This document provides analysis of trailers for 6 films: Avatar, Inception, The Matrix, Zombieland, and The Martian. Each film trailer is summarized in 1-2 sentences noting how it links to postmodernism through techniques like computer generated imagery, surrealism, simulacrum, and hyperreality. The trailers use various editing techniques and incorporate text screens to convey information about the films.

1. POSTMODERN TRAILER ANALYSIS 2
FILMS 6-10
Callie Che

2. AVATAR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PSNL1qE6VY
This trailer opens with the approved rating screen and the distribution and production company
screens. The first film clip shows an extreme close up of the main character with the cinematic
strings diegetic and synchronous sound of another character saying his name “‘You Jake Sully?’”.
This also begins the non-diegetic and asynchronous music that continues throughout the trailer
and builds tension through the duration, coming to a crescendo towards the end of the trailer. The
trailer commonly uses dissolve and fade to black transitions between clips to smoothly transition
between clips from different parts of the film. Black screens with text are interspersed between film
clips to give details such as the companies involved and the release date. These screens are centred
towards the end of the trailer and are presented with block capitals in a white to blue gradient
which matches the blue colour scheme of the production and trailer. They appear then fade out and
announce the distributor, director, five of the director’s associated films, title, writer/director, and
finally, the release date with online links and copyright notices in small print.
Links to postmodernism
This trailer links to postmodernism through simulacrum and hyper reality which is shown
through the strong use of computer generated imagery. It is also revealed in the trailer clips as
parts of the storyline are revealed to the audience. In this trailer, the audience learns that the main
character, Jake Sully, will be driving a remotely controlled body called an ‘Avatar’ in the precious-
rock-rich world ‘Pandora’.

3. INCEPTION
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoHD9XEInc0
This trailer opens with the approved rating screen and the distribution and production company
screens. The first clip starts with a disorientating wide shot which fits with the postmodern theme.
There is also a use of slow motion editing which disorientates audience, giving a postmodern
effect. The fast paced cinematic asynchronous and non-diegetic music begins with the production
company screen. The initially non-diegetic voiceover becomes diegetic and synchronous in a
later clip. Most of the clips transition with either a fade to black or a cut. The use of location
allows the audience to link the scenes to real life areas. This further disorientates the audience by
using a postmodern features with an area that they associate specific links with. The interspersed
text screens are in a silver capitalised font that zoom in or out. These announce the director, actors,
text relating to the film to give information, title, and credits. The title is animated in a puzzle like
form where each piece fits together to create a full title, this fits with the technical aspects of the
production.
Links to postmodernism
This trailer immediately links to postmodernism through surrealism in the production company
screens by using computer generated effects. Inception also uses simulacrum and hyper reality
as it is revealed that the characters experience some type of alternate dream universe. In Inception,
the characters are able to enter the world of the subconscious, dreams. This allows them to ‘steal
secrets’ that are unveiled in the dreams. They call the process of doing this; Inception.

4. THE MATRIX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKQi3bBA1y8
This trailer opens with the distribution and production company screens. These are immediately linked
to postmodernism through the sudden change to a green, distorted version of the usual logos. The use
of green links to the digital theme portrayed in the film and trailer. The first clip is a tracking mid shot of
a character, Trinity, running. These are interspersed with black screens that reveal the clip with a flash of
white that is punctuated with the electronic asynchronous and non-diegetic music. She is then shown
jumping between two buildings which suggests postmodernism as it should not be possible. This then
cuts to a mid shot of the other main character, Neo, showing his disbelief with a synchronous and
diegetic “whoa” which emphasises the extreme act and use of postmodernism. More short clips are
shown in quick series through fast paced editing that further emphasise the postmodern world that
features in this production. Text screens have a black background with glowing green, narrow, serif,
capitalised text. These screens give more information on the film. Later text screens are presented with
the green background that appears in the distribution and production company screens. These have
white, narrow, serif, capitalised text and present actors, title, and a web link.
Links to postmodernism
This trailer links to postmodernism through the sudden change to distorted logos which suggest a
dystopian world or hyper reality. The following clips that show seemingly impossible actions further
enforce this and also suggest a use of simulacrum and surrealism. Hyper reality is shown through the
two selves, the one in the Matrix, and the one in the real world. This use of a fragmented self also shows
the use of surrealism and simulacrum.

5. ZOMBIELAND
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m9EVP8X7N8
This trailer opens with the approved rating screen. The first clip is a view of Earth from space which
zooms in accompanied by a non-diegetic and asynchronous voiceover which explains the
settings and humming woodwind music. The first clip reveals the problem and link to
postmodernism as a long shot of a groom is shown and he is knocked over by a zombie bride
which is edited to be slow motion. This then transitions to fast-paced cuts between clips of
various characters running away from and screaming at zombies, often shown as mid shot. The
distribution company screen is then shown which cuts to mid shots of the main characters that
transition with fades to and from black. The characters speech is diegetic and synchronous but
sometimes switches to asynchronous speech. This trailer does not use solid screens to reveal text.
The text is shown as three dimensional with shadows layered on top of clips. This reveals
information such as the release date, taglines, title, and information. The title is integrated into the
storyline and mise en scène as it is shown as part of the theme park similar to how theme park
names are displayed on a rotating globe.
Links to postmodernism
This trailer links to postmodernism through the simulacrum of a dystopian apocalyptic world.
This is shown through the surrealistic zombie apocalypse. This trailer follows the main characters
through their journey of surviving the zombie apocalypse and the techniques that they use.

6. THE MARTIAN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej3ioOneTy8
This trailer opens with the approved rating screen and the distribution and production company screens.
The asynchronous and non-diegetic music begins at the start of the trailer and gradually crescendos
throughout the trailer. This is accompanied by an asynchronous and non-diegetic voiceover which
eventually becomes synchronous and diegetic as the audio merges with the video of a later clip. The first
clip is an extreme wide shot of Mars from a space view which shows where the majority of the film is set.
Clips with action transition with a cut whilst clips without much action, aerial wide shots, transition
from a fade from black which creates a more dramatic effect revealing the location. These clips are cross-
cut to alternate between clips of the main cast and the main character. The first character revealed is the
commander of the team who is shown with a mid shot. The main character is later identified through a
wide shot of the lone character which zooms in then cuts to a close up. The following clips transition
with fades to and from black and are fast-paced to show every location and setting used throughout
the film in quick succession. Text screens appear as black screens with a narrow, sans serif, white font.
They also feature a glare which creates a glow on one of the letters. These are punctuated with the
cinematic and electronic music which reveal information such as the director, main actor, based on,
release date, title, tagline, and credits.
Links to postmodernism
This trailer uses postmodernism through simulacrum, surreality, and a futuristic theme. In this
production, a crew travel to Mars and have to leave during a storm, in which one member is believed to be
killed in. It is later revealed that he is still alive and through trial and error, able to figure out a way to
grow food and make water using his botany skills while NASA try to create a rescue plan. This is futuristic
as it is not currently possible to create a rocket that will last long enough to survive a flight to Mars.