Research into Similar Products - The Ring Trailer

The Ring released in 2002 follows a young journalist who must investigate a mysterious videotape which seems to cause the death of anyone in a week of viewing it. To be easily relatable to the audience an everyday setting and everyday characters are used which would help the audience identify with the situation thus making it more realistic and therefore more scary. Also the use of the videotape identifies with the fear of technology.
The themes involved are emphasised by the use of the four technical areas.

Sound

The trailer begins with a futuristic, mechanical sounding piece of non diegetic music with a voice-over on top. The music then takes a slower pace with a mystical, mysterious feel. The dialogue continues over the top, higher in the sound mix, when the phone rings it is very loud and the highest noise in the sound mix as it is key to the story line. Also we know from the opening dialogue of this trailer that the telephone call is to tell you that you will die within seven days. The audience then hears, what seems to be a young child, whispering "seven days". After this is heard the music becomes faster and more intense, fitting with the pace of the editing. The dialogue is heard over the transitions of the shots and the shots themselves, but fragmented and jumpy, what the audience hears is the repeat of consequences when you watch the video tape and also "The Ring" can be heard repeatedly towards the end. The trailer finishes as it began with television interference and the sound of white noise.

Editing

Fig. 1

The beginning of this trailer seems to be the mechanical workings of the inside of a VCR, which would seem fitting as the entire movie surrounds itself around a video tape. It then cuts to the iconic image (Fig. 1) which is most commonly associated with  this film, being the lit ring on a black background, the light seems to move, flickering around the ring. This image then cuts to what we can assume to be television interference as if the trailer is a television screen, again fitting as the film follows the story of a deadly video tape. After what we can assume is a section of the video tape being played is a fade to black and then a sequence of shots all linked to the next with a simple cut giving a stark, harsh visual. This technique is used throughout the entire trailer and is paced steadily, however increasing in the middle and towards the end of the trailer, this creates intensity and a sense of adrenaline amongst the audience.

Mise en scene 

Fig. 2

The costumes of the key characters within this film are everyday clothes, creating a sense of reality making it more easily relatable to the audience. Within the trailer we see that children are involved in the film giving a sense of vulnerability and enhancing the horror of the film as an audience feels a need to protect the child full well knowing there's nothing they can do. We also see a horse included which gives the same feeling of vulnerability. Linking in with this are the props of the children's drawings, they again reinforce the atmosphere created by the inclusion of the children and show how young they are (Fig. 2). Use of images drawn by children also gives a sense of mystery as they can be depicting thoughts or feelings that a child could not convey in any other way. The lighting is kept pretty low key throughout giving a dark atmosphere and the feeling of impending doom. Another of the props used is the videotape, perhaps the most key prop within the film as it creates the story and affects each of the characters.

Camerawork


The first few shots we see are edited into a shot reverse shot and are close ups of two young girls, this allows the audience to see their reactions as it seems the first character introduced is telling a key piece of information. We then see a wide shot of a small child and a grown man, this shows the contrast between the two characters, who we can assume are key as they are introduced early on, both in age and in size. The next series of shots are all close ups of several different characters again showing reactions. We then see a point of view shot of what the young woman is looking at, which we can see is a shelf full of videos with, what seems to be, one missing. A close up is used later to of the young woman slipping the video into her bag as if indicating that she is taking without permission. A mid shot and then a close up is used to show her watching the video and through quick editing we see her facial expression and what is on the television screen and also a point of view shot of the phone ringing. We then see a similar arrangement of shots as the young man is introduced and as he watches the tape for himself. Over the shoulder shots and close ups are used when the child's drawings are introduced and shown to the audience. A series of extreme close ups are used as the pace of the editing quickens towards the middle of the trailer, these are mainly of pieces of camera and equipment in a stark white room which confuses the audience as it is unsure what is happening and what these pieces are for. As the young lady, who seems to be the main character, changes location an establishing shot is used showing a remote location giving the idea of vulnerability and isolation.