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.