Theorists

Tzvetan Todorov
Todorov's theory is quite simple. His theory is that the narrative of a film begins with a state of equilibrium. In between in suffers the then equilibrium it suffers some disruption causing there to be disequilibrium, a then new equilibrium is produced at the end. Todorov argues that narrative involves a transformation, that the characters or the situations are transformed through the progress of disruption. This is a very specific theory that you can apply to all narratives. I do think we should apply this element when thinking about the narrative and story behind our trailer, although I think that maybe we should make something different and less cliche.

Vladimir Propp
Like Todorov Vladimirs theory was based on folk tales and legends that he has studied from. He had picked up on the fact that they were all quite similar characters and the same kind of characters kep on cropping up.
1. The Hero - usually male, restores narrative equilibrium and is the centre of the villians attention.
2. The villian opposes the hero and often creates the narrative disuption.
3. The donor- The character who helps out the hero by giving them a tool
4. The dispatcher - starts the hero on his way on his way and helps restore equilibrium.
5. The false hero- who tempts the hero away from his quest
6. The helper- assists the heroes
7. The princess- who is the reward for the hero
8. The Princess father- who rewards the hero for the rescuing of his daughter.
I think that within our film we'll use some kind of element of this theory however it would be using different characters. As it's a horror film using the Villain would be definite however maybe there wouldn't be a hero and there would be two weaker characters.

Claude Levi-Strauss
Levi-Strauss was not as concerned with the plot as opposed to the binary oppositions of a narrative. A few Binary oppositions examples are good against bad, love against hate and past against present. This could also apply to Vladimir Propp's theory as there is always a binary opposition in stories and fairy tales. The hero against the villain and the prince against the princess. We should definitely apply this theory and use it in our film as it's a horror, and horror's typically have a villain and other characters working against the villain so there will be an obvious binary opposition of good vs evil. I feel that this is the strongest theory.

Roland Barthes
Barthes believes that all narratives share structural features which are bought together in different ways. He believed that texts may be open or closed which would either mean that the narrative is difficult to follow and has lots of different twists or that it's closed, cliche and easy to follow.
These are the 5 codes he used:
1. Action code - Applied to any action that implies a further action is coming.
2. Enigma code - Another word for a mystery. Refers to any any element in a story that is not explained and exists and enigma for the audience, making them question that demands explanation.
3. The Semantic code - This refers to connotation within the story that gives any additional meaning.
4. The cultural code - An element in the narrative that refers to a science. The cultural codes point out our shared knowledge about the way in which the world works
5 .The symbolic code - New meaning arises out of opposing and conflict ideas
This theory is also quite a strong theory. The codes together would make a great mystery and a thrilling trailer, the action code would leave the audience reeling and wondering what was about to occur as would the enigma code so applying these two codes specifically into our horror trailer would make it enticing and the sequence of shots and the music together with the uncertainty within the audience of what's going to happen next would be successful.