The document provides an analysis of the multimodal features used in movie trailers to impact audiences. It examines the use of written text, spoken language, moving images, sound effects, and music in the trailers for Selma, Central Intelligence, and Suicide Squad. The analysis finds that these features are used to convey information to audiences, set the tone and genre, create anticipation, and appeal to a wide target audience to increase ticket sales.

1. Selma
Features of
multimodal
text
Description of feature in the
trailer
Analysis of impact on the audience
Written text
on screen
• ‘Selma, Albama 1965’
• ‘This January’
• ‘Make a choice’
• ‘Take a stand’
• ‘Change the world’
• Title - ‘Selma’
• Release date – ‘Special
engagements in LA and NY
Christmas Day Everywhere
January 9’
Telling the audience it is in Selma, Albama, 1965 positions them in
the location and time period that the following narrative is set in.
Having ‘This January’ creates anticipation for the audience as it
provides a time frame for when the film is going to be released.
The three word phrases such as ‘Take a Stand’ are very powerful
and simple statements that catch the audiences attention. This
makes the viewers feel a part of the film as it is very persuasive
and empowering. Then, followed by the title, highlights to the
audience that the film is inspiring and uplifting.
Spoken
language
• ‘70 million people
watching’
• ‘Attack of innocent people’
• ‘What’s Martin Luther King
going to do next’
• ‘What happens when a man
stands up and says enough
is enough’
• No voice over
The fact that so many people were watching the demonstration
highlights how big of a change Martin Luther King was trying to
convey. The fact that so many people saw it caused another
problem that it bought more people together. The ‘attack of
innocent people’ caused communities to come together to march
for what was right. The phrase ‘What happens when a man
stands up and says enough is enough,’ is repeated in the trailer
when Martin Luther King is in prison and when he is marching as a
free man. This is impactful on the audience as it highlights that he
is not giving up in what he believes and is standing up for what is
right. This passion from one man and the fact that he is so well
known would make the audience want to go and see the film.
Moving
images
• Fighting
• A close up shot of barbed
wire being wrapped around
a baseball bat
• Standing up in church
showing support
• Walking the marcher over
the bridge
The fighting and baseball bat shot provokes fear into the audience
as violence is suggested. When they all stand up in the church it
represents unity. They are together, standing as one to show they
are not powerless or voiceless in this world. The long shot of the
protesters marching over the bridge suggests harmony as they all
share the same belief.
Sound effects • Rumble sound of the
drumbeat
• Gun shot with shudders
and horses jumping in the
reaction shot
• High pitch sound like a
trauma to the ears
• Little sound effects as it is a
representation of realism
The drumbeat rumble creates tension as it is like soldiers
marching to war. The drum beat creates tension which is parallel
to the black community. They are creating tension for other
citizens as they want change. The gun shot connotes war, death
and violence which is mirrored by the reaction shot of people
looking scared and the horses jumping. This provokes fear in the
audience as they know an unrest is about to happen. Overall, not
many sound effects are used. This is so the film portrays realism
and fits into the time period it is based in.
Music • Modern music plays which
is reflecting on historic
times.
• Rap music sounds which
originated from the black
community.
The modern music used to reflect upon a historic time suggests
that the issue is still current and people are still fighting for what
is right today. Using the rap music highlights the fact that the
problems have not gone away. The rap music ‘Say it like it really
is’ by Public Enemy highlights how, in some places, racism still
happens today.

