Textual Analysis of Teaser Trailers

This is a presentation I have made on Emaze about the functions and features of a trailer. This Emaze allowed me to demonstrate the difference between the different types of trailers and how they are used to attract and keep the interest of an audience. The advantage of this is that I have learnt more about trailers and the times they tend to come out and the suitability of it within the cinemas.



This is another presentation I created on Prezi for the conventions of trailers and how trailers are formed to attract and interest the audience from the beginning till the final release date.

Textual Analysis of Teaser Trailer 1

Personal Shopper (2016, Horror/ Mystery Thriller)

Directed by Olivier Assayas

                                                                 

The teaser trailer I have chosen to analyse is the 'Personal Shopper' which was directed by Olivier Assayas. In this teaser trailer I will focus on analyzing the forms and conventions of the trailer and how they are used to attract the audiences attention. This also includes the shot types, music, captions and many more. I have chosen to analyze this teaser trailer because from watching the teaser trailer this thriller film has appeared to seem different from the rest of the trailers. I enjoyed how the structure of the trailer was set out and this also didn't give out too much of the plot twist but rather enough to keep me interested.

Firstly, Personal Shopper is about a personal shopper in Paris who refuses to leave the city until she finally makes contact with her twin brother who had died there. Her life then becomes more complicated as a mysterious person contacts her on text message.

From this film poster, you can already see that something dangerous is to come. This is shown through the gloomy, dark colors that have been used around the lady. This forebodes nothing but threat. The lady is the center of the attention which implies that she is the main character, she is the focus of the film. The darkness also reveals the genre of the film and also suggests that some elements of this film may be sophisticated due to the colors which are dull and the lady herself looks fairly sophisticated.

The font of the title on this thriller poster appears very sophisticated. The white color connotes some type of purity and vulnerability which may be significant for the main character who is the girl.

This is the official teaser trailer for Personal Shopper:

This teaser trailer begins with a fade in of the production company, this is also followed by the non-diegetic soundtrack. The effect of this was to create atmosphere and tension from the beginning to keep the audience engaged and also reveal the genre of the film which is thriller. The use of the fade in and fade out creates a suspenseful type of tone to the film that adds mystery and also the sense of fear towards the audience. 

From the black screen medium shot of the lady appears as she is riding a bicycle. This shot was used to establish the main character of the film and showcase the star. Within this shot you can see her emotions within her face, this shot reveals that she is serious and is on to something. The mise-en-scene used is the low key lighting. This gives the connotations of darkness and gloominess. The effect of this was to create an eerie atmosphere which is then touched upon with the soundtrack. This again portrays the genre of the film and also creates the mood of something dangerous that is to come straight away which is significant for the audience as it creates a mysterious tone and keeps the interest of the audience and leaving us to questions what is going to happen next? 

This then cuts to the long shot of the lady walking towards a house alone. This immediately reveals that she is isolated and puts her at a vulnerable position because she is alone. This also reveals that her character is quite independent in the sense that she likes to do things alone and she isn't afraid of the worse. This is followed by the action match of her entering inside the house. A medium close up is used to emphasize this. Immediately as she enters the house, the lights dime which suggests danger. This implies that the danger is not within the outside world but rather within the house. This is significant because when she is walking to the house it is sunny and bright which gives the connotations of being safe and joyful however as she enters the home it all reverses. It is like she has entered a new world because darkness has now entered too. 

This medium close up of the girl is followed by the non-diegetic sound, which is the soundtrack that signifies mysteriousness, danger and horror. This leaves the audience at the edge of the seat because we don't know whats going to happen next or whether she is going to be safe or not in the house alone, segregated from everyone else and any help that she may need later on. 

Some of the key character traits I have already learnt from the main character is that she is very independent and obscure. She is determined to know what is going on and she wont stop until she finds out or gets what she wants. In this case she is counter stereotypical because women are usually associated with being the damsel in distress and needing a male figure to help, however she is the complete opposite as she strives to do things herself though she may look vulnerable or isolated; it does not scare her.

A sound bridge is used over the shots, from the black screen on wards.The main character narrates the plot of the film and why is she is doing what she is doing. she says 'we made this oath, whoever died first would send the other assign.' The use of this sound bridge was to narrate the plot of the film in the teaser trailer and also show the main characters bravery and intentions towards her actions. 

