The Blair Witch Project Trailer Analysis.

The Blair Witch Project Trailer Analysis:

The trailer begins with a black background with the films production company appearing in a white text in the middle of the screen, this is done so that the audience are instantly informed. As this appears so does deep music which helps to create a tone and sense of evil and mystery. As this fades out to leave the black screen we as the audience come across a female whispering a confession speech about how sorry she is and how she loves her family so dearly. Her speech comes across as breathless as if she had been running and teary. I believe they left a black screen for this moment so that the audience focused on what she was saying and it created more tension in not knowing who the woman was. Her voice then fades out but the black background remains then fades in a large amount of white text which sets the scene of what has happened “In October of 1994, the student filmmakers disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland while shooting a documentary” the is a large gap in between and then another line of text fades in “A year later their footage was found”. This helps to create a documentary convention film which gives the film/trailer a sense of realism. It helps to anchor the context of the following images so the audience are able to then view them only in a certain way, this makes all that we see a lot more realistic. To create more tension whilst you are reading the text disturbing noises and screams are added faintly to the background so the create tone is set whilst the storyline is being built up.

Once a fade out from the following clip occurs we are able to see our first visual image of the trailer after 27 seconds. The image is of the ground, which is covered in leaves (wood land area). There has also been a use of a black and white filter on the lens so the audience get the sense this clip was filmed in the dark. Also where the footage is all over the place it is clear to the audience this has been purpose down to inform them that this is a hand held camera clip, therefore one of the films of the student. This has been done so we are drawn instantly and emphasis’ the text that appeared on screen before. We then come across a news report of the incident we read about before creating more of a realistic element towards the trailer also having jolted camera shots allows us to believe the storyline created . The next shot we view is a still one of the floor to help enforce the scenery where the individuals filmed. Once this fades out a close up of a pair hands appears on screen, it is opening a book which immediately comes across as evidence due to the scenery around and amongst it. It separate this they added another fade out where we then view a camera we can only assume was used by one of the filmmakers, another faded is involved where we then see a film wit a label on it (it had written; The Blair Witch Project) it then tracks downwards towards another film to emphasis more than one filmmaker disappeared (this creates a more serious matter) but this was used to clarify that all the evidence we had come across before was the evidence found in the forest. There is then another fade out but this is extended so we can recognise the changed made in the trailer.

We as the audience then view the first clip of film footage found, we know this because of the un-level filming, the camera quality, the dark edges formed around the lens and the then the add on lighting so we are able to view the scenery in front in full colour and not under and black and white filter. This was done so we could clearly see the hands prints all over the white wall were blood. To help back up the points and scenes set before. This shortly plays until a fade out occurs where we then face a mid –shot of a mature males side profile, he visually looks distressed. Whilst we view this scene there is a news report playing over the top so we are able to understand he is a father of one of the victim filmmakers (uses the line “your son”). This allows us to understand why he looks distressed and to therefore sympathise for him.

Before long the creepy deep music reappears to the trailer and a black fade appears on screen with the text “This Summer”, this is draw the audience in to when they can see the full length film because before this not much has been given away which more often than not grabs more individuals attentions because they wish to know more. After a second this text disappears and we are left with a black screen where the music then appears loud as we have nothing else to focus ourselves on. This then emphasises the mood being set and will tend to scary and worry the audience viewing. Suddenly, an extreme close up of a female face (nose to forehead) appears on screen where we view her is colour. She comes across as emotional, out of breathe and teary. We can then only assume she is the voice we heard at the beginning on the trailer (audience will start to make connections with this character). When then hear the line she made at the beginning “I’m so scared” which then confirms who she is. There is then a quick white fade to another black screen (this was done to add more depths to the darkness of the film and then the black screen that follows) after white text of “The Blair Witch Project”. This is to then inform the audience slightly more about the film. Keeping the text to a minimum also allows impact to what is being said as it creates a strong impact and has more effect of the audience. At the end of this clip we start to hear noises of individuals shouting and panicking, we are then faced with a clip of someone running in the pitch black between trees in a forest area (able to see this due to camera light) allowing us to view the images made by the noises (another connection the audience have to put together, which will keep them entertained and interested). We can hear the male breathing and then the girl in front of him screaming. Sharply the black background cuts in with the white text www.blairwitch.com. We as the audience are still able to hear the screaming and cry’s in the background. This was do the encourage the audience to come a see the full length film so they can understand everything they viewed due to very little being given away and are able to find out why they were running, who they were running from and what we they doing out there in the first place?