Film Trailers: 'Gravity' Trailer Techniques

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiTiKOy59o4

The trailer begins completely silent, with text gradually appearing on screen. This subsequently builds anticipation for the trailer as nothing yet is revealed except the text on screen, which speaks a troubling message.

There is no gradual introduction to music or sound, instead there is a sudden burst of sound by SFX which is accompanied by the panicked panting of what is suggested to be the central protagonist, ‘explorer’. This sudden introduction of sound is used to make the audience ‘jump’, imitating the panicked feelings of the central protagonist. The sound then proceeds to cut in and out, resembling the pillar that the central protagonist is attached to, spinning. This high pitched sounds like a combination of mechanical and orchestral sounds. Perhaps defining the difference between human and machine.

In the beginning of the trailer, there is one long continuous shot, this is sued to establish the setting, character and dilemma. All three of these feature are evident in the beginning of the trailer, thus making the shot successful and effective. At 0.44, there is a sudden finish to the shot which is shown by a plain black screen. There is no fade out to black, which is supposed to suggest a shift in time. This perhaps suggests how time is distorted in space and in moments of fear, stress and panic.

Within two seconds, 0.50-0.52, several shots are shown in quick succession. This is used to build tension and suspense, and also increase the heightened panic and disorientation. This is then followed by a pulsing beat which also adds to the tension. A continuous shot of the central protagonist spinning has sudden cuts within the shot, to black. This is used to reinforce the disorientation of the character. With each blackout, there is an orchestral sound of low and staccato strings. At 1.30, there is a sudden silence after the loud, pulsing, orchestral music. From 1.30 to 1.40, the sound of the central protagonist’s panting is the primary sound, with music gradually building in the background. Much like the building tension. With each panting breath, is a cut in the camera shot. This highlights the panicked breathing pattern and allows for an increased pace in shots. These shots aren’t in chronological order and are used to increase anticipation for the film.

The cut shots increase in pace towards the end of the trailer, revealing a wider variety of shots from the film. The increased pace of shot cut pace is accompanied by louder SFX music. The music gradually increases in pitch which is used to build tension. At 2.00, the music reaches a climax and then silences. At 2.06, the music is then heard again, beginning to increase in pitch again to a climax. Finally at 2.14, there is silence again.