The document analyzes the use of different modes in the trailer for the film "Selma" and their impact on the audience. It discusses the repeated phrase "Enough is enough" which highlights the problem and spirit of the film. Written text on screen providing the location and date help audiences understand the context. Moving images such as barbed wire and gas masks suggest violence and tension. Sound effects like a gun shot make the trailer more realistic. Contemporary music near the end promotes the contemporary relevance of the issues raised.

1. FEATURES OF
MULTIMODAL
TEXTS
DESCRIPTION OF
FEATURE IN ‘SELMA’
TRAILER
ANALYSIS OF IMPACT ON AUDIENCE
Spoken
language
•“Enough is enough”
– repeated phrase
•“What’s Martin
Luther King about to
do next?”
•Because it is a repeated phrase it highlights
the problem for the events to follow, it sums
up the spirit of the film – that Martin Luther
King is trying to fight against racism - and sets
a hopeful tone.
•The music