Across The Hall Trailers - Differences between Theatrical and Short

This is the short film trailer for Across the Hall.

This is the theatrical trailer for Across the Hall.

The theatrical version of the trailer differs from the short film trailer in many ways. The first difference I noticed was the theatrical trailer has a voice over which explains in very little detail what is happening and what to expect in the film. The voice was low and harsh which draws in the audience and makes them feel the tension. However, the short film trailer did not have a voice over and had just a little bit of writing at the end as the theatrical version did also. This allows the audience to know the film is going to be short as there isn't enough of the story to tell without giving it all away.

The second point I noticed was the lighting; in both trailers the lighting was low and sometimes ambient. The short film trailer had a green filter on every now and then which suggests an eerie and unnatural atmosphere. However in the theatrical trailer there was no filters used and low lighting was used throughout.

The sound effects build up the tension and this was used very carefully in the theatrical trailer. Most significantly at the end as they start to become more vast and louder, making us think something is going to happen at the end, but then it leaves us on a cliffhanger, making us want to see the film. In the short film trailer, there isn't as many sound effects as the whole trailer is the two men on the phone. Although, in the background we can hear a faint drumming and it does begin to get louder towards the end of the trailer.

The reason for looking at these trailers is to help me create my short film and to help me decide what genre will be most influential in attracting the largest size audience.