1a) 'Hummingbird' -
Act 1 - action straight away in a dark, secluded alleyway, whilst introducing us to the main character - suggests that the main character has had a troubled background - fighting suggests violence is often his answer. Much of the first act is an introduction to the main character (as shown by multiple close ups of Statham's character) and it attempts to set up the story through the call in the apartment, explaining why Statham's character can live in the apartment. Establishes the scene as well (panning shot of London).
Act 2 - this moment is also when the tone changes from the original dark and gloomy feel to a sense of change as Statham's character is seemingly getting his life back together. There is still a dark undertone, as shown through the occasional sound boom (adhering to the thriller genre) as it is clear that Statham's character is using crime as a way to better his living situation.
Act 3 - often linked with the second act in that it continues on from the original action as seen in the previous act. However, we are introduced to the love interest more often here, which is common in many crime/thriller trailers. This is usually the climax of the story, which is definitely the case in this trailer, with a large bit of action (man leaning over ledge) to keep the audience interested.
- shot from Act 1.
- shot from Act 2 (shows his life turning around)
- shot from Act 3.
b) 'Gangster Squad'
Act 1 - Begins in a similar way to Hummingbird - a gritty 'boxing' environment, with a voiceover, which is a common convention in almost all crime/thriller trailers as it creates the desired tension, in which the trailer needs to interest the audience. We are introduced to the main 'bad guy' in the first act, whereby he tells us who he is and what he does, which is a clever technique as it places particular importance on his role in the storyline. The use of multiple close ups with tilts and pans highlight his importance to the storyline. The choice to hold the lasting image of the 'bad guy' before changing in tone and leading into Act 2 is powerful as it again suggests his power and influence amongst the other characters in the story. We are introduced to the wealthier side of crime in this first act.
Act 2 - We are now, as shown by the split in action (warner bros. logo) introduced to the other characters in the film and find out that their mission is to take down the 'mob boss' we were introduced to in the first act. Montage shots of multiple moments of action in the film are used here to show this happening over a course of time. We are also introduced to the love interest in this act - she is presented as an object of desire, which is suggesting to the audience that she will be a distraction from the mission in the film itself.
Act 3 - similar to most crime/thriller trailers the final act presents us with the climax - again uses montage and non-diegetic sound by way of the sound booms and diegetic sound by way of the tommy guns to show a solution to the film itself without giving too much away. The end also presents us with a twist (Gosling pointing the gun at the policeman) which suggests that the storyline is not as simple as first presented to us.
c) 'Eastern Promises'
Act 1 (24 seconds) - This trailer begins with what appears to be a crime scene, suggesting some sort of death and/or murder. This first act is based around this 'incident' and introducing the audience to the 'Mob Family', which is central to the storyline. The audience are told about the 'mob family' (mentions the importance of the tattoos), which allows the audience to identify and separate them from the other characters. This act reveals the violence of the 'mob family'
Act 2 - begins to reveal more of the storyline, whilst introducing us to the main character and placing particular importance (through close up) on the notebook, which is again central to the storyline. The tone is very dark throughout this second act, as in most crime/thriller trailers as it is usually setting up the story. We realise that something has happened to the young girl and that the 'mob family' we were introduced to in the first act, have something to do with it.
Act 3 - As in most crime/thriller trailers, act 3 is a collection of montage shots, piecing together the story and suggesting a lot to the audience, which is done well in this trailer. The Editing, as seen is this trailer is often extremely fast-paced as it is supposed to engage the audience in what they are watching.
d) 'Taken'
Act 1 - The first act is reliant on the introduction to the characters. We are introduced to the characters for an extended period of time in order for the audience to form a small attachment to them in order to make the sudden switch to act 2, which is much darker in tone. There is still eerie sounding music playing in the background, throughout the first act, which causes the audience to question why the tone of the actors is so upbeat.
Act 2 - act 2 is begun with a loud sound boom and the close up of the phone ringing, suggesting something bad is going to happen. (sound boom is used in almost all crime/thriller trailers to begin the next piece of action). We then see the main characters daughter being kidnapped and experience the father's long search in attempt to find her.
Act 3 - This is more of a fast-paced in terms of editing. A montage is used to piece together the action and suggest that Neeson's character is getting closer to finding his daughter's kidnappers. The infamous phone call is going throughout the trailer as well and climaxes during the third act.
MT
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