National 5 Media

[missmcgrory]

Lizzie, please post your trailer analysis here as a reply to this.

[Lizzie]

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part one

What is the form of this text? Explain
The form of this text is a trailer. We know this because it is short in length and follows the typical style of a trailer; short, quick clips put together with narration over the top. It also features the films name and the date of it its release as well as the production company (Warner Bros).

What is the purpose of this text?
The purpose of this text is to promote the film and therefore make a profit. We know this because the trailer shows lots of action packed, exciting and dramatic scenes which pull the audience in and leave them wanting to know more. There is fast paced drumming in the background which creates suspense and a sense of danger and adds to the dramatic edge. This all shows that the producers are trying to get people interested and make them want to see the movie.

Which audience needs does this text meet?
This text informs and entertains the audience. The use of exciting and dramatic scenes such as fights entertains the audience. The film name and the date of its release inform the audience as the producers assume that having seen the trailer they will want to know when they can see the film.

Describe the tone and explain how it is created.
One of the tones created in this film is danger. "These are dark times" tells the audience straight away that there is something to be feared. It is then backed up with scenes of fighting and scenes of night with flashes of light. The darkness give an ominous feeling as it obscures the audience's view of the scene. The colour red has connotations of danger and the suddenness of the flash suggests a quick strike coming without warning. This could imply that this is how the danger will come, unexpected and from the shadows.

Describe the genre(s) and explain how they are created.
The film falls into the fantasy genre and we know this because we see images of people using magic and of mythical creatures and other things which don't exist. There is also a sense of mystery and adventure caused by the action scenes and some of the narrative. "Tell me where he is" shows that there are things the characters do not know which hints at the mystery genre. Also the background speech by Rufus Scrimgeour, "you can't fight this war on your own Mr Potter" tells the audience that a war is coming. That and scenes showing Harry, Hermione and Ron in fields and out on their own adds to the sense of adventure. The three are clearly doing something important and on the run or on a mission. Scenes showing people embracing and holding hands as well as a wedding scene add an air of romance.

Who is the target audience? How do you know?
The target audience for the movie is young people between 12 and mid twenties. However it can also attract older audience members. We know this because although it is a fantasy film it is not necessarily for the whole family as younger audiences might find some scenes scary and older audiences might dislike the unrealistic element of magic. Teens can relate to the main character who is also a teenager and could also welcome the element of danger and suggestion of rule breaking.

Pick one example of representations and describe how it would either appeal to or offend an audience group.
Women could be offended by this trailer as many of the female characters seem to be there because of their relationships to the main male characters. Also because the main character is a strong male one and his main enemy is a strong male character too.

[LucyG]

Here are my notes on the Casualty Summer Trailer 2015 as requested.


1) This text takes the form of a trailer as it is short and is made up from a montage of disjointed scenes from the programme. From beginning to end, the BBC logo is featured centred, at the bottom of the screen. This shows the viewer that the programme is broadcast on BBC One. After the montage is finished, there is a screen which states the name of the programme, the channel it is broadcast on, and the time and date it is shown. This screen uses the BBC One colours, again showing which company this programme belongs to.


2) The purpose of the trailer is to promote the, "unmissable Casualty event" and bring in a larger audience. Therefore, the purpose of this trailer is also to make profit.


3) The trailer fulfils the audience’s needs in two ways. It entertains them by including very dramatic shots which build suspense and give away just enough to leave the viewer wanting to know more. The trailer also informs the viewer by telling them that the event begins "Saturday at 9:10 on BBC One."


4) In this trailer, three obvious tones stood out: suspenseful, dramatic and concerning.
A suspenseful tone is created by the dialogue, "do you ever get the feeling that something terrible is happening…?" It is it also foreshadows the events to come. Another moment of tension is when the gas lamp falls over and flames arise. The bright orange and red colours that the flames create suggest danger. The viewer can only watch as the events unfold. Suspense is also created as Charlie wades into the water to save Dylan and Zoe, we don't see what happens but we do see that Zoe and Charlie make it out of the water.

The trailer is also very dramatic. With the dialogue, "I don't think I can marry you", the viewer wonders why Zoe can't marry Max. What has she done? The wall between Max and Zoe at the beginning is a metaphor which shows that something has come between them and is putting a strain on their relationship. The drama continues as a fight breaks out. The shouts, screams and violence do not connote a happy wedding day. At 0:20 we see explosions. The diegetic sounds of the glass breaking as the boat explodes suggest danger and the sharp fragments suggest risk of injury. The long shot of the boat during the explosion shows that Dylan and Zoe are vulnerable, alone and in danger.

Another tone in this trailer is concerning. Costume helps to create this tone. We see Zoe underwater helpless and drowning, the layers of her huge dress swishing around as she struggles. There is a close-up of Charlie's face as he collapses, he looks in pain. At the same point there is a voice-over: "Is the heart of the department about to break?" We wonder what will happen to Charlie, he's been a main character for so long that even viewers from the past will hope that he's okay - this also links to the trailer’s purpose and target audience. There is a close-up of Dylan's face at 0:07. The scar on his forehead matches his dialogue and alerts the viewer to the fact that something bad has happened.


5) The main genre of this trailer is tragic drama. This is conveyed by the events surrounding the protagonist, Zoe. She is shown crying, upset and vulnerable on her wedding day. Then at 0:28 we see her drowning in the water. A series of shots which build from calm, to a fight, to finally an explosion bring the trailer to a dramatic climax. The characters also appear to be distressed; their shouts and cries accentuate the drama as it heightens. The action genre can also be recognised in this trailer due to it being very fast-paced. This is emphasised by shots of people fighting, running, frantically swimming, making quick decisions and the explosion.


6) The target audience of this trailer is mainly fans of TV drama, in particular, Casualty. The forthcoming huge event would draw in past, present and future viewers due to its exciting nature and dramatic tone. It also tries to appeal to a younger audience by using a popular song as its soundtrack. ‘Take Me to Church’ was released in August 2014 and spent 15 weeks in the UK Top 10. Moreover, the variety of characters shown would be relatable to most age groups.


7) One particular audience group that may be offended by this trailer could be people who have been in a tragic accident themselves. The level of detail and the emotions conveyed could be too difficult for them to bear – it would be too upsetting.

[LucyG]

Here is the link to my trailer: youtu.be/lg2voiY1Crk