BLACK SWAN FILM TRAILER

CAMERA WORK  There is a broad range of extreme close ups, close ups and long shots used to provoke different emotions towards the characters and the film with in this trailer, in particularly as they are edited to appear as if they jump from one another very quickly.  At the beginning (0:09 seconds – 0:29 seconds) the camera quality is still very high although the audience are made to feel as if it is hand held which creates a sense of instability and uncertainty. This 20 second piece of footage allows the audience to feel as if they are part of the film as it is mostly point of view shots, this links with the genre of the film (thriller) as the audience may have connotations that they feel inclusive in the film, in particular towards the main character. This leads onto another significant camera work element, which is that the majority of the shots heavily show emotion, for example the fear on the leads face is hard to avoid and the uncertainty she has with her sexuality is often displayed through extreme close ups on parts of her body or through reaction shots of other characters. The use of three main type of shots allows the trailer to foreshadow not only the whole film and the emotions of the character but likewise provoke the emotions of the audience for example when the main character’s eyes appear to be demon like (links with the genre). Extreme close ups such as intimate or sexual scenes creates a discomfort for the audience, however this could be used to create sympathy towards the main character, likewise this type of shot allows the audience to see the development of not only the character’s emotions but how this is going to effect the storyline and ultimately the audience themselves.

CAMERA WORK STILL IMAGES

EDITING  The editing used in this trailer has been heavily influenced by CGI, meaning that the reflection in the mirror and the double version of Nina exist heavily link to the psychological issues that the main character has, as well as the fundamental conventions of a thriller.  In particular, the use of cuts are used explicitly to set the speed and flashes are used as transitions to cause a dramatic effect especially between long shots to show what is happening in the scene combined with the extreme clos ups to show the emotions of the characters.

SOUND  The soundtrack is split into two parts, firstly the well known song from ‘Swanlake’ and the second half consists of different ballet music in which the tempo increases as the camera shots do.  There are varied diegetic sounds for example a nail clipper, foot cracking on toe spin and heavy breathing which all link heavily to the genre and make the audience feel very uncomfortable.  The narrative is carried by both voiceover and dialogue, together it creates an effective trailer as it leaves unanswered questions and the consumer on edge after the final clip

LIGHTING  Artificial lighting seems to be the most consistent type throughout almost all of the trailer as almost all shots are inside and only rarely do we see daylights. This allows the audience to suggest connotations such as Nina (the main character) to be caged in her role and can’t be free due to the immense pressure she is under.  It is significant that Nina is portrayed with lighting to convey her in an innocent manner (white) where as Kunis’ character is reflected in the ‘dark’. Until Nina becomes possessed and the lighting becomes darker with blue (artificial light to show the artificial world in which is she living in) and red shades which suggests the danger is about to inhibit..

COSTUME & MAKEUP  The two female characters are dressed in tight fitting clothing although this is only because they are ballerina’s and so their clothing is portraying this in not a way which is objectifying. As even though the camera does focus on their toned bodies, it doesn’t focus on any female traits in a sexual way.  The makeup between Nina and the other female lead (Kunis) are completely opposing, Nina is portrayed as innocent through her lack of make up in complete contrast to the other lead who has a ‘Smokey eye’ effect which makes her look more sexual. However right at the end of the trailer Nina has her over exaggerated stage make up on which makes her not look innocent or desirable; just completely unstable and due to the spot light she appears to look like a target

Text found in the trailer in chronological order: 1.Fox Searchlight 2.Crosscreek Pictures 3.‘opening night Venice film festival 2010’ 4.‘official selection Toronto film festival 2010’ 5.‘a film by Darren Aronofsky’ 6.‘director of the wrestler’ 7.‘and requiem for a dream’ 8.‘academy award nominee Natalie Portman’ 9.‘Vincent Cassel’ 10.‘Mila Kunis’ 11.‘Black Swan’  Distribution/Production Company: The two main production companies were placed at the beginning all other information was shown on three separate titles pages in the space of about 3 seconds, the background remained the same however the text faded in and out to give a sense of continuation.  Actor/s? Producer? Director? Awards: Awards were seen as a priority to this trailer as they were placed before any information about actors. Two film festivals were placed on separate backgrounds; despite not for being visible for very long they divide the trailer up from a voice over which draws in the audience to the rest of the trailer. The last 25 seconds of the trailer are almost 100% text apart from a short clip from the film which links heavily to the psychological aspect of the film, despite this there are three backgrounds all showing the names of the lead roles, fitting in to what a viewer would expect to see in a trailer. TEXT  Size, colour and style of fonts: The font remains identical between each and every title, it is always central and on a bed of moving, black fathers, symbolising the black swan and the silver metallic writing symbolises the white swan. It takes up the majority of the frame and is used as an effective way to split the trailer into three sections.  Composition: In regards to composition it has its own background and therefore fades in and out. The only section of the text that moves is the background of black feathers, this connotes that despite the lead playing the white swan and unbalanced background could cause her to become the black swan (-links to end of trailer where she removes a black feather).  Narrative structure: This trailer is split into three section and the text is used to split it up, first is a voice over from the lead star (Nina) and is then continued by various parts of the film to explain the narrative through the use of dialogue, the final section is then split by actors names etc to the final bit of footage of the breakdown of the lead actress with only her panting leaving unanswered questions and making the audience feel uncomfortable.

 Representation This isn’t what I would classify as a ‘standard trailer’. The stereotype of women is questioned by the fact that the lead is portrayed as weak and a threat to herself and the other lead female is empowered by her female traits and uses them to her advantage. The male lead fits the stereotype as he is seen as overly sexual throughout the trailer, however demanding at the same time as he is in the end the character with the power through his position in the ballet. The mother fits a stereotype of overbearing and potentially the cause of her daughter’s psychological issues by being so pushy with her daughter’s career. The idea of homosexuality is suggested in this trailer and adds to this idea that despite Nina’s age she is growing up in an unstable way and is willing to experiment with new things.  Narrative Theory In regards to following any clear character structure this trailer goes completely against conventions; the idea that the villain has to be a separate character is completely non existent –heavily linking to the psychological conventions and the idea that the villain can be inside the hero which causes the change in equilibrium. MACRO ANALYSIS  Genre Identification The genre is very clearly portrayed throughout this trailer, the music and lighting heavily link to the thriller aspect whilst using several close ups and hand held camera shots to cause an unsettling effect on the viewer. The psychological aspect is portrayed through make up and editing as the lead has skin rashes, sees herself on another person and has the ability to pull feathers out of her skin. The fast pace of this trailer, along with all sides of the micro elements make this a very unsettling however gripping trailer all of which demonstrating clear features of a psychological thriller.