The slowed paced editing in between shots creates a sinister and spectral tone which keeps the audience at the edge of the seat because we do not know what to expect. In between these shots we establish the main characters and also reveals a little about one another. This sinister tone is also significant between the fade in and fade out after the shot-reverse-shot. This creates a gloomy atmosphere and a sense of danger.

Another medium shot is used as the main character continues to narrate the story. This medium shot of the girl makes her look vulnerable and scared and the low key lighting also reflects her vulnerability and foreshadows the darkness that is to come during the film. This shot is also followed by the incidental music that reveals an ominous and menacing tone to the atmosphere. This is significant because it makes it seem like the main character should have something to be scared for because she is not as safe as she thinks she is.


This shot is then followed by the captions and titles, the caption slowly fades in with the grey font. This grey font represents dullness, emotionless and detachment within feelings and this world. However it is surrounded by a royal navy blue which gives the connotations of power and authority within the teaser trailer.

An low angle shot is used as the lady looks up on to the stairs; low key lighting is also  used on this shot to put us in her position and also convey some sort of horror and dimness within the film to give it that thriller feel that is aimed for us, the audience. This is the followed by a high angle, close up shot over the girl. This tackles her vulnerability, her emotions and also makes her look powerless which is also emphasized through the extreme low key lighting which acts as a barrier of her being scared and also gives it that gloomy effect.

During these two shots, the incidental music (non-diegetic sound) becomes intense and much more gloomy which further foreshadows the act of endangerment and jeopardy.

A birds eye-view is also used as the girl glares on to the table that has the cross engraved on to it. This birds eye-view creates the sense of panic. This is demonstrated through the fast paced editing which initially shows that the main character is in shock and she is scared which is typical as it reveals that she is not as strong as she made herself out to be at the beginning of the trailer. This is significant as it leaves us to question what is happening, who done it and how it all went wrong for her.

These captions continue to appear after 37 seconds in to the trailer, they appear every few shots at the center of the screen. This allows the audience to be kept interested because everything is centered therefore it is harder to miss what is going on, though it also keeps the audience engaged because after captions appear in between shots another scene is shown. These captions appear blurry to begin with and then the caption is clear which creates an uncertain mood and a sense of confusion which is typical within the horror genre as we do not know what to expect; not knowing what to expect is what creates the thrill.

These captions are also used with a more intense soundtrack/incidental music that helps create the dreary atmosphere.

Furthermore, a long shot of the girl running of the house is then used. The effect of this shot was to initially show that she is rushing and terrified. This is also demonstrated within the fast-paced editing that creates the sense of terror and threat for her in between the different shots. This makes us scared for her and also keeps us at the edge of the seat as we do not know what is going to happen next.


This shot is then followed by a long shot of the train tracks. This is used to establish where the film will be taking place and the location. The fact that it is deserted and no members of the public is shown to be there already creates an eerie mood. This then cuts to a close up shot of the girl crying on the train. This shows that she is vulnerable, emotional and sensitive which is stereotypical for a woman as it shows that she is unable to control what she is feeling.

     

Moreover, this then cuts to a long shot of the girl twisting and turning on the bed in fright. This shows that she is scared and the mise-en-scene, which is the low key lighting then again creates the eerie atmosphere and some suspense which is sinister that adds to the thrill.

A medium shot of the girl walking across the hallway is used to show that she is up to something and is looking for something too .The effect of this shot was to show her determination and motivation which breaks the stereotype of a woman as it conveys that she is more independently thinking rather than reliant.

This then cuts to multiple short takes in between scenes to create that sense of terror and to also keep the audience engaged because if you miss one part you are more likely to want to re watch the trailer and also more likely to be interested in the film itself as it did not give way too much information but rather enough to keep your appetite.

This finally cuts to the title page of 'Personal Shopper' at the end of the trailer. The effect of this was to keep the audience occupied until the end because if t had revealed its name at the start people are more prone to watch the trailer another time rather than watching it then because it may be boring. This was also significant and typical of trailers as it acts like a big reveal towards the film.

For this official teaser trailer, I believe that the intended target audience is teenagers and adults, but the category classification of 15. This is because this film contains sensitive and horrific scenes that may not be suitable for a younger audience as it may be too scary and also disrupt their mental state. I believe its aimed for teenagers and adults because these two groups like a bit of thrill and also I can tell its aimed for the female viewers because the main character is female and it is based upon her emotions within this film as her brother had died therefore it is expected to be quite emotional to some extent alongside thriller.


