Week Two - Research: General Ideas for Teaser Trailer

Research:

Tarot Cards

The Tarot is a deck of cards that originated over five hundred years ago in northern Italy. Although the Tarot was first used in a game called Triumphs, it was quickly adopted by societies such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The early Tarot symbolism was deeply rooted in Medieval and Renaissance Europe but over many centuries it has grown to include everything from Astrology and Kabbalah to Runes and the I Ching. In today’s period of time, tarot cards are the most popular tool for spiritual examination in the West. Our film focuses around the act of using tarot cards to help predict the future of an individual, which in this case is that of the innocent character. An example of the tarot card that we will use is that of death, which represents a change that is both painful and unpleasant as well as a refusal to face the fear of change or change itself. This will then produce agonising periods of transition and mental, physical or emotional exhaustion. Therefore, by seeing this card in the teaser trailer, the audience then know that this character will experience this points throughout the rest of the film and could lead on to other events, such as her best friend’s death.

Pentacle Symbol

The Pentacle is probably along with the pentagram the symbol of witchcraft most recognised by the general public. The five points represent earth, air, fire, water, and spirit, which are the five factors needed to sustain life. The circle symbolises eternity and infinity, the cycles of life and nature. Overall it represents spirit and protection as well as symbolising perfection in all things that exist on earth. It is also a protective device and in ritual, the pentacle is used to evoke spirits. By using this symbol as a tattoo on the confident girl, it will represent the point that she is a new age witch and has beliefs in witchcraft. Therefore, she would be confident in using the tarot cards correctly to be able to look into her friend’s future. However, her best friend is not completely sure on the idea as she is nervous about what the consequences of it could be for her. Eventually, she agrees to take part in the tarot card reading, although she lives to regret this decision. This is because the main card that appears is that of death and she later becomes possessed. As the story develops, the audience learns that the confident character had already foreseen what would happen to her friend but knew that she would not have been possessed because of the Pentacle on her shoulder. This is because it would protect her even though it does not prevent her friend from later killing her.