Trailer analysis

1. Genre Elements Conventions
Setting: mise en scene / Location In the trailer for The Martian there are 4
different locations used. One of the
locations used in the trailer is the inside of
the rocket that has taken the team on the
mission. This is a convention to the genre
because it fits into the whole fantasy idea
that all science fiction films carry out. In this
location we see the crew wearing the space
suit, the costume is a convention for the
genre because science fiction films are
usually set in a fantasy world or in
space/other planet.
The next location we see that plays a big
part within the trailer is Mars. The first time
we see Mars is when we see that the main
character is stranded on the planet. In this
shot we see three main objects, these
include; a satellite, a solar power panel, and
something that looks like a telescope.
Another prop in this shot is rocks that are
used in every film that includes footage of
mars or that is set in mars.
The third location is the inside of the base.
The inside of the base looks quite basic but
it also looks really scientific. The props that
are used that make it look scientific is the
space costume and the dials that are on the
right side of the shot.
The fourth location is in a building on earth
which looks like how people would imagine
the inside of NASA to be like. In this shot
there were a lot of people in suits looking at
a screen whilst being sat behind desks with
dials and buttons on as there was
communicating with the main character.
Characters: Actors/ Stars of film,
Stereotypes, Behaviour, body language.
The main character in the trailer and film is
Matt Damon who has earned a big name
and built a reputation in the science fiction
films. The trailer makes him seem very in
control and not really showing any form of
emotion, this falls into the stereotype of
men not being able to speak about their

2. problems or emotions. The body language
of this character comes across as being very
comfortable and in control. If the character
was scared he would have more closed than
he appears to be.
The next character we see is the team
manager for the mission. The trailer hasn’t
really followed any stereotypes because in
the science fiction genre female characters
tend to be the damsel in distress or the love
interest and they very rarely cast women in
any other role.
Narrative Events: how is the narrative
ordered and structured?
Is it elliptical /enigmatic (elements left out
to intrigue/entice the audience.
In the trailer there are elements left out so
it makes the audience have questions of
what happens. This occurs a lot in science
fiction trailers because they rely on the
audience being intrigued in the film. A
benefit of doing the trailer missing out
elements is it makes it very hard to not want
to watch it so it increases the audience.
Iconography: Well known or recognisable
people/ objects/buildings/mise en scene/
props, costumes, setting, symbolic codes
The trailer for “The Martian” heavily
features Matt Damon. Matt Damon is
recognisable person because he has built a
name for himself in action and science
fiction films. Another iconographic part of
the trailer is the location being mars and
NASA these are both extremely
recognisable because NASA is the main
science building in the world and everyone
knows mars as being the red planet.