Silver Lining's Playbook Trailer Analysis

• • The first shot we see is an establishing shot which helps us to understand the home setting that the film is set.
  • There are a succession of mid shots and close ups edited together with shot reverse shot to show a conversation, it helps us to understand a bit more about what is happening in the film, eg. we understand that he has been released from a mental institution.
  • The diagetic dialogue ‘can I do an interview for a school project on mental illness’. This helps us to understand that mental illness may be a plot point for one of the characters as everyone is very touchy around that subject.
  • The music that is being played throughout the beginning of the trailer slowly builds and reaches a high point, which is cut with the door slamming. This emphasizes the reaction of the parents by pairing it with the music.
  • The upbeat music starts throughout the trailer from this moment, which suggests that from thus point his life may be beginning to look up. This is a part of the drama genre as it shows how he has overcome a ‘real life issue’.
  • There is a montage of reading and running paired with the non-diagetic voice over saying ‘I feel motivated’. This shows how he is living an everyday life which is a convention of the drama genre.
  • Clips of the books are cut quickly together, creating a feeling of chaos which opposes the voice over ‘I don’t feel so angry anymore’. This shows how it could be a major point in the film as it is trying to emphasize how his actions are the opposite to what he is actually saying to the psychiatrist.
  • There is a mid-shot of the man pacing which shows his anger, which contrasts the sound bridge possibly showing his life trauma which would be part of the drama genre.
  • This is followed by a shot reverse shot of the parents with the music being silenced. This adds to the dramatic /comic effect of the scene and helps the audience to relate and compare their own lives to.
  • The non-diagetic music starts again when he starts running which suggests that maybe he is trying to get back to reality.
  • The diagetic dialogue ‘hate my illness and I want to control it’ shows how he wants to get better, which could be one of the major plot points in the story.
  • A shot reverse shot of two men is shown, the close ups that are used show their expressions which adds to how it is possibly an important scene – adds tension to the trailer.
  • There is no music in the talking scenes which helps the audience to listen to the words.
  • The diagetic dialogue ‘Hey Tiffany, how’d Tommy die?’ is a very out there question to ask, it shows how maybe he doesn’t think like a normal person. This paired with the shot reverse shot where the men are almost central adds to the uncomfortable feeling of the scene which, furthermore, gives it a more dramatic feel.
  • An establishing shot shows the house in which they are living, this just helps us to understand that they are just a normal family and makes it a more personal setting.
  • Shot reverse shot shows the conversation between the two, which could be a possible bonding point – building the character relationship between the two.
  • During the therapy session scene there is close ups cut with mid shots of them running – which again just furthers the development of the characters relationship to the viewer.
  • The non-diagetic music we hear is soft and light hearted but slowly builds as the trailer begins to come to a climax.
  • The establishing shot of the diner shows a causal everyday setting, this helps to appeal to the genre as it is based on ‘real-life’.
  • The diagetic dialogue portrays the turning point in the trailer ‘you want to have dinner at this diner?’. The background music stops and there is just silence to emphasize the turning point in the film; this shows how real life situations are portrayed within the film which is part of the drama genre.
  • The use of the fade transition to the two shot shows how time is passing. Another two shot is used to show them sitting in the diner-obviously the date which is the main plot point in this film.
  • The fade transitions that are now used between the shots make it seem softer and nicer which links to the fact that it is the major turning point and we want that to be a happy thing. The shots earlier on in the trailer were harsher – representing a harsher and more negative mood of the two characters.
  • The diagetic dialogue ‘by having sex with everyone in the office’ is meant to be comical, when this line is said the non-diagetic music stops. This has been done to emphasize the comedy and to show the shock of the male character.
  • The long shot and the mid shot of the characters helps to show the two of them bonding –which helps the character development.
  • The shot reverse shot show both the characters upset, which suggests that there is a possible emotional dilemma in the film.
  • There is a dance montage which uses all high key lighting, shows the happy mood of the two characters.
  • The screen fades from them dancing to a close up of the girl; this is a reaction shot to the non-diagetic voice over ‘you wrote about me?’
  • Following this is a montage of the family – the mid shots and close ups to show the emotion in the shot which emphasize the happiest point in the trailer.
  • There is a close up of the four main characters with their names- this is convention of all modern trailers.
  • A montage of the groups shows lots of happy and ‘feel good’ shots, which adds to the up beat feel of the drama genre, which in turn makes the audience feel good. The non-diagetic music goes from silent to loud and energetic to emphasize the climatic point of the film.
  • The last thing we have is non-diagetic dialogue ‘if you stay positive you have a shot at a silver lining’- it is the last thing we have which is a memorable line for the audience.

