Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Web link: https://youtu.be/mP0VHJYFOAU
Title: Bohemian Rhapsody | Official Trailer.
Year: November 2nd, 2018.
Artist: Queen original soundtrack, Marc Martel (Freddie Mercury impersonator)
Instruments: Freddie Mercury (Vocals, Piano), Roger Taylor (vocals, drums), Brain May (guitar, Orchestral arrangement's, Vocals), John Deacon (Bass).
Composer/s: Queen.
Song writers: Queen. Smile.
Producer/s: David Richards, Reinhold Mack.
Released By: 20th Century Fox and Regency Enterprises.
Generally the music is the driving force of any movie trailer. If the music is implemented correctly to fit the instances happening in the visual component of the media then it becomes engaging and draws the audience to look further into its contents. If the music isn't attention grabbing then the rest of the elements of the trailer won't be noticed or matter, so it is essential to get it right. Assuming that the music doesn't quite fit or isn't used in a way to evoke the right emotions or reactions from the audience within the first few seconds then it is unlikely to be watched, shared around or to accumulate further interest in the film as a whole. I have done some research into the Bohemian Rhapsody movie trailer to help me better learn and understand the importance of each of the different components that make up a movie trailer. This will help influence my current working sessions for my projects relating to both audio and film. There are 5 key components to a movie trailer and each are just as important as the other. There is Dialogue, Special effects, Foley, Atmosphere or environment and Music.
Synopsis:
Bohemian Rhapsody the movie was a long time in the making. The movie is loosely based on the archaic journey of Freddie Mercury as he, Roger Taylor, Brian May and John Deacon together paved the way for symphonic rock to be placed on the map. Symphonic rock is a sub genre of rock which the artist has embellished large scale symphony orchestras and synthesizers to mimic string sections in songs and combined it with traditional rock.
Events in the film lead the audience to believe 'Queen' tried to release their song of the same name under their record label however the manager of the label did not think it would serve them well. They went on to release it any way and it worked in their favor propelling them to household name status and the rest is history. This was suggested to have happened during their rise to fame during the 1970's and progressive rock was only experimental during that time period. The movie focuses on some key events that contributed to 'Queen' becoming one of the most recognizable and world known artists to date.
Trailer breakdown:
Music:
The movie trailer immediately sets the scene for the movie by opening up with the familiar introduction of the song 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen. The well known vocal acapella section by the group and the subtle accompaniment of the rhythmic piano sets the overall tone and theme for the trailer. By using the original soundtrack recording of the song, helps to establish the familiarity and the recognizable sound that makes up what the band Queen was and is known for. Using this particular music for the soundtrack of the trailer helps with the perception of authenticity to form a preconceived notion of what this biopic could be about within the audience mind.
The opening music is paired nicely with a well chosen and fitting array of excerpts from the movies opening and ending scenes of the live aid concert. By having a focus on this moment and with the support of the music chosen for the trailer helps to establish this as a crucial moment in Queen's career. Upon further listening and research into what lead this movie to come about and by comparing old recordings from Queens music and the videos posted online of Marc Martel singing queen covers you can begin to distinguish his vocals within the mix of the trailer from the original recordings. However on the first listen it is easy to buy into the idea that it is the original recorded band performance.
In Addition to the intro section of the song ' Bohemian Rhapsody' you can hear the simple yet ingenious arrangement of a large crowd sample. The stomp twice then clap once in a repeated rhythmic manner over the song became a signature identifier and makes up the main melody of another song by Queen called ' We will rock you'. This song became one of the most recognizable rock anthems that also allowed the audience to get involved by participating in the show to support the artist whenever it is performed in a live setting.The use of these two exemplary and well known songs from the band and creatively mixing them together in way to appear as one entity was a well utilized decision. By using these two very distinguished recordings from Queen's most recognizable song repertoire in the trailer reinforces the concepts of familiarity, boldness, courageousness, self assuredness and the idea that it is okay to be yourself regardless of the fear of failing that Queen established for themselves as the message their band would promote through their music career as a band.
Throughout the rest of the trailer you notably hear fragments of the most discernible songs they became known for. From sections of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' to the bass line and guitar riff and drum accompaniment from 'Another one bites the dust' to elements of 'We will rock you' and 'We are the champions' then rounding out the trailer full circle with the memorable signature linear sequence made popular from song 'We will rock you'.
Dialogue:
The dialogue lines are clear and precise throughout the trailer. Every time a line of dialogue is delivered the music is pushed lower into the mix to make the dialogue element stand out. This also helps to make the dialogue clearer and assists in building the trajectory of the story. The way that the music interacts with the dialogue and plays off of each other is needed to establish grounds for a consistent and natural progression of the story line as the story is being developed. There is always a fine balance between getting the appropriate moments to share in a trailer that sums up the plot line but doesn't give everything away and making certain the general trajectory of the story makes sense.
Atmos and Foley:
As most of the trailer is set at shows or performances Foley and atmos take a huge step back in this trailer. Instead the sound design of the crowds and the sound design of the music takes precedence and is highly effective as it eludes back to the context of the trailer. The music is instead utilized in creative ways to put emphasis on key happenstances that Foley and atmos usually cater to. Such as the moment when Roger is about to throw something at Freddie and he responds in a clap back way that "There is only room in the band for one hysterical Queen" The music in this scene supports and moves with the movements of the actors and also pauses to allow for the comedic effect of the delivered line before continuing with the trailer.
In conclusion, by doing a study on this trailer it has enlightened me to the importance to focus on these key elements throughout the production process of developing a movie trailer. By focusing and being attentive to the detail in each section. Whether its being clear and concise with the execution of the dialogue or when it comes to the sound design and progression of your music to ensure a natural progressive flow that fits with whats happening in the visual media. It needs to be mixed to fit well and compliment the other elements around it and not to evoke the feeling that something sticks out and is vying for the spotlight. Keeping in mind the contextual message of the trailer and the genre that the movie will eventually fit into will help to form some production guidelines when deciding how the music should develop or how much Foley or Atmos or SPX needs to shine through. As such with this movie trailer, as it is a trailer for a movie about some highlights of a band, It makes perfect sense that the main focus of the trailer is a showcase of the bands many successes and triumphs during the most prominent time of their career.
Martel. M (2018) - Marc Martel Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen cover) [online] Available at - https://youtu.be/QkCxE2Lh458
Rachmanioff. s (2015) - Queen | Bohemian Rhapsody (Freddie's solo vocals + piano) [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/fLnBh3ajbso
Warhurst. J (2018) - Bohemian Rhapsody | "Put me in Bohemian" Mixing in the vocals [Online] Available at: https://youtu.be/Ijxu2EHV5XA
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