KiDULTHOOD trailer analysis

2. Shot 1
The first image is a slow zoom of ‘Revolver Entertainment’
which is a UK founded distributor. People who know about
Revolver Entertainment would know about their other
social-realism releases such as Sket, Shank and Adulthood.
This could give the impression that if they’ve managed to
launch other successful social-realism films, they would
make this a successful film helping to entice audiences to
watch it in addition to advertising their company.

4. Shot 2
This is then followed by a fade out to a fade in of the name of the film,
‘Kidulthood’. The white font makes the name stand out from the black
background making it clear to the audience.

6. Shot 3
There is then a sound bridge that helps the trailer transition. The
music is seemingly non-diegetic but the following cut shows a
turntable making the sound.

8. Shot 4
Following the incidental music, there are a series of cuts that have
been edited in order to sync in with the sound of the turntable which
in turn, makes the trailer seem smooth. The cuts revolve around
several people; teenagers. Whether or not they’re antagonists or
protagonists, they are assumed to be main characters because they fit
in with the ‘teenage’ group the film is representing and more
importantly, the last 2 characters could be seen clearly on the front
cover which means they’re a main part of the story and are likely
linked in a social-group because they are pictured together on the
film’s poster.

10. Shot 6
The music then changes to a more calm tone as the scene transitions
to an establishing shot of London, an urban area known for crime
which could justify the scene with a man and a gun and the bat on the
poster of the film suggesting they live in a violent part of London.

12. Shot 7
There is then a fade transition to a series of jump cuts of pan, low angle
and a tracking shot of a man walking. He is dressed like a typical youth
that would be up to no good as he wears a big hooded jumper and wears a
chain around his neck which is a stereotype attire of a teenage thug. The
use of the low angle shots could be seen as trying to make him bigger to
either show his ‘strength’ and masculinity or perhaps to show he is a main
character/leader of his social-tribe. The use of low key lighting suggests the
man has an evil (maybe violent, gang orientated) side to him.

14. Shot 8
Whilst there are different shots of the above character
playing, a single cut is used to show another character; again
with low key lighting. As he is used in between the cuts of
the above character, it could suggest there is a link between
them. A shallow depth of field is used to keep focus on him
and less of the background.
They could be friends/family or they could be rivals. The
man is seen smoking something which could be either
cannabis or a cigarette but the way he holds it gives the
impression it is cannabis as he holds it with his index and
thumb and not his index and middle finger. This endorses
the rebellious teenager stereotype as they are not willing to
abide the law.

16. Shot 9
A reason why the man above could’ve been cut in-between the shots
of the previous man could be of the next cut of a man swinging a bat.
By creating a montage, it links the characters together which are then
seen to be associated with the next scene, a man swinging a bat. As
the bat swings, a scream is heard. This immediately suggests they’re
not playing rounders and that the weapon is being used to commit
violence. Low key lighting is used yet again to help show something
shady is happening. The hood of the suspect is white, like the man
who was wearing a hoodie. This suggests again, that he is the leader as
he is committing violence instead of the people in the background.

18. Shot 10
The scream acts as a sound bridge to a cut of a teenager rapping. This
links in with the turntable seen at the start as it is commonly used for
genres like rap.
The use of rap also is stereotypically a genre of music teenagers,
especially from rough backgrounds, would listen to. The diagetic
rapping also acts as incidental music as it is used for the rest of the
trailer to create a fast paced, tense vibe.

20. There are then a series of cuts showing a selection of drugs
such as ecstasy, coke and pot. This again endorses the
rebellious teenage stereotype but also brings in the ‘self-
destructive’ stereotype among teenagers as they are willing to
take potentially fatal and dangerous drugs without a care in
the world about what it could do to them.
Shot 11

22. Shot 12
After this, there is a transition to a series of shots of shots including 2
other characters. We also assume these are main characters as they
are both on the poster of the film. One girl is smoking, and the other
two are seen taking alcohol, one from a shop and the other from a
home. This, yet again, endorses the self-destructive and rebellious
stereotype but also shows the crime-orientated stereotype teenagers
have as they are willing to steal alcohol. It may also suggest that this
group of teenagers are unemployed, come from poor backgrounds or
are too lazy to work so resort to stealing to get the luxuries they want.

26. Shot 13
There is then a jump cut from the last image to a man, assumed the
‘stereotypical Indian corner shop owner’ threatening the youth with a
broom stick only for the stereotypically violent and disrespectful youth
to throw his own merchandise at him in a bid to defend himself. The
use of left side and right angle shots and shot reverse shots help to
link the man and youth together to show they’re fighting and it helps
to show where they are in the shop so not to confuse the audience on
the locations of characters.

