The document analyzes trailers for four films: American Sniper, Cloverfield, Nocturnal Animals, and The Birth of a Nation. For each trailer, it discusses how the trailer establishes genre, introduces the central conflict and main character, and builds anticipation without revealing too much of the plot. Overall, the document examines the effective use of visual and audio codes in film trailers to immerse audiences and attract interest without giving away the full narrative.

1. FILM TRAILER ANALYSIS

2. AMERICAN SNIPER
I think the creators of the American Sniper trailer very effectively combined the use of both audio and visual codes to create
a sense of genre, the genre can be easily established by audiences based on the initial diegetic noise the audience hear
from the sniper being loaded, therefore audiences can already expect to see an action/war trailer.
Like other trailers, time is used to create a particular atmosphere, which in this case indicates a sense of genre.The
American Sniper trailer starts of very slowly, initially starting with the barrel of the sniper, panning up to the face of the
assassin behind the sniper then finally an overlook of the whole miss-on-scene. Due to the slow pace of the establishing
sequence, it helps create an intense atmosphere.To further emphasise how tense the opening scene is, the diegetic noises
of the sniper being loaded, the tank driving over loose bits of debris and rubble and finally the non-diegetic noise of
suspenseful sound effects being played in the background. Although sound often plays a huge part in creating a sense of
genre, I think it is important to realise that sometimes the lack of sound can also play an important role. In my opinion, the
lack of dialogue indicates to the audience that something unexpected will happen which isn’t uncommon for a movie of this
genre.
To create a sense of genre, photorealism plays an important role. Photorealism refers to attributes that make the miss-en-
scene realistic. I think the miss-en-scene is accurate and effective at portraying a warzone based on the destruction of the
area around through the use the colours of the buildings in the opening sequence, which are a combination of pale and dull
colours.
Although the title of the film indicates the central character is likely to be an American using a sniper, it is still important
how the central character is introduced. The opening shot pans from the barrel of a sniper rifle, to the eyes of the person
using the gun. Although the audience cannot be certain this is the central character based on that introduction, it is then
made clear he is the central character due to the extended amount of time he is in the main frame of the camera.

3. CLOVERFIELD
Immediately from the start the audience know that this film is based in future due to the initial intertitle stating, “area
formerly known as “Central Park”.Therefore, it is clear the event of this film is based in the future as Central Park is
synonymous with NewYork.To make the film realistic and authentic, the filming of this trailer is all found footage,
therefore, shows the accounts of personal people’s perspective. Although the filming can be seen as amateur due to the
shakiness and unstable camerawork, this can also be seen as a way the actors are expressing their emotions without even
filming themselves. For example, when the statue of liberty collapses you can hear the person filming breathing heavily and
cursing, rather than to show their facial emotions, the non-diegetic noise gives the audience an insight of the panic all the
people are experiencing.
The editing of the Cloverfield trailer is very fast paced and cuts between scenes and events extremely quickly.The fast-
paced editing helps to build anticipation to the end of the trailer where suddenly the pace is slowed down and we hear the
non-diegetic voice of a man saying, “people are going to want to know how it all went down”.That statement ties into the
opening title referring to what once was formerly called Central Park.
The trailer is very effective at introducing the central conflict and sense of genre in unison without spoiling the plot of the
movie.The central conflict is introduced through the destruction of NewYork; however, the plotline remains unsolved as no
one in the trailer is fully aware of what is happening, how it is happening and why it is happening. Therefore, the central
conflict is introduced through the way the all the characters are reacting to the events happening rather than what is
causing the events to happen. As a result, this leaves the audiences question what the cause of all the destruction is. It is
clear the genre of this movie is along the lines of apocalyptic and sci-fi.This is because it seems like the world is coming to
an end but not through a realistic outcome, this is confirmed by the dialogue during the trailer where a soldier says “I don’t
know what it is, but it is winning” therefore this has connotations of a science-fiction movie.

4. NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
The Nocturnal Animals trailer wastes no time when it comes to introducing the audience to the main character, as the opening shot
is an extreme-close up of a Susan’s face. In co-operation with the close up of Susan’s face, there is a voice over of her saying “do you
ever feel like your life is turning into something you never intended”.That statement introduces the main character as the audience
may expect to see the dramatic changes in her life.
Using the enigma code, the main conflict of the movie is introduced by her ex-husband sending her a book called “Nocturnal
Animals”, which is not the main conflict, but the way Susan reacts to the book is.Therefore, the audience are likely to want to watch
the full movie as they want to understand how the book can cause such drama between Susan and her ex-husband. As the trailer
develops there is an unrelenting loop of dramatic orchestral music building up which helps to create a sense of genre, inferring that
this movie is a combination of a phycological drama and thriller, until finally a gunshot is sounded and then all is quiet.The fast-
paced editing is complemented by the rapid cuts which helps to build anticipation of violence and action right until the end of the
trailer.
The intertitles show off the strong cast ofAmy Adams, Isla Fisher, Armie Hammer, Jake Gyllenhaal and AaronTaylor-Johnson, which
undoubtedly attracts audiences.The trailer also introducesTom Ford as the “acclaimed director of A Single Man”, therefore
attracting audiences who enjoyTom Ford movies or enjoyed A Single Man. As trailers typically show the events of the film in
unchronological order, it means the audience are unlikely to understand the narrative of the story.

5. THE BIRTH OF THE NATION
Using intertitles this trailer draws attention to their accolades from the Sundance Film Festival immediately at the start.
This is effective because audiences are more likely to give the movie a chance because critics and reviews suggest it is
worthy of winning awards.Therefore, this will attract prestigious audiences who select the movies they watch very
specifically. Some audiences will watch a movie just based on the reviews or accolades alone, which is why putting this
initial intertitle is beneficial.
Soon after the accolades there is another intertitle “based on a true story” which implies the genre of the movie is
history/drama.Therefore, this genre would appeal to a specific target audience who would appreciate this type of film.
However, as the historical events shown in this film shares a powerful message, it is likely that a larger audience would want
to see this film to educate themselves on the wrongdoings in the past.The song Rise Up by Andra Day played in the
background, accurately spreads the message of perseverance and persistence in difficult times, which is one of the themes
in this movie.
Using visual and audio codes, the central conflict is very clearly introduced, the non-diegetic noise of the chains being
dragged across the floor, the drone shots of the cotton fields and then when the young boy being told he is not allowed to
read books due to his race, emphasises the main conflict in this film is racial equality. As well as the central conflict, the
main character is introduced when you hear the extended amount of time spent talking about the “preacher”.Therefore,
when the audience see the man looking at the cross, they already know who the central character is.