Flashdance Trailer Analysis

• The first shot that we see is a close up of the woman’s face; the low key lighting used suggests a very intimate scene showing her passion for what she is talking about.
• The diagetic dialogue turns into non-diagteic voice over as the shot changes to mid-long shot of the same girl dancing; this makes the dancing stand out at the beginning of the trailer, suggesting that there is a passion about it throughout the trailer.
• It then returns to the close up shot of the girl, which again emphasizes her passion, showing how it is a major part of the story.
• On the next shot a catchy pop song starts, this could be to create an identity for the film, if people know the song then they may start to associate this with the film.
• A cross fade is use to connect the shots of her riding a bike and welding, we assume it is the same person, it helps us to gain an image of what her life was like and the different possible aspects that are included.
• This is also cut with the voice over ‘her name is Alex’ this links with the welding as it is a very masculine name, and we do not assume that dancing would be a major part of her life. It also says that she ‘works in a man’s world’ this helps to portray that she does not live the normal life of a girl, and would not have had the same experiences as other girls of her age.
• Another cross fade is used which shows a close –up of two people kissing, the lighting is very low key, this makes it feel very intimate. The cross fade makes the viewer feel that she dreams of finding love and could be a large point in the plot.
• The non diagetic voice over speaks again ‘she dances in a world of her dreams’ this suggests that it is a major part of her life, and will become a major part of the story, because the music that is played in the background is also building to become faster.
• The next thing we see on the screen is the word ‘Flashdance’ this enters the screen on a reverse zoom, as this happens the music changes as the word finally becomes clear.
• An over-shoulder shot of the girl cut with a long-mid shot of a man; this shows that there is a possible love interest within the film, which is a part of the drama genre mainly.
• A montage is shown of her working on the building site. This shows how she comes from a poorer background, doing something that she doesn’t love – this would be her incentive to try and achieve her dancing dream.
• This is followed by long shots and mid shots of various people dancing; this helps to show how she is passionate about it, and hinting that it is the main plot of the story.
• There is a close up of her face whilst she is dancing, showing that she is happiest when she is dancing, meaning she is extremely passionate and will do what she can to achieve that dream. This is part of the drama genre as it shows how she has a real life problem that she needs resolving.
• The word ‘Flashdance’ appears again in the reverse zoom, and again the music speeds up and become the chorus, trying to make it memorable with the song.
• This is followed by a mid-shot of the girl alone, cut with a long shot of her with a boy. This signifies a possible love interest within the film, showing that the genre here is more romantic drama, as the girl’s relationships plays a major role in the trailer.
• A training montage is shown, which emphasises the change she needs to go through to achieve her dream. The angles used in the montage vary with who they are filming. The mid shot of the man is a very low angle shot which causes him to look more dominant and masculine, whereas the shots of the women are there to make them look weaker. This contrasts earlier on in the trailer when ‘Alex’ was made to seem like a man, by her job, name and clothes.
• Then a long- mid shot of her dancing with another woman is shown – possibly a dancing instructor. This helps to emphasis her need to train and shows that this is a major plot point in the story.
• There is a repeat shot of the close up of her looking happy; this is cut with a mid-long shot of a couple. This shows that there is a possible romantic interest, which is a major part of the story.
• The word ‘Flashdance’ appears again in the reverse zoom this is used as a change in the trailer. Eg. the first time it is used to show the introduction; the second time is used to show her and her romantic life and the third time is used to show her dance life and give the ending of the trailer.
• An establishing shot is used to show her in the dance school, showing how she contrasts the other people. This emphasises the possible ‘real-life’ struggle and how there is a change in her life, which is a clear point in the drama genre.
• A jump cut is used to show the different feet in the queue, this shows how she doesn’t fit in and could be a possible turning point for her in the story.
• The shot of her dancing is intermittently cut with varied other shots of her with different moods, eg a long shot is shown with her jumping into a man’s arms. This shows the change throughout her life, yet how dancing has stayed, showing a possible constant of dancing throughout the whole film.
• Finally the last thing we see is the last reverse zoom of the word ‘Flashdance’. This is cut with a voice over ‘Flashdance, if a dream comes true just one time, it can change your life for all of time.’ Hints how the film contains a major life change, which is a main concept of the drama genre.

