Noir Teaser Trailer Analysis - The Artist

Below is the teaser trailer of "The Artist".

• The trailer begins with upbeat 1920/1930s jazz 
• The male lead is shown as confidant as he dances infant of a large audience, and makes "masculine" actions 
• The music calms to a romantic music as the female protagonist pumps into the male protagonist 
• The female protagonist appears shy 
• The male and female protagonist show an immediate liking to each other 
• The trailer continues with the female protagonist suggesting she likes the male protagonist
• Exciting upbeat 1920/1930s jazz starts alongside a montage of scenes from the film
• The music slows to a lustful, melancholic tone, with images of the make and female protagonist falling in love and the thing that keeps them apart
• Tagline's outlining the theme are used 
• The last image we see is the male and female protagonist hugging suggesting to audiences that they end up together
• The name of the film appear in white and red
• At the end of the trailer credits are shown 

Film Noir Teaser Trailer Analysis - Introduction

That that I have analysed the different conventions found in teaser trailers, I am going to look at film noir teaser trailers, to see if they share some of the same conventions. So that when it comes to making my own teaser trailer I can include the conventions, to make it appear as authentic as possible.

Film Noir Taglines

I am going to look at a number of different taglines from various film noir posters, to see if they share common themes and similar wording. When it comes to creating my own poster and teaser trailer it will be important to have taglines as it helps link them together as well as indicating to audience what genre the film belongs to.

1. Deadly is the Female

2. Killers

3. Big Sleep

4. Kiss me Deadly

5. Double Indemnity 

6. The Dark Night Rises

7. Insomnia

8. Reservoir Dogs

9. Usual Suspects

10. Drive

11. Blade Runner 

12. Fargo

I found lots of similarities between the taglines. For example a few of them includes to do with crime, such as "murder", "killers" and "crime" itself. Some mention the obstacle of the narrative without giving too much of the story away, for instance "now they all fear each other" and "man has made his match...now it's his problem".