The document analyzes the key elements and structure of the trailer for the film "The Godfather". It notes that the trailer begins by showing the Paramount Pictures logo to establish the production company. It then introduces the main characters and includes a voiceover to summarize the film. Scenes depicting gangster elements like guns are included to set the genre. Blank screens build tension between events. Settings are shown to provide atmosphere and context. Conflict between characters is introduced to reveal the plot. There are also flashback scenes including a murder and wedding to demonstrate shifts in mood. Cigars help establish the historical time period of the 1970s. The trailer closes by displaying the film title and writer.

1. Featuresof a
gangster film
trailer;
‘The Godfather’

2. • What I’ve noticed is that
most trailers start off by
showing the logo of the
production company used to
create the movie. ‘The
Godfather’ was produced my
Paramount Pictures which is
a well known conglomerate
and is part of ‘The Big 6’.
This already tells me that
there’s a lot of money put into
creating the film so I expect
everything to be good quality.
Production company

3. Introduction of characters
• In the first few frames of
the trailer the main
characters and those of
importance are shown.
Its usually the main
character who is first
shown.
• We also discover that
there is a voice over
throughout most of the
trailer of a man
summarising what the
films about.

4. Genre of film is introduced
• Elements of what a
gangster film would have
are started to show, for
example a gun. It lets the
audience know that
there’s going to be conflict
in the film.
• It also lets the audience
gain an insight of what
kind of characters are
included in the film.

5. Blank screens • Blank screens are
used to build
tension for the
audience as well
as speeding up the
events that
happen in the
trailer
• This is effective
because it gives
the trailer a sight
edgy vibe to it.

6. Settings
• Things such as
rooms and buildings
are started to be
shown about 20
seconds in. This
helps us know what
kind of atmosphere
the characters stay
in.
• It also helps the
audience understand
what’s going on
better.

7. Production company
• The production
company of the movie
is shown again.
• The reason for this
could be to credit the
people behind the
movie and to remind
the viewers who
produced it.

8. Conflict • In this frame, there are
two men who are angry
and arguing about
something. This is
where the
conflict/dilemma of the
film is introduced in
detail.
• This helps the
audience know a bit
about the plot of the
film and helps them
decide whether they
want to see it or not.

9. Death
• Another element of
what a gangster movie
would include is shown
in this frame, which is
murder.
• This is however shown
as a flashback and the
chronological order of
things make the film
more interesting.

10. Memories • In this scene, there is
another flashback
which is of a wedding.
In this the people
seem more happy.
• This shifts the mood
in the film and sets a
lighter, happier
atmosphere which
could state that the
film isn’t completely
negative.

11. Cigars
• Cigars were commonly
smoked in the 1970s. The
use of this sets the time of
the film and helps the
audience understand
around what time the film
was produced.
• Cigars were commonly
smoke by wealthy people
so that also gives us an
idea on the men’s social
background and status.

12. Name of film
• The last frame
shows the name
of the movie and
the writer of it.
• This could be
reminding the
audience what
the name of the
film is.