Textual Analysis of Teaser Trailer 2
Black Panther (2018, Sci-Fi/ Action Thriller)Directed By Ryan Coogler


The second teaser trailer I have chosen to analyse is Black Panther by Ryan Coogler. In this teaser trailer I will mainly focus on analyzing the forms and conventions of the trailer and how they are used to attract the audiences attention in order to keep them interested throughout the trailer and waiting for the film. This also includes the shot types, music, captions and many more. I have chosen to analyze this teaser trailer because I believe that it has its own unique selling point and also the plot itself is very different to an ordinary action thriller trailer because it appears to be more dramatic too rather than just thriller  which is enough to keep the appetite of an audience who enjoys thriller movies.

Black Panther is a sci-fi/ action thriller about  Chadwick Boseman who is the 'Black Panther.' He springs into action when an old enemy decides to threaten his fate of nation and the world.

The Black Panther thriller poster immediately foreshadows the signs of danger and evil. This is conveyed through the dark colors that have been used and also the character itself as he is made to look sinister through the dim moonlight that gives him that center of attention. The dark colors not only connote danger and evil but also gloominess, threat and violence. This is typical of a thriller trailer as it allows the audience to be kept by the edge of the seat as we do not know what to expect or the danger that is to come. By having 'Black Panther' at the center of the poster we are able to establish the main character.

The title itself is very thriller type and the gold color makes it seem treacherous and sacred. This may be significant to the film itself as most thrillers include something to fight for.

 This is the official teaser trailer For Black Panther:

The Black Panther teaser trailer begins with a medium shot of blue lights that flicker on. The flickering lights act as a sense of endangerment and also because its not too bright it reveals a type of sinister mood at the very beginning of the film. This is then followed by the fast paced editing of the black screen which quickly cuts to a close up of a person feet. The effect of this shot was to keep the identity hidden and mysterious and also to show that this person is trapped from this chair as they are tied by the chains. 

The mise-en-scene used is low key lighting and dark clothing/costume. This creates a threatening and gloomy mood towards the film which is significant because the whole point of a thriller film is to keep you scared and also the audience is meant to expect the unexpected which emphasizes that thrill more towards the film. This enigma code adds that element of mystery and allows us, the audience to question why this person has been tied up, who is it and whether it is a boy or a girl?

A long take is used within this shot of the foot to emphasize the fact that this person is stuck and also further allows us the question who it is because their identity is hidden.

This then cuts to a medium shot of two men sitting opposite one another, one is tied up with duck tape and is arm-less in one arm, whereas the other man looks like he has power and authority. The effect of the use of props in mise-en-scene is to reveal the genre of the film and also suggest that there is action involved in this film along with danger. The low key lighting within this shot also conveys the gloominess and darkness; this foreshadows the danger and risks that are going to be involved in this film. Dark colors usually associate with something sinister and evil. 

In between these first two shots, a sound-bridge is used by the main character to narrate what is happening in the film and also tell us the audience the reasons for these actions. This helps fill in the gaps that we are missing during this trailer which allows us to understand the plot more. 

An over shoulder shot is then used over the tied up man talking to the other man. The effect of this shot was to put us in his position and make us feel what he is feeling. The position this guy in is in complete lack of power and frustration and us the audience are meant to feel that in order to create that sense of thrill and also interest us more to persuade us to watch the next official trailer along with the film itself.

Furthermore, this then cuts to a black screen. A long take is used on this black screen until a one scene starts to fade in from the center of the screen. The effect of this was to create tension and suspense and also some elements of mystery. This initially fades into a waterfall that reveals the location and the setting of the film. From the black screen a non-diegetic sound is used. This creates dong sound which makes the film seem quite missionary and suspenseful. The dong sound also creates an element of enigma as we do not know what quest someone is having to complete. Within this shot a sound-bridge is used again to explain the plot of the story in order to interact with the audience and also keep their interest to increase the popularity of the film.

This again cuts to a black screen and then a medium shot a guy fades in quickly. The effect of this medium shot was to make the man seem superior and powerful. This also reveals the characters of the film and the type of personality each character would have. The mise-en-scene in this includes the costume, the low key lighting and props. The costume of the guy is very casual but authoritative. This is significant as it shows that he is powerful and superior. He is someone to be taken seriously not as a joke. The low key lighting also creates that sense of enigma as it is an extension of his power. The lighting seems to be drawn at him which makes him stand out and look like an important person. The prop used  at the back of the shot (boxes of files) suggest he is very educated and also gives the connotations of an investigation which is very typical of thrillers.

