Grand Piano

Grand Piano Trailer Analysis

Grand Piano is a good example of a thriller. The trailer has many of the conventions a thriller generically has.

1. The above screenshot is paired with the dialogue "Tom. You're alive!" This is shown very early in the trailer and makes the audience question why Tom (the main character) would not be alive. It also links to the rest of the film where we as an audience will be shocked that Tom is still living. 

2. This screenshot shows Tom's sheet music which he is reading whilst on stage performing. The red writing is obviously out of place and visibly shocks Tom. We can tell from this and other clues he is quite a world weary character as he hasn't performed in years. The red has connotations of blood and grabs the audience's attention. This also uses the 'whodunit technique' as we don't know who wrote this.

3. There is classical music playing throughout the majority of the trailer. This really sets the scene for the rest of the film as it is based around a concert. Also, the music has a bit of a creepy tone to it which makes the audience wonder if there is something sinister happening.

4. Here we find out whoever is after Tom is a psychotic individual, some sort of an assassin. We also find out this person is in the audience by seeing things from his POV.

5. ECUs are used to show how incredibly uncomfortable Tom is. Dramatic angles are also used to show different things or to make things more interesting

6. This two screenshots are used one after another as a clever way of showing this woman has had her throat slit. This use of parallel editing is really clever and interesting and really gets the audience thinking,