Radio Trailer Analysis

Radio film trailers are very hard to come across on the Internet, but are frequently used in order to advertise films in an efficient and popular way; as radio is a popular form of media. In order to engage the listener to the film trailer, the duration of one is usually 30-1minute long, as they are direct, and their aim is to attract an audience without overloading them with information about the films plot.
Thriller film radio trailers are often hard to find, and therefore I analysed a radio trailer with the genre romance. Although it is a completely different genre to our film, I believe that it is helpful, as it shows us what type of information the radio trailer should include, what type of music should be used, and how long the trailer should be.

Conventions used to create radio trailer:

• Male Voice Over - Its job is to inform the audience what the film is about, giving a brief insight into the films narrative, and who the film is produced and distributed by. It is also frequently used to tell the listener who the director is (if the director is successful, the listener will subconsciously link it with an existent popular film, attractive a wider range of audience), and popular actresses/ actors presented in the film (again, if an audience member likes a particular actor, and they are presented in the film, they are more likely to view the film.)
  
• Non-Diagetic Music - This adds intensity, and tension to the radio trailer, adds atmosphere, and is used to denote the films genre.

The trailer opens with the soundtrack of a popular song, this increases the audiences attention, as the target audience of the film is older teenagers. The music is non diagetic, major key and gives an uplifting feeling, to make the listener feel happy, relating to the genre of the film being romance.
The non-diagetic music then fades down, as a male voice over states “it’s a story about love”. By doing so, the audience are given a brief insight into the plot of the film, but also it tells the audience what type of genre the film is. A male voice over is used as a pose to a female voice, as the male voice has a deeper tone, and is dramatic for the audience to listen to. Also, the tone of the voice over, makes the film seem more intense, engaging the listener further. A sound bridge then begins, as the non-diagetic is played over the voice over, with the lyrics “sweet disposition”, as the voice over fades. The lyrics are suitable for the film, as it relates to the films narrative, and denotes the genre romance.
The music progresses to a crescendo, as the bass of the music becomes louder, and stronger, giving the uplifting feeling which is presented in the opening of the radio trailer. By using music which makes the audience feel exhilarated, it makes them want to watch the film - attracting a wider range of audiences. The voice over then fades in again, explaining a short pitch of the film, to again give the audience a brief amount of information about the films narrative. This is important to have in the radio trailer, as without it, the audience are unable to recognise what the film is about.
A current sound bridge is used throughout the trailer, to make the voice over sound more intense, but also to make the trailer flow smoothly. The voice over then informs the listener of the producer, and title of the film - “fox searchlight presents 500 Days of summer”. This is imperative for the radio trailer, as it finally exposes the films title, and as Fox Searchlight is a successful producer, the audience are more likely to view the film, knowing that it is well produced, and more likely to gain a wider audience. By allowing the listener to be exposed to a snippet of the plot, before releasing the films title, it keeps them engaged, and intrigued about what the film is called. It also allows time for tension to build, and the non-diagetic music adds to this.
As soon as the voice over fades out again, the volume of the non-diagetic music increases, in synchronisation as the lyrics are played “a moment to love, a kiss, a laugh” – again relating to the films genre. The voice over then fades in again, with the use of repetition f the films titles “500 days of summer”, and then cleverly describing the action portrayed in the film “500 days of magic, of distance, of tenderness.” These contrasting descriptions of the film allow the audience to see the different portrayals of romance, and add an element of excitement. The feel of the radio trailer is very warm, and happy, and this attracts the listener to watch the film, as it is a “feel good” film.
The voice over then explores actors presented in the film, and which characters they are portraying in the film. This is also important to the popularity of the film, as if a listener like a particular actor and they are presented in the film, they are inevitably more likely to watch the film – again attractive a wide range f audience members. The voice over then continues to describe the actions of the film, with the use of “500 days of”, as the non diagetic music begins to turn to a minor key, as it ends. The volume decreases, to allow the audience to understand that the radio trailer is ending, as the male vice over says “500 days of summer”, pausing for tension, and then continuing “coming soon”. The brief pause captures the listener’s attention, as they wait intently to hear when the film will be released. The final repetition of the films title also is used to subconsciously allow the audience to remember the films title – this is also used for the repetition of “500 days of..”. The non diagetic music then fades out, and snaps off. This leaves the audience feeling interested in the film, but also happy by the tone of the radio trailers entirety.

The non-diagetic music and male voice over used in the radio trailer, engage the audience efficiently, as it creates the atmosphere of happiness, combined with the warmth of summer. This is effective for a radio trailer, as it allows the listener to visualise the film through their imagination, as a pose to a film trailer, where the audience simply watch the trailer, and gain knowledge from the action portrayed. This is a highly effective radio trailer, and I will take influence from this, whilst scripting my ideas for our radio trailer.