Social Realism Trailer Analysis By Ben Amiet

Analysis of ‘Shifty’ Structure – The opening of the trailer starts with a man opening the door to someone, it is soon apparent that the man is his friends and also the name of the protagonist as this first word spoken is ‘shifty’ The build up is the two Characters seeming to be catching up on old times as they go about the daily routine of shifty who it is apparent is the main character. The problem is when we find out that he is in business with some bad people, this is seen when the dealer turns up and the music changes to a very darker tone. Following this there are shots of the two friends arguing and then realising that there are drugs missing. Shifty Shifty’s friend

Written text These three title shots are the only written text which is shown on screen to the audience. All three are reviews from different people/magazines and can be helpful in hooking the audience in to the film. This is usually because the audience are seeing someone else's opinion on the film it shows them that it is likely to be a good film to go and see. However all the reviews used would be good ones as they are put in place to advertise the film and make the film look good to attract a larger audience in the cinema.

Spoken Language The only spoken langue in this trailer is from the characters themselves and it is cleverly used to set the scene of the film without giving too much of the narrative away The first spoken word gives us the title and name of the main character, which instantly sets the scene as you straight away know who the main character is. However the spoken word does give a bit too much of the narrative away as it, tells the audience exactly what has happened and the trouble that the main character is in as he says ‘if I don’t find that bag I'm a dead man’. This shows the audience the main bulk of the narrative which isn't good in a trailer.

Moving images There are many different shots and cuts in the trailer to build tension and make the audience feel engaged with the film. A couple of associated POV shots are used to make the audience feel as they were with the character at times in the trailer that are tense. Close-ups are used when the character is handling the drugs to show the audience what he is dealing with in the film and it also makes it obvious that the dealing are not legal. A establishing shot is also used mid way through the trailer to set the scene for the audience to where the film is set, which helps them realise the kind of place where this business is happening.

Music and Sound effects The music from the start of the trailer is fairly up beat and has a nice tone to it as the two friends have been newly reunited and are catching up on old times. However as the trailer progresses the tone and beat of the music changes as the tension increases between the two characters. Once it gets to the main disruption in the narrative the beat and tone drastically changes as the situation is now one of life or death so the music complements that. The sound effects used are the general ones which correspond with the action on screen such as the police sirens, door knocking and others which are used in the trailer.

Analysis of Moneyball Structure The opening of the Trailer sets the scene for the film, and the location of it. In the first seconds we find out that the film is about baseball in Oakland, and is set a failing team who has no money to buy players. The build up of the trailer starts when our main characters meets the guy who changes the way he thinks about buying players and instead of buying players they aim to buy runs instead. The problems, come when there is much hostility to what they are attempting to do. However they continue on the path however it starts to fail, and the main character is in jeopardy of losing his job. The following events, start once the main character talks to his players in the dressing room telling them that he believes that they can win. This works and they start winning and change the game of baseball forever.

Written text There are two types of written text in this trailer the first is for narrative the second for promotion. The promotional text is mainly to attract the audience to the film. The use of Brad Pitt’s name, would attract fans of him and add to the stature of the film. The based on a true story makes the film more attractive to an audience as it is something that can be related to and has happened. Finally using from the producers of makes people who saw the other film more interested in this as they might like that producer of the other film was good also. The use of the written text which explains to the audience what is happening in the film. The title of ‘when the numbers don’t add up’ is referring to the earlier comment of the fact that the team has no money to be able to get the very best players in the game. This is used at this point to confirm the earlier information to the audience. The second of the titles tells the audience the whole concept of the film as it says ‘you have to change your game’ which is to do with the fact they are trying something completely new which should help them win.

Spoken Language The main bulk of this trailer is spoken language, from different scenes within the film. The tone of the language is very different as it gets further into the trailer. At the start the tone at which they speak is a normal formative tone of voice, as they start getting into trouble the tone of other characters start to become angry and frustrated with the main character. There are a lot of lines which give us hints to the narrative without giving the whole film away. In a scene where the main character is with his daughter, she says to him ‘are you going to lose your job’ this line is a small hint to what the narrative might be without telling you for definite.