Andy OatesTRAILER PITCH

Shots of the protagonist in his offi ce will establish the character. The offi ce will include a bright light, but still off er shadows to partially conceal parts of the offi ce and the protagonist. Props needed will include whiskey, establishing the protagonist drinks, and a cigar to introduce an element of smoke and mystery due to being unable to see everything clearly in the offi ce. A man enters with a case, the explanation of which will be used over the top of images of the antagonist later in the trailer.

ESTABLISHING THE PROTAGONIST

INTRODUCING THE CONFLICT AND ANTAGONIST

We cut from the protagonist to various establishing shots of the main antagonist and an explanation of the confl ict the hero must overcome. This will be accompanied by dialogue established in previous scenes. It is revealed that these are the same gangsters responsible for the death of his wife. The main antagonist will be barely visible in the establishing shot of him, and shadows will be used frequently in these scenes. Props will need to include weapons such as guns to make the villains a viable threat. More than just the primary antagonist will be introduced in these shots due to the villains being gangsters.

We see the protagonist dealing with his failures to stop the antagonist in various shots, including him at a bar and a love interest with the femme fatale, whose mysterious motives are unclear and not revealed throughout the trailer, although it is made clear she is not what the protagonist thinks she is, and is exploiting him.

THE FLAWS OF THE PROTAGONIST

From the story being set up in earlier scenes, we cut towards more action orientated footage, showing the audience the confl ict and struggle between the detective trying to take down the gangsters, with dialogue from the main antagonist further improving the characterization of the villain and giving him a deeper presence than just a confl ict the hero must take down.

THE ACTION

While obviously the soundtrack isn’t completely planned, I’ve looked at extracts from L.A. Noire and The Dark Knight along with other projects to consider what elements to put into the trailer through the soundtrack. The L.A. Noire extract is a subtle piano theme that will match the protagonist, while the extract from The Dark Knight is a creepy rising tone that will help to create tension during scenes setting up the antagonists.

SOUNDTRACK

The narrative voice will be mainly conveyed through extracts of dialogue from the scenes shot. A trailer voiceover will not be used in the sense of a separate narrator, but sticking to elements of fi lm noir, the thoughts of the characters may be conveyed through a voiceover by the protagonist. Intertitles will be used to introduce information such as release dates, cast and crew, studios and the title.

NARRATIVE VOICE

THE END