Footloose Trailer Analysis

• The first shot we see is a pan shot of the two boys feet intermittently cut with a pan shot of the word footloose
• There is non-diagetic voice over ‘he’s the new kid in town’ – this is cut with a close up shot of the boy’s face (Kevin Bacon). This helps us to assume that he is the ‘new kid’, so he is the assumed main character.
• There are two shots and three shots which are cut very quickly together; this shows how he has involvement within the town and becoming a main part within the story.
• There is a close up shot of him shouting ‘let’s dance’ this is cut with the word footloose, showing that possibly one of the main plot lines is about dance.
• There are shots of the main character (Kevin Bacon) dancing, which are cut with shots of the same girl, this could suggest that she is a major character and that she has the possibility to cause a crisis.
• A mid shot of the girl is shown; in this shot she looks carefree and happy. This shot is cut with the long shot of her on the car which shows that there is a possibility of risk and danger. The quick cuts to the lorry and then the master shot of the car on the verge, shows the binary opposition of the girl with the danger of her situation meaning that the trailer has an early climax about 30 seconds in.
• The next sequence of shots helps to create a fun feel within the trailer. The long shot of the two boys playing has high key lighting making it a very bright shot; this contrasts the mid shot and long shot of the boy dancing which have low key lighting. This gives it a more serious feel which is the opposite of the previous shot, suggesting this could cause possible turmoil within the film.
• There is a sequence of many different shots of characters laughing and smiling, this suggests that the film is meant to be very fun and happy.
• There is a shot reverse shot of two boys sitting on the tractor – they are playing a game of chicken – this suggests a possible climatic point of danger as the music slows. The next shot however is a binary opposite of the previous; the long shot of the two boys shows them dancing and the music has turned faster again, giving it a feeling on fun and light-heartedness. This cancels out the tense feel of the previous shot, making us realise that nothing serious is actually happening.
• The shots after this are all very quick cut; this suggests an increasing climax of the story. There is an establishing shot of a police car and a mid-shot of Kevin Bacon and a police man. This shows that there could be a possible turning point of crisis in the film.
• The long shot cut with the close up shows her screaming, this shows the possible danger within the scene. The sequential shots have less of a dramatic difference in mood as we learn more about the climax of the storyline.
• The long shot of the boy throwing the girl out of the way, adds to the feel of danger, but gives us a feeling of heroism. This makes the audience want to know how they got to that point, makes them interested in the films story.
• The shots that are following are all very quick cuts which give us an understanding of the relationships between characters in the film.
• The long shot of the two boys facing away from the camera helps to establish the relationship and lighten the mood after the dark scenes of the train, it shows that the film has reached it’s pivotal point and is now looking up again.
• Next, we see the word ‘Footloose’ in a reverse zoom, the beat of the music that is played over the top matches in with the pace of the word as it zooms out.
• There is an action match in the next two shots. The main boy performs a dance jump in a warehouse; an action match is then used with a different boy jumping off the tractor. This shows how the two parts of the story may be linked to each other as they both play a major role within the plot.
• There are quick cuts between shots of dancing, dramatic shots and shots that are happy. This shows a variety of moods within the film which links to the drama genre.
• The quick cuts of long and mid shots showing a happy mood suggests the problem has been resolved, and it links back to earlier issues in the trailer eg. the game of chicken.
• Throughout the whole trailer there is no dialogue, they only play the footloose song because they are trying to build a brand for themselves, and if people know the song then they will start to associate the song with the film.
• The last image we see is the third showing of the word ‘Footloose’ and it hits the screen on the final beat of the music, giving the trailer a sturdy ending.