29. The youth then throws a bottle but the glass smashing
is only heard during the next scene of a black youth
doing a ‘shooting gun’ gesture suggesting there is
some sort of link between the two boys; perhaps
being violence.

30. Shot 14
During the next cut, a close up of a handgun wrapped in cloth
is shown. The fact it is wrapped in cloth could suggest the
teenagers have been around crime for a long time as they
know not to put fingerprints on it in-case it’s traced to them.

32. Shot 15
After this there is a cut to a two shot of 2 girls
catching the train. This shows that the 2 girls
are related in a sense that they know each
other which shows the audience they’re not
strangers. It also helps confirm on the location
of where they are as trains are often only used
in towns/cities i.e. London

34. Shot 16
In the next scene, a youth is seen counting a
stack of money only for another teen, the one
previously caught stealing, to steal it. This
could suggest that although they’re main
characters, they’re rivals as they’re willing to
steal from each other.

36. Shot 17
The fact this seen was shown before the girls
snorting drugs connotes that the money was used to
fund the drug habit.

38. Shot 18
During the next scene, there is an over the shoulder shot of
2 teenagers (assumed to be friends as they stand next to
each other) and then a jump cut to the aftermath of the
haymaker. This shows how stereotypically violent teenagers
are and also shows a small insight to gang-culture which is
notorious in London.

40. Shot 19
During the next scene, their is a medium
close up of a young adult talking to some
teenagers. He talks stereotypically in slang
and wears typically ‘gang-type’ clothing
such as the hoodie. The fact the other two
boys wear uniform helps inform us of
their age.

42. Shot 20
During the next scene, there is a 2 shot of 2 men
eating. Their attire of hoodies, chains and caps
suggest they are affiliated with crime and the fact
they’re eating in a small burger shop insinuates they
have low income so cannot afford to eat fancy. The
right teen is seen as disrespectful, a youth
stereotype and a criminal, a ethnic stereotype as he
shouts about his incorrect burger and then assaults
staff with it by throwing it at one of the employees.

44. Shot 21
Further on in the trailer, it comes to a medium
close up scene of a girl backhanding another
whilst another girl watches. This goes against
the stereotype that females are timid and
gives them a masculine stereotype of being
violent. The background has posters of
educational material suggesting they are on a
school premises so are students whilst also
telling us what age band they’re in.

46. Shop 22
During a next scene, there is a two shot of a man
who asks one of the main characters what happened
to her face. We assume he’s her Dad as he’s much
older than her and is driving her. He has a normal
accent and doesn’t use slang and gives the
impression of a typical father who cares about his
daughter. This makes him seem like he has had a
proper upbringing and has not been the cause of her
daughters affiliation with the wrong crowd.

48. Shot 23
After this, there is a medium shot of a group of
teenagers running followed by a man. This confirms
our suspicion that they were involved with crime as
what reason would there be for an angry man to be
chasing them? The use of the cabs in the background
also confirm the urban location the film is set in as
they are the common black taxi’s London is known to
have.

50. Shot 24
After this, there is a shot reverse shot between two
girls where is asking who’s going to help her.
This results in a typical teenager reply of “I don’t
need any help” which is a stereotype of teenagers as
many are looked at as independent. She’s also seen
as moody, another stereotype through the use of
speech showing she shouts to get her point across
and to show her frustration.

52. Shot 25
After this there is a cut of a fight in which one of the
teenagers loses. Another teenager then uses his
phone to take a picture, maybe to show his mates
later on or to upload it to social media, something
many teenagers are in to.

54. Shot 26
During the final scene, a teenager shouts
“bye mum” as he closes the door with his
friends behind him. This suggests that he
is still young enough that he has to live
with his parents and that although he
leads a life of crime, he still cares about
his family.

56. The audience for this film I think would be young
adults from around16-mid 20’s because it caters
more to what they’d like. The use of slang,
alcohol and drugs is something many teenagers
can relate to as they will likely either use one of
them or know someone who does allowing them
to get on a same level.

57. Common elements seen in this trailer for the
genre are clothing and weapons. Social-realism
often revolves around the use of weapons such
as knives, bats and handguns making the film
seem more realistic. The use of clothing in social
realism is a realistic representation of what
many teenagers would wear, especially from a
low-income area.

58. After this, there is more institutional information
including the companies affiliated with the film
including Dolby and Hanaway and also a link to the
official film website which is a good use of synergy
to advertise both the film and website.
They also include the list of authors for the music
they use in case audiences like it meaning the artists
can more people take an interest in their music.