2. Central Intelligence
Features of
multimodal text
Description of feature in the trailer Analysis of impact on the audience
Written text on
screen
• ‘Boys Locker Room’ on a door
• ‘20 Years Later’
• ‘From the Directors of We’re
The Millers’
• ‘From New Line Cinema’
• ‘This Summer’
• ‘Saving The World’
• ‘Takes A Little Hart’
• ‘And’
• ‘A Big’
• ‘Johnson’
• Title - ‘Central Intelligence’
• Release date - June 17th
#centralintelligence’
• ‘Follow us on …
#centralintelligence’
Telling the audience that the first moving image occurs in the locker room
gives them an understanding that it could be in a school environment. The
‘20 Years Later’ text onscreen is important as it informs the audience that
the narrative has moved forward a significant amount of time. It allows the
audience to adjust and realise that there is a time difference so the main
protagonist would have grown up and become a different person. Saying
that it is ‘From the Directors of We’re The Millers,’ makes the audience
create links from that film to this one. It highlights that the directors other
films have been successful and that this one will be too. Having ‘Saving The
World Takes A Little Hart And A Big Johnson’ cut between moving images
allows the audience to realise who the stars are in the film. This is because
Hart and Johnson are the surnames of the actors. Kevin Hart is also very
small compared to Dwayne Johnson. This pun has been used to highlight the
comedic aspect in the film. The title and release date ,as text on screen,
allows the audience to know the title and also plan when they can go to the
cinemas to see it. Putting the hashtag on the screen allows the audience to
look up and follow the film chats on social media sites.
Spoken
language
• ‘’Thankyou’ mouthed
• It’s me Bob’ ‘Sorry do I know’
you?’
• ‘You’ve lost like 200 pounds’
• I worked out 6 hours a day,
everyday, for the last 20 years
straight.’
• I'm in the C.I.A’ ‘Are you
joking with me right now’
• You're my only friend Calvin,
you’re the only one in this
whole world that I trust.’
Mouthing ‘thankyou’ suggests the friendship the two characters have.
Having the conversation about whether they know each other or not
highlights to the audience that they were old friends. This reinforces the clip
of him giving Bob his jacket at high school. Loosing 200 pounds suggests to
the audience that the main protagonist has turned his life around and has
now got a good job that he enjoys doing. However, he is still missing having
friends. This is made clear when he tells Calvin he is his only friend. This
makes the audience feel sorry for him as he has had no true friends for such
a long time.
Moving images • He was thrown naked onto the
basketball court in front of
everybody.
• Loading a gun in an opening lift.
• Car smashed another against a
wall.
• Seeing the car explosion behind
with his reaction of high pitched
screaming. His shocked face and
his fists closed, ready to punch.
• Failed back flip landing on his
stomach.
This would be humiliating for the character and the audience would feel
sorry for him. The basketball court scene contrasts the medium shot of Bob
loading the gun in the opening lift. It highlights to the audience that this man
has moved on in his life and now is an important person, rather than being a
‘nobody’ at school. The car smashing against the wall and the car explosion
highlights the action adventure aspect of this film. This is to appeal to a
wider target audience so more people will go to see the film in cinemas.
Seeing Calvin's reaction of screaming and shock when the car explodes
implies that he is not used to this kind of adrenaline fuelled lifestyle. Also,
the failed backflip suggests a comedy aspect to the film, which again appeals
to a wider target audience. Therefore, more people will go to the cinema to
watch the film.
Sound effects • The gun round clicking.
• The clicking of guns when
surrounded in the office.
• Gun shot sounds.
• Glass shattering.
• The sound of the motorbike
engine and skid.
These sound effects are mostly emphatic sounds used to stress the realistic
noises. The gun clicking is made obvious so the audience understands that
violence and action is about to take place. The glass shattering sound is used
to make the stunt more dramatic. This is so the viewers find it more
enjoyable and therefore go to the cinema to see the film. The motor bike
engine and skid is highlighted as it is the only sound heard when the moving
image of the wheel skid appears on screen.
Music • Old style – My Lovin’ (You’re
Never Gonna Get It) by En
Vogue.
• Drum beat after the 20 years
later when he meets his
friend in the pub.
• Trumpets play when the
helicopter is landing.
The old style music is very happy and cheerful. This implies to the audience
that the main protagonist is enjoying singing in the washroom. Then, it
changes to the high pitched screeches which suggest shock and something
quickly happening which is out of his control, when he is thrown into the
basketball court. The drum beat after the ‘20 Years Later’ implies a fresh
new life that he now has. It infers that his life now has a better pace to it.
The trumpets when the helicopter is landing implies something important is
happening. It suggests that it is the main focus point of the narrative.

