This document provides a detailed analysis of the trailer for the 2014 film Pride. It summarizes the key elements of the trailer in three sentences or less:
The trailer uses real protest footage and radio broadcasts to provide historical context. Intertitles help establish the setting while contrasting colors and music convey different tones. Shots of characters from different groups highlight their diversity and the theme of unity between them.
2. Short takes showing montages of old, real footage of protestors on
strike which imply the narratives content. This adds an element of
verisimilitude to the scene, as the audience is allowed to see the
context of the film and some historical background. The
voiceover/non-diegetic sound of a radio broadcast discussing the
strikes which can be seen taking place on screen which represents
what can be seen on screen.
Intertitles help the audience to understand what is happening within the
trailer, whilst putting the film into context, whilst the diegetic music
shows that the issues that the town is facing due to the conflicts that are
taking place. The black and white intertitles show that the beginning of
the trailer is negative, whilst also adding a serious tone to the trailer.
Slow zoom into the male subjects face, highlighting both his serious
expression and the message which appears on the newspaper that he
is holding. He is wearing traditional clothing which is seen often in social
realist films, which have connotations of the character being violent.
Diegetic dialogue discussing the conflicts that are occurring, putting the
audience into context and also could be showing that the male
character wants to get involved in the conflicts, although it is later shown
that he wants to protest peacefully. This could adhere to Earp & Katz ‘All
men are violent’ theory.
3. The wide/establishing shot highlights how isolated the groups
location is, and also shows the juxtaposition between the group
(bright, yellow) and their dull surroundings. This highlights the
binary opposites (Strauss) between the community that the
characters are visiting, and themselves as they look quite loud and
bright, contrasting against the dull surroundings.
Synchronous slow music emphasises the seriousness of the
group’s trip, and also matches their dull surroundings.
The low angle shot makes the group look menacing, highlighting
the seriousness of their visit but juxtaposing the following
lines/shots which are more comedic. This could adhere to Earp
& Katz theory, and also highlights how the other female
characters are stood in the background, making them look
subordinate.
The sound cuts off suddenly, emphasising the line from the
older female subject - [“Guy, your gays are here.”]
The short takes which follow allow the audience to see the different
responses that the group get from the public, mainly negative. The
wide shot allows us to see more of their costume, again adhering
to common representations of youth in social realist films, and in
the media, as they all look quite scruffy and untidy. (O’Sullivan et
al). The diegetic music returns, this time upbeat which matches the
inspirational message that the group are trying to portray, and
emphasises the comedic lines of some of the characters.
4. The intertitles which show the audience that the film is based on a
true story make the film more real, engaging the audience and
adhering the social-realist conventions. The house colours of the
trailer are used here (yellow and red), which show positive
connotations, linking in with the word “inspirational” which is used
within the intertitles.
Long take focusing on the older female subject to emphasise her
speech which juxtaposes the common representations of older
people being homophobic, as she is showing her support for the
group – this could be controversial for an older audience
(Oppositional audience).The female highlights binary opposite
characters (Strauss) as she is wearing clean, upper class clothing
whilst the youth look quite untidy in comparison, however it
juxtaposes most social realist films as the younger and older
characters are working together.
Long take of the two opposing groups shaking hands to show the
unity between them, adding an element of hope to the trailer and
showing the impact that the group had on the community
Slow zoom into the two hands, again to emphasise the unity between
the two groups. The mise-en-scene appears to be in a bar or a pub,
which is a common setting for most social realist films, and is often
shown in a negative way however this juxtaposes that as they are
getting along.
5. Short takes are used throughout the trailer, again to emphasise the
violence which is taking place, and showing the audience what the
group was trying to change whilst adhering to the genres
conventions. A-synchronous dance music starts to play, juxtaposing
the action which is taking place on the screen but perhaps
representing the young group and their lives which is a common
convention for most social realist films.
Throughout the numerous short takes, this male subjects speech
can be heard over the top (as a voiceover) who is discussing the
group in a positive way, again adding an element of hope to the
trailer and showing the positive message that the group are trying to
portray. This juxtaposes typical conventions of social realist films, as
usually the groups and gangs that are shown have a negative
message with themes such as racism or drug abuse.
The wide, long take of the group highlights the juxtaposition of the
older group and the younger group (Strauss, binary opposites), which
is unusual within the film industry as they are working together. It also
emphasises the comedic elements of the scene whilst the older
subject tries to understand the younger group. We are also able to
see the different character types (Propp) as the older characters are
seen to be the helpers, or donors, for the younger youth.
6. The intertitles which show the films awards and reviews encourage
the audience to go and watch it by giving it a good reputation, whilst
the bold, yellow writing emphasises the positive message of the film.
This encourages audiences to watch the film as it gives it a positive
reputation. The bright colours and positive background image have
connotations of hope and inspiration, highlighting one of the key
themes to the film and again encouraging audiences to view it.
^^^
The background images that are used for the intertitles also represent
the group and what they stand for, showing the support that they have
gained from the public, and a stage show which they performed
Although the scene should be emotional and thought provoking, the
diegetic dialogue [“Where are my lesbians?”] juxtaposes this,
adhering to the films upbeat message and showing the unity
between the older characters and younger characters. This also
highlights the binary opposite characters (Strauss) as it is unusual
for the youth and older characters to get along in social realist films,
as they are usually seen to be fighting against each other.
7. The name of the film is shown in bright colours, again adhering the its
positive message and representing the word “Pride” in a literal sense
as it has connotations of being proud, and happy, whilst the fast
dance music (SOUND) is synchronous and helps to portray the films
positive message as well, and encourages a younger audience to go
and watch it as it is similar to the type of music that they are likely to
be listening to. (Preferred audience)
The final medium shot highlights once more the unity between the
older and younger group as binary opposite characters (Strauss),
whilst their promiscuous dialogue adds an element of comedy to the
scene, ending the trailer in a positive way and creating an image that
is likely to stick in the audiences mind. The differences in the
characters costumes also highlights the differences in the characters,
as the older people again look quite tidy and clean, whilst the younger
people look quite rough and unclean – a dominant ideology of youth.
The final intertitles, again in the bright colours which run throughout
the trailer which has positive connotations, allows the audience to
know when the film can be viewed in a cinema, whilst also increasing
the chance of an active audience by adding social media links, such
as their website which encourages social interaction between the
audience and the film.