Shot-reverse-shot is used as an editing technique the three shots of the men talking, this allows to see some element of continuation but also demonstrates the reverse in the binary structure where now the tied up man has control over the situation. This is shown through his narration and also the close up of him as he explains something to the other man. This close up highlights his emotions in his face which portray that he is fearless and bothered of what may happen to him. 

This then cuts to a close up of the other man. The long take on this shot highlights his frustration and also shows that he is now scared and though the other character may be tied up it does not stop him from still being scared. This is significant as it creates the sense of enigma and thrill which is typical as it keeps the excitement of an audience as it is usually done unexpected and we subconsciously recognize it.

The non-diegetic sound used in the back ground makes it sound so tunnel like which is significant as one of the men are tied up. This creates a mysterious tone towards the atmosphere as it is inevitable someone will found the man or them because they are too deep down to even be heard. This is stereotypical of thrillers as it creates the sense of impossibility and also adds excitement itself to the film.

The constant cuts into black the screen adds a horrific tension towards the film and also creates a gloomy tone. This is because it keeps the audience waiting a little to see what happens next. This waiting allows us to be enthusiastic and elevated meaning they are more likely to still be interested therefore the popularity of the film is more likely to increase as the release date approaches.


A medium shot of the back of a man is used. The effect of this shot was to keep his identity hidden and create some sort of mysterious atmosphere. This is significant in the low key lighting used which conveys he is superior and forebodes something dangerous is likely to happen. This is typical of thrillers as it again keeps the audience at the edge of the seat and also creates more excitement and thrill for the audience.

The non-diegetic sound which is the incidental music.This creates a more action tone which reflects upon the genre of the film and also dictates the sense of thrill as it creates a more authoritative and superior tone making the man walking in facing the back of the camera look powerful and like he is important and worth way more.

Furthermore, a long take of the man looking around at people who are standing is used to show his authority. The fact his space in the shot is widely ranged and he looks bigger indicates that he is the most important and he is superior. This shot also continues to keep his identity hidden and this creates an enigma as we do not know who he is and how he even looks.

Another long take is used as a spaceship. The effect of this is to show some sort of sci-fi which is significant in thriller films. As the shot was not held steady it gave us a 4D experience which puts us in their position. This allows us to feel more excitement and joy for the film as we are able to feel it rather than just watch it. This again keeps the audiences interest and increases their appetite making it way more likely to increase the popularity of the film.

Moreover, this again cuts to a black screen leaving the teaser trailer at an enigma. This creates a more mystical atmosphere and tone as we do not know what to expect next. This leaves it at a cliff hanger as we expect the trailer to be finished due to the long take, however a fade in of a medium shot a man surrounded by smoke is used. This makes this trailer seem more dramatic and sinister especially because of the low key lighting which creates that thriller type of tone that draws the interest of the audience.

A sound bridge is used throughout the whole trailer to reveal the plot of the film and also create more effect as it is better off coming from the characters narrative as it make it seem more realistic.

The continuous short takes in between the shots keeps the audience excited and also reveals more about the plot in each scene. The effect of this is to create enigma and make the trailer seem more dramatic which is likely to further interest more people increasing he popularity of the film.

The establishing shot of guys in the middle of the woods also sets the location again and because it is very deserted and isolated it creates that eerie and menacing atmosphere as it is clear that danger is to come. The use of the props, the guns and military car shows that there is action going to take place and also makes the guys look more threatening; especially on the medium shot of the man holding the gun that looks like it is pointed at the camera. This make it seem more action and thriller as we do not know what to expect from this character and why they are holding the gun.

During the medium shot, incidental music is played (non-diegetic sound). As it is very fast paced and missionary it adds to the typical thriller as it conveys that action will be taking place.

A low angle is used on the black panther. This is to make black panther look more powerful and threatening especially because of the low key lighting which keeps his identity hidden which is significant as it allows us to question who it is and why they are there. The fact black panther is so up high makes him seem like he is looking at the audience which again gives them the 4D experience that is likely to keep our interest.