3. Suicide Squad
Features of
multimodal text
Description of feature in the trailer Analysis of impact on the audience
Written text on
screen
• ‘Worst’
• ‘Heroes’
• ‘Ever’
• Title – ‘Suicide Squad’
• The five main actors names
appear above the title – ‘Will
Smith,’ ‘Jared Leto,’ ‘Margot
Robbie,’ ‘Joel Kinnaman,’ ‘Viola
Davis.’
• Release date – ‘August 2016’ ‘See
it in Real D 3D and IMAX 3D’
• Production and cast information
appears on screen
• ‘Follow us on…
• #suicidesquad.’
The first text on screen is ‘Worst,’ this symbolises to the audience that these
characters aren't very good at the task they are set. It then continues with
‘Hero's’ ‘Ever’ which highlights that they are meant to be superheroes but are
failing before they even start. This is because they are normally the villains. The
only other text that appears on screen is the title with the five main actors
names above it, the release date, production and cast information and how to
follow the film on social media. This information is important as it tells the
audience what the film is called and then, when it is in cinemas. This is so they
can book tickets to go and see it. However, there is no other text related to the
film. This is so the text does not break up the action adventure genre. This is so
it keeps the trailer fast paced and grips the audience to keep on watching it until
the end.
Spoken language • ‘Let me out of here doll please,
let me out.’
• ‘I want to assemble a task force of
the most dangerous people on
the planet.’
• ‘This is the deal.’
• ‘Seriously, what the hells wrong
with you people?’ ‘Were bad
guys, its what we do.’
‘Let me out of here’ highlights to the audience that the characters are trapped.
They are in prison in a confined space. This is portrayed so the audience gets the
initial reaction that they are the villains in the film. ‘Assemble a task force of the
most dangerous people on the planet,’ is juxtaposed as a task force suggests it is
for good where as dangerous people suggests evil and villainous. The audience
is told ‘This is the deal’ which highlights that there is some initial holing back
from the agreement that is happening but the good guys want to make sure it
happens on their terms. ‘Seriously, what the hells wrong with you people?’
‘Were bad guys, its what we do.’ This is a reminder, at the end of the trailer, for
the audience so they still look at the characters as villains rather than heroes.
Moving images • The main characters in jail cells
• A burning aircraft with an army
troop approaching it.
• One of the main characters lying
in the middle of a circle of knives
and weapons.
• Explosions
• One character's bubble gum
popped as she walks with a
baseball bat behind her shoulders
with a group of soldiers, with
guns, following behind her,
looking like an army leader.
Depicting the main characters in the cells, at the beginning, highlights to the
audience that they are the bad guys. The burning aircraft emphasises that there
is violence within the film. This is supported by one of the main characters lying
around knives and weapons. It implies to the audience that the character is
slightly mad and creates an unnerving feeling, like he is not to be trusted. When
the character is walking with the baseball bat behind her shoulders, with the
army men holding guns following behind her, and her bubble gum popping, it
highlights how she is in control and is leading the team. This suggests to the
audience that she is relaxed in what she is doing and feels confident that they
will win the fight.
Sound effects • Gun shots
• Glass shattering
• The sound of guns being loaded
• A drinks can being opened, this is
the only sound as the music has
stopped.
• Bullet cases hitting the ground
The sound effects all suggest violence and war. The gun shot and the sound of
guns being loaded highlights how the film portrays death and violence. This tells
the audience that it is for the older viewers, rather than children. The glass
shattering and the bullet cases hitting the ground are emphasised to make the
scene more dramatic. This contrasts to the silence of when the drinks can is
being opened. This adds a comedic effect as between all the violence, the
character is trying to silently escape and have a drink. It suggests to the
audience that this will probably reveal his cover, which will then most likely end
up in a fight.
Music • ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen For all of the trailer the soundtrack is Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’ The first
part of the song plays until the drinks can opening scene, then it changes to the
end part of the song. The high pitched sound mirrors the sinister actions of the
characters. It also depicts that nothing matters to them. The lyrics ‘We will not
let you go’ highlights that they are trapped inmates and this is there only option
of seeing the outside world again. This makes the audience like them as they are
helping to save the world but, the viewer is also conscious of the fact that they
are villains to begin with.