How is narrative created?
Editing -
pace
Slow at the beginning with the equilibrium; boy has cancer and is writing a letter to god about it, the pace is still slow with the disruption; the op-positional character comes in - post guy. This builds up the interest in the story because it creates questions in the audiences mind makes them want to watch the rest of the trailer.
The recognition starts and is slightly faster, this effect builds up emotional tension on the audience. This is the longest and lasts throughout the trailer.
The transitions in the trailer are slow cuts and dissolving, the transitions were firstly slow to match the pace then got faster. It helped build up the tension in the trailer.
Filming -
camera shots
angles - pov
movements
distances
opening
Boy writing letter, reading what's written as voice over. Long shot to show what's going on,
intro to characters
In the first shot the boy is introduced and then the mum and post guy is.
teasing shots
the mum doesn't agree with God's will. Her son believes in God's will because he's been writing letters to God with positiveness and hope.
the convincer
Most of the trailer is convincing because they are so many questions to be answered. Like when mum opens boy's letter, makes audience want to know her response to her son's strong faith whereas she lost her faith. Makes the audience want to know more and to see the film
Sound -
Starts with voice over of the boy, he lets the audience know that he is sick, he has cancer but doesn't say. And at the end he says 'But it'll be okay' so he has faith and has a positive attitude. Non diegetic
There is dialogue between the post guy and the boy, it's more personal this way also the topic they are talking about is personal and emotional too. Diegetic
Music - The music gets louder throughout the trailer. Starts with piano music, piano is a classical and calm instrument - suits with pace of trailer at beginning. Eventually as trailer gets faster, lyrics and more instruments are added to match with emotions later on in the trailer.
The genre is Drama because there's social interaction with the audience, setting and characters in the trailer. The characters are going through a struggling experience that the audience can relate to and they feel emotionally attached by it. And finally there is a sort of realisation at the end
Conventions -
Firstly, there's an MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) film rating at the beginning which states the film is a PG (Parental Guidance). This means any age can watch it but parental guidance is suggested as some parts of the film may not be appropriate for children to watch. This shows the film's target audience is anyone, possibly family because it's PG.
Next the production company logo appears - Possibility pictures. This can give an insight of the film because it can be compared to previous films made by Possibility pictures. Again, gives a clue on the target audience.
Shot -
The first shot is a long shot and it's eye level. There's a voice over by the main character, and his actions suits what he is saying because the voice over is his thoughts (diegetic sound). In the first shot he says as the voice over "Dear God..." so he looks up to the sky where God is. He is writing a letter to God, the audience knows this is important as the film's name is 'Letters to God'. This creates a personal and sweet feeling for the audience. The voice over gives a brief outline of the film leaving the audience with questions. There is calm piano background music to match the feeling created by the first few shots.
And the last shot is the same shot like in the beginning - same location, dark, same character. This effects the audience because now they know what the character has been through but at the beginning they didn't.
Text-
Some shots are black with gold text. They're short sentences that relate to the film and the audience. The music changes as the first one is seen. It's inspired by a true story which gives meaning and a purpose.
Another text shot is ''Producers of Fireproof and Facing the Giants". This suggest because these producers also made this film, there will be a similarities like genre - Drama.
The credits were right at the end of the film - e.g. names of actors, producers, distributors. The actor names didn't appear through the trailer, this suggests that they aren't easily recognisable actors because they may not be so famous. Otherwise the editor would of put the names in between the trailer to keep hold of the audiences attention.
