Inception analysis for Media

1. INCEPTION
Analysis of a teaser and
theatrical trailer

2. Teaser Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hstBN0Qkqhc
Theatrical Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7OTkEY1tMI
Trailers

3. At what point in the trailer are we told the name
of the film? Why is this?
Theatrical:
• We get told right at the
end.
• This is probably because
it is more memorable
after a dramatic climax
as that when the
audience are gripped.
• It also needs to be the
last thing the audience
sees so they will
remember it.
Teaser:
 Like in the theatrical, we
are told right at the end
to build up the suspense.

4. Why are we told who is starring in the film? How
is this information given to us?
Theatrical:
 We are told Leonardo
Dicaprio stars as he is a
popular actor so he is
essentially one of the films
unique selling points used
to draw in the viewer and
persuade them.
 His name is shown on
Intertitles after the
audience has already seen
him.
Teaser:
 Much like the theatrical we
are told through Intertitles.

5. What type of action do we see from the film?
Theatrical:
 We see short snippets
that include of mix of
high pace climatic scenes
and more mundane
scenes (to showcase the
other famous cast
members like Tom
Hardy)
Teaser:
 We see a lot of the same
scenes from the
theatrical but less of the
‘normal’ scenes. The
teaser really helps show
the most visually enticing
scenes.

6. What clues does the music give us as to what type
of film the trailer is advertising?
 The music is very dramatic (it seems to fit in with the
thriller genre well). The beats in the soundtrack get
closer together to compliment the fast pace of edit
and create a crescendo in both the trailers but the
music in the theatrical is much more complex.
 It is composed by Hans Zimmer.

7. What can you say about the voice of the person
delivering the voiceover?
Theatrical:
 The voiceover is just at
the beginning of the
trailer and the voice
belongs to the main actor
in the film.
 He speaks very clearly
and at a reasonable pace.
Teaer:
 No voiceover perhaps to
remain simplistic and
give less away as the
voiceover gives away the
basis of the film in the
theatrical.

8. Why do you think this voice was chosen? What
effect does it have?
Theatrical:
 They have used it to
further emphasise the
actors main role but also
so the audience can
engage with the
protagonist . This may
persuade them to watch
the film.
Teaser:
 No voice over

9. How does the speed of what we see compare to
watching a clip from the film?
Theatrical:
 It has a fast pace of edit
and they have used
discontinuity editing so
the scenes are much
shorter.
 In the actual film the
scenes would be much
longer and some would
be slower.
Teaser:
 The scenes are much
shorter and they only
show the most exciting
scenes.
 Fast pace of edit near
end of trailer.

10. Does the speed alter or stay the same?
Theatrical:
 The pace gets quicker
near the end to build to a
dramatic climax and
prepare us for the killer
punch shot that comes
just before the title in
this film.
Teaser:
 It gets slightly faster in
parts but overall is faster
than the theatrical as it
has much less time to
build to a climax.

11. What information are we given in the very last
frame of the trailer?
Theatrical:
 We get a vague idea of the
films release (this is unusual
as you often get specific
release dates)
 We are also given the
website address so the
audience can find out more.
 Then we have the names of
the studios.
Teaser:
 We get a lot of writing on the
last slide that the audience
probably don’t read but it only
lists companies and actors
associated with the film.
 The shot before this simply said
‘coming soon’ to leave the
audience in suspense.

12. Which is more effective in making you want to see
the film, the poster or the trailer? Why is this?
I think the trailers make you want
to see the film the most but
especially the theatrical because
it gives away a little bit more
than the teaser but still leaves a
sense of ambiguity. Posters are
great at conveying the USP’s but
they don’t explain what the plot
is about and can mislead the
audience about the genre. Trailer
give the audience a real felling of
the genre and atmosphere of the
film.

13. Where would you expect to see this trailer?
Theatrical:
 In the cinema perhaps
before shutter island
(also featuring Leonardo
Dicaprio) , Unstoppable
or The American (due to
similar genres-
Unstoppable is an action
and The American is a
thriller.
Teaser:
 This is much more likely
to get be in a TV spot due
to it’s shorter length (1
minute).
 However, this could also
be used at the cinema.