1. PERKS OF BEING A
WALLFLOWER
Teen genre
https://youtu.be/n5rh7O4IDc0
2. PLOT
The trailer instantly starts by introducing a male teenage
character who presume is our main protagonist for the rest of the
movie. From the first asynchronous script of “I really wanted to
turn things around this year,” we can quickly gather with the
monologue this must be a coming-of-age film, as he wants to
change his life around, and therefore more likely suited to the
teenage/young adult age bracket in terms of the intended target
audience. Thus, this is a teen-drama and features a linear
narrative.
3. OUT-OF-
PLACE
In the beginning of the trailer, Charlie asynchronously
narrates “I haven’t really talked to anyone outside my
family all summer” and a fade to 0.22 shows a zoom
out of Charlie sitting by himself in a loosely framed
shot, this immediately describes that he is an outcast
and friendless. Furthermore, a cut to 0.34 with an
intertitle of “Charlie never stood out” reiterates this
idea that he is an ‘outsider,’ which juxtaposes near
the end of the trailer at 2.05 were there is a quick
succession of cuts of him fighting a few teenagers in
a crowd. This appeals to consumers who want to see
Charlie’s ‘journey’ of becoming a more confident
character, as well as facing other stereotypical
teenage events, like love interests and school issues.
4. COMING-OF-AGE
After Charlie’s introductory narration to a
black screen we hear a sound bridge of a
school bell then a medium long shot tilt of
teenagers and a school bus. This
demonstrates where Charlie struggles to
‘fit in’ and presumably where his problems
arise. This depiction of his unpopularity is
regurgitated in the next few cuts of a
bullying event at 0.25 when someone rips
Charlie’s book apart. This illustrates the
teen-drama and coming-of-age genre that
will occur in the film.
5. SUCCESS
Another intertitle states ‘from the producers of Juno’ and
‘critically acclaimed novel.’ From this we can assume that that the
film will be up to the standard of ‘Juno,’ which received ‘94%’
rating on rotten tomatoes. Furthermore, Juno is also a teen-
drama and so will attract consumers who have seen this
successful film before as they would expect ‘Perks of being a
wallflower’ to have the same success rate.
6. ANTICIPATION
Charlie is shown to finally find a bit of
happiness during the trailer, foreshadowing
what will occur during the movie. This was
illustrated at 1.55 when he synchronously and
diegetically states, “I didn’t think anyone
noticed me” without any non-diegetic music in
the background. After that the cuts are more
frequent and the music becomes more joyous
and louder – this is where Charlie finally
becomes happy. Moreover, the last thing we
hear in the trailer “and in this moment, I swear
we were infinite” with a pan of Charlie riding on
the top of a car on a bridge. The audience
anticipates this outcome and wonders how he
achieved this ending through all his mishap
illustrated throughout the trailer. Examples of
this mishap are shown at 2.00 we see a very
abrupt cut to Charlie crying and then a few
seconds later he beats up a few people.
However, at 2.06 a cut to Charlie enjoying
himself when dancing to music, illustrating the
mixed elements of emotions and genres.
7. MISFIT TOYS
Charlie is shown to make friends, Patrick and Sam, who
are illustrated throughout the trailer to be unusual but
also welcoming. In particular, Sam diegetically states
“Welcome to the island of misfit toys” at 0.53 – this is
described as someone who doesn’t really fit in anywhere.
They are not wanted and not accepted. Patrick and Sam
teach Charlie that it’s okay to not ‘fit’ in and that loads of
people feel the exact same way. This is reiterated when
she says, “lets go be psychos together” at 1.55 and the
last lyric we hear from the non-diegetic music is “and I’m
never changing who I am.” This symbolises how Charlie
goes on a journey to accept himself as being an ‘outsider’
but also with the help of his two friends who are also
seen as outsiders. Teenage viewers can connect with this
friendship, as we all desire friends like Patrick and Sam
who teach us to love who we are, especially when we are
finding it difficult to ‘fit in’ at school, making this film
more appealing because it allows some escapism for
viewers.
8. WALLFLOWER
The title of the film is ‘perks of being a
wallflower,’ reflecting and telling the viewer what
Charlie’s personality is like. We see how this
personality is reflected into school life when
there is a fade of jump cuts of Charlie walking
from being shadowed in the wall to joining in
with the fun and dancing in with his two friends
at 0.36 and then a establishing shot of them
dancing together at 0.45. This signifies how his
friends help him to come out of his enclosed
lifestyle and to experience new things. This is
supported with how the consumer constantly
sees the colour green for the intertitles, which
has connotations of growth and freshness,
suggesting Charlie will grow as a person to
become more confident with the help of his
friends. This is regurgitates the coming-of-age
genre.
9. ROMANCE
The audience also sees a romantic element of
this trailer. This is shown with Charlie’s love
interest of Emma Watson’s character. This is
demonstrated numerous times, such as her
clothing/makeup are always coloured red,
which connotes the romantic genre, a low
angle to signify he looks up to her at 1.05, a 2-
shot showing how a ‘hug’ from her at 1.49 and
Charlie’s facial expression illustrates how he
values her, and lastly a zoom into Charlie when
watching her dance at 1.09 illustrates how he
is infatuated by her from his facial expression.
This foreshadows how Charlie not only
accomplishes a new set of friends but possibly
a love interest. It appeals to teenage viewers
who like seeing a bit of the romantic genre set
in school life.
