genre research the lodger

Genre Research- Teaser Trailer Style- The Lodger (1927)By Olivia Houlton

The Lodger- Teaser’s Style• Camerawork-- Angle- During the shots of girls screaming there is use of a

canted angle to reinforce a sense of chaos and fright. Also, there is use of a high angle shot when focused on women in the film, perhaps to symbolise their vulnerability towards the avenger and their low social status in society at that time

- Movement- there is a very slight crab movement during the footage of the car driving off, creating a sense of urgency and panic in its motive

- Shot type- There are many close-ups of girls screaming in the trailer, echoing the theme of danger and vulnerability. Also, the shot positioning when Mr. Drew approaches some stairs creates the impression of hiding behind the banisters. This secretive positioning creates a sense of enigma and tension.

The lodger- Teaser’s Style- Composition- The structure of the office footage is very

interesting as there is a distinct foreground, middle-ground and background all in which office workers are running around madly. This composition enhances the themes of confusion and commotion. There is also use of proxemics throughout the trailer, for example when Mr Drew and Mrs Bunting first meet there is a medium-long shot showing the distance between them. This space indicates towards the friction and hesitation in their relationship. Also there is use of the rule of thirds in a shot of Mr Drew creating an increased sense of realism and interest in the shot. Conversely, there is a shot of Mr Drew, later on, disrupting this rule, creating a sense of discomfort and anxiety in the audience, further creating tension and anticipation as the plot unravels

- Depth of field- The footage in the lodger has deep focus to add a sense of realness to the shots

The Lodger- Teaser’s Style• Sound-• Non- diegetic- There is a continuous

soundtrack playing over the trailer. The soundtrack is of an orchestra playing a very mysterious and dramatic piece that builds up towards a climax as more instruments jump in throughout. This theatrical piece is very parallel to the intense visuals of murders in the trailer. Also, due to the soundtrack being continuous over the footage there are many sound bridges over different scenes, adding to the climatic effect of the trailer.

• Diegetic sound- In the trailer there is no on-screen sourced sound, this is mainly due to The Lodger being a silent movie.

The Lodger- Teaser’s Style• Editing-• Order of Shots- The first shot shown, in the trailer,

immediately introduces the protagonist to the audience which is effective in making him a memorable character. Also, the middle part of the trailer consists of lots of shots in relation to the articles and headlines of the unknown murderer, for example a close-up of a newspaper headlines is followed by a group of girls reading the paper. The juxtaposition of shots showing the advertisement of the unidentified killer gives rise to how serious the situation is and creates a sense of thrill and enigma. Also, towards the end there are many close-ups of shocked facial expressions one after the other, helping end the trailer on a mysterious note.

• Continuity- Although there are small scenes in the trailer that have continuity, the majority is a montage of clips. This is so that the trailer can cover a broader range of clips within the film and engage the audience with the best bits.

The Lodger- Teaser’s Style• Transitions- During the very clip of Mr. Drew meeting Mrs.

Bunting there is use of a fade transition to provoke a sense of mystery, however further on in the trailer straight cuts a predominant to create a faster pace and more excitement

• Shot duration- There is not a vast difference in shot duration in this teaser trailer as almost all shots are between 1-2 seconds. However the shots of Mr. Drew tend to be 2 seconds and above, highlighting his importance in the plot

• Pace and rhythm- The teaser trailer has a very fast pace, also the pace is very consistent and does not change too much. However at the very beginning it is noticeably slower as the titles are are being shown

• Special effects- There is a clip of the Buntings looking up and the ceiling above them turns clear and you can see Mr. Drew pacing around. This effect may symbolise the higher status of Mr. Drew at this point in the plot as the Bunting are looking up at him showing his superiority.

The Lodger- Teaser’s Style• Mise-en-scene-• Setting- The setting of Victorian England creates a very

eerie and unnerving atmosphere, adding to tension within the audience

• Props- A recurring prop is the note found with “The Avenger” written on it. This prop is essential to the plot of the film, also it reflects on the Jack the Ripper murders as he also left notes and messages to the police. The hidden identity of “The Avenger” further enhances the theme of mystery

• costume/hair/make-up- The policeman in the teaser trailer is dressed in a very stereotypical costume. This allows the audience to recognise him as a figure of authority. Also, the young girls shown in the trailer have very neat make-up and hair, echoing the key characteristics of a conventional damsel. Mr. Drew’s make-up and hair is also very tidy and clean making him appear very respectable but even more mysterious as a suspected killer

The Lodger- Teaser’s Style• Facial expression/ body language- When a dead

body is discovered, a witness is seen very distressed as she curls up her fingers and eyes are very wide with her mouth open. The worried persona of many of the characters further highlight the seriousness of the situation

• Lighting and colour- The majority of outside shots within the teaser trailer are at night creating the sense of darkness, reflecting on the evilness of the murders. Also in the interior shots the lighting is used to create many shadows, further reflecting the the theme of evil and bad. Also, in the shots of both Daisy and Mr. Drew the light is mainly focused on their faces, perhaps symbolising their innocence and goodness throughout the plot