This then cuts to a short take of the black screen and a fast paced editing of a person hitting the car. As this action happened so fast it makes it seem more tense and also dramatic as it was not expected. This not only adds tension but also humor as it gives the audience something to also laugh at. This fast paced editing creates an adventurous tone.The short takes in between the fighting scene creates a fearful tone and also attracts the audiences attention as this fight scene makes it more thriller.

This then goes back to the first sequence of the shot in the trailer where it fades into the man that is tied up laughing. This medium shot of him laughing but bleeding makes him seem fearless and also strong. It is clear he is not taking the guy seriously and it also reveals that this character is mischievous. The diegetic sound of him laughing creates un-serious tone and also indicates that he is careless.The cuts to a medium close up of the two characters watching the guy laugh from the other side of the glass window. This medium close up reveals that they are serious and it also reveals another two important characters within the film itself. Showcasing stars is typical in these trailers. Their costumes are very dark colored which may reveal that they are not to be messed with and that they are important people who have authority.

The captions and titles appear towards the end of the trailer. At this point they revel the production company. The colors used is black and red which gives the connotations of evilness, violence and danger. This is also demonstrated through the incidental music which makes it sound action and adventurous.

Another establishing shot is used of the spaceship flying out. The effect of this is to show that this is another location that will be important within the film. As it is a CGI type of editing shot, it makes it seem more sci-fi and computerized. Though tit may not look real but it gives it that animated type of look which is typical in thriller. This creates some sort of tension as it flies out. This then cuts to a medium close up of a guy in purple. The colour purple is associated with the connotation of royalty and empowerment which is significant as it makes him seem like a very important person and character.Additionally the low key lighting also conveys evilness and gloominess which make it more sinister. The incidental music further highlights the action and makes the trailer look more adventurous therefore thus film is more likely to be aimed at male teenagers due to the action and violence.

Furthermore, the extreme close up of the person in the mask makes the atmosphere seem more mysterious as the audience do not know who the person is and why the person is there. This mystery emphasizes an extension of the thriller genre and creates that enigma which is very important as it is what keeps the interest of the audience. 

The costume of the lady, which is a red dress, is significant. This is because it indicates danger, passion, evilness and love. This is an enigma code as we do not know what meaning it has to it but it also highlights her feminine quality because she is in a dress. This is stereotypical as we expect her to be the damsel in distress yet she is the one that is there fighting a man. This beaks the stereotype and also reveals that part of the character trait is bravery and confidence which is not expected in a woman when it comes to fighting.

The medium shot of the guy standing smiling emphasizes his freedom. His power is emphasized through the mise-en-scene of the space he has within the shot where he looks big. The effect of this is to show his authority and make him look important compared to everyone else in the film.

The high angle shot of the paramedic holding the gun to the camera show his superiority and his control of the situation. The mise-en-scene of his costume which is the paramedic uniform also suggest that he is well educated, clever and he has that capacity to earn for him self. He is independent which is typical of men because they tend to do things alone and earn for themselves rather than expect things from people.

                              

The short takes in between the shots also reveals each character and their identity by demonstrating what they are doing or their posture. This keeps the audience interested because a little about the character is revealed rather than a lot which initially keeps some plot of the film hidden.

The slow paced editing of the car flipping over along with Black Panther flipping over suggests danger and also makes it seem scarier as we do not know what is going to happen next or whether he is going to get hurt. The significance of this slow paced editing is to create more tension and suspense within the shots. It grabs the audience’s attention as it then fastens as Black Panther lands revealing that he has got fast reflexes which is part of his character trait.

The title of the film appeared right at the end of the trailer where it cuts to a black screen and then captions begin to appear. The title of the film appears but zooms in slowly. The colours used are black and gold. The colour black gives the connotations of evilness and gloominess and this adds to the thrill, however the colour gold makes it seem more sacred and treacherous which does signify royalty and authority.

This then cuts to a zoom in of the caption 'coming soon' to get the audience excited and create a sense of excitement. The font used on both the title and caption is very adventurous and heroic which matches the plot of the film.

For this official teaser trailer, I think that the intended target audience would be teenagers ranging from 15-18 years old. I believe that it is the category classification of 15 from the BBFC. This is because it contains sensitive and horrific scenes that may not be suitable for the younger audience as they are deemed to be a little more vulnerable especially because the film originally does contain a lot of violence and fighting. I believe it is aimed for teenagers because this is one of the highest viewers when it comes to this particular genre and also I do believe it is aimed towards more of the male viewers as men like violence and action rather than horror.