Trailers v's Teasers

What do you think are the conventions of teaser trailers?

The prime convention of a teaser trailer is that they are generally shorter than a full length trailer. Within the teaser, there are hints if not any information on the plot or central characters. The actors names and appearances are generally not displayed either to give a sense of mystery and the idea of the unknown. If they are displayed however, the audience are still not fully aware on the type of character they are or the role they lead. In order to use efficient time within he trailer, more text may be displayed than that in a trailer to give us clues and an insight into the film.

How can Saw 3D and Paranormal activity 2 be defined as teaser trailers?

Saw 3D and Paranormal activity 2 can be defined as teaser trailers from the typical conventions both have which are found within almost all teaser trailers. In Paranormal activity 2 teaser trailer, there are only 18 shots used to give a taster as to what is in the movie. The fact that all the shots are long indicates that the majority of the movie is filmed using long shots to create suspense. This is reflected in the teaser as there is a constant build up of suspense on the supernatural presence we sense is significant in the film. There is no information on the characters in the teaser but the only figure we are exposed to is blacked out so we are still clueless to who this being is. A lot of the trailer uses text to entice us and show the established viewers how much better it is than the first. The shots of the audience screaming on sudden moments in the film is also evident of this, making us as viewers feel on edge. Although Saw 3D is also another example shown in a teaser trailer, it uses 28 shots. The more shots used within a teaser can reflect the genre or perhaps the plot the film is based around. Many shots within the teaser display characters close to their death, but just before the moment, the shot changes which teases viewers as we don't find out whether they survive or not. Instead they move to other shots to show a variety of action within the film and provide hints of the plot. Hints are also displayed through the use of titles, some being 'save the best till last' and 'the traps come alive'. These titles are unease as the fact we are aware the film is in 3D may make this particular Saw more horrifying and gory.

How do they adhere to the conventions of horror?

Despite Saw 3D and Paranormal activity 2 being teaser trailers, they still use elements to reflect the movie's horror genres. Paranormal activity 2's teaser uses the horror convention of sound. The dog we hear barking teases us with the genre, likewise to many horror movies, the noise is an indication of danger. At the beginning of the teaser, sharp noises from the TV can be heard while the focus is jilted. This is uncomfortable to watch as the audience are unclear as to why this is displayed and the up-coming jump it may lead to.The fact that the teaser is filmed through CCTV on a screen makes it seem more realistic which adds to the element of horror. We feel more sympathetic to the characters as the idea of the supernatural presence in their house is a fear one may have, as it is more likely to come alive in our own lives as oppose to seeing a typical horror monster such as a vampire or zombie. Another recognisable noise is of a heartbeat which creates further tension before revealing the climatic moment. As the audience filmed screaming in the teaser is shown reflects this, just after the constant build up of suspense. Saw 3D, although not sharing the same sub-genre of horror, is also adhered into the genre. As victims are being displayed tortured and close to their death is horrifying to watch and as the shot changes to tease us, further suspense is created, similarly to Paranormal activity 2. Images displayed of a saw and blood are gory to view, and are conventions widely used in many horror films.