Analysing Film Trailers

Year 11 English Pathways

Miss Rubino, Term 2, 2015

What are film trailers?

Short

advertisements designed to entice viewers to see a film.

Consist

of a series of selected shots from the film being

advertised.

Often

show the most exciting, funny, or noteworthy parts of

the film in an abbreviated form (usually without
producing spoilers).

They

run between 2 and 2.5 minutes

Analysing Purpose
Film trailers are intended to evoke an emotional
response from the viewer. The overall purpose of the
trailer is to entice the viewer to see the film, yet there
are reasons why certain excerpts of the film are
purposefully displayed in the trailer. Genre also plays a
part in determining the purpose of the film.

To entertain the viewer and make them engage with the

text in an emotional way.

To inform the viewer about essential information or facts.

To persuade the viewer to adopt a standpoint or opinion

on an issue.

To educate the viewer about an issue or event, and teach

lessons or morals.

Analysing Audience
Anyone can watch a film, yet this doesnt make them the intended audience.
Marketers and film makers consider which types of people the film will appeal to.
They consider such things as:
- Age
- Gender
- Personal interests
- Race
- Religion
- Cultural background
- Level of education
- Financial Background
- Political standpoint

Who is the films intended audience? Which factors determine the

suitability of the film for a particular audience?
-

Are they primarily men or women?

- Are they children or teenagers?
Do they have jobs?
- Are they unemployed?
What is their average income?
- Are they educated?
Where do they live?
- What are their life experiences?
What are their values and beliefs?
- What are their interests?

Activity 1 Who is the intended audience?

Look

at the following eight cereal boxes. On a

piece of paper, write down who you think the
intended audience is for each cereal. Consider
their age, gender, education and personal
interests etc.
Example: Middle-aged, educated, health
conscious men and women.
Why? Nutritional information is provided.
Educated adults would understand the
significance of the health benefits as well as
the statistics provided. The advertising is not
gender specific.

Images 1 and 2

Images 3 and 4

Images 5 and 6

Images 7 and 8

Analysing Form in Film Trailers

Camera shots angles, distance and movement of the camera combine to create a
sequence of images. Camera shots can be used for such things as: establishing a scene,
focusing on important events or objects, highlighting the power of characters and so on.

Music used to add emotion, rhythm and mood to a scene. Provides a tone for the story
and the characters. Music can often foreshadow a change in mood or intensity.

Sound effects sound is used to simulate reality, create illusion, and to create a mood.

Special effects - Special effects (SFX) are used to create effects that cannot be achieved
by normal means.

Lighting The amount of light and the direction of the light source can give meaning to
the viewer watching the scene e.g. darkness, mood lighting, weather, suspense.

Colour used to provoke reactions in the viewer, create contrast between images,
highlight certain objects, create a mood, and appeal to specific audience.

Text written text is used to highlight key facts and information, draws the viewer in, is
eye-catching and intriguing. Written could include slogans, catchphrases, titles, dates,
acclaims, ratings, bold statements.

Analysing Form - Framing

Framing is the presentation of visual elements in an

scene, especially the placement of the subject in relation to
other objects. This involves how objects are positioned in
the shot. Framing makes an image aesthetically pleasing
and keep the viewer's focus on the framed object(s).

Diegetic and Non-Diegetic Sound

Diegetic sound: Sound coming from a source within the film's world.
Another term for diegetic sound is actual sound.
voices of characters
sounds made by objects in the story
music coming from instruments in the story

Non-Diegetic sound: Any sound that the audience can hear but the
characters on screen cannot; sound that has been added by external
means. Another term for non-diegetic sound is commentary sound.
narrator's commentary
sound effects added for dramatic effect
mood music

NOW YOU TRY! Do these scenes contain diegetic or non-diegetic sound?

Do they contain both?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=28&v=kmW3xVYQcPE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VP5jEAP3K4

ACTIVITY 1
In

groups, you will move from

table to table on the teachers
signal.

On

each table will be a movie

poster, and a blank grid template.

Every

time you move tables, fill

out one of the empty text boxes
by analysing the form element
present on the movie poster.

LETS WATCH THE TRAILERS!

For now, we will be considering AUDIENCE,
PURPOSE and FORM.
In later lessons, we will explore LANGUAGE
and SOCIAL CONTEXT.

Analysing Language
Both written text and verbal language are utilised in film trailers.
Considering film trailers are usually only 2 minutes in length, how
do the filmmakers determine which dialogue to put into the trailer?
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
How is written and spoken language used in the film trailers to
inform, entertain and persuade the audience?
What sorts of phrases are used in the trailers to entice the viewers
to see the film?
Why choose specific dialogue from the film to be in the trailers?
What do these key short phrases tell us about the main characters
in the film, as well as the films plot?
What words or phrases reflect the genre of the film?
What words or phrases reflect the culture of the target audience?

I have no plans to die today!

Thor, 2011

Analysing Social Context

Social context refers to the physical and social setting in which people
live or in which something happens or develops. The social context of a
film relates to the ideas and messages the film portrays.

Social

issues e.g. bullying, exclusion, stereotyping, discrimination,

representations of gender, human rights, unhealthy behaviours, poverty.

Moral

issues e.g. good vs. evil, right or wrong, decision making, dealing
with consequences.

Environmental
Political

society.

Social

standpoints e.g. the views or opinions on a topical issue in

Justice e.g. standing up for whats right, questioning the norm

Periods

roles

or global issues e.g. natural disasters, financial crises.

of time and the consequent issues e.g. period of war, gender

ACTIVITY What is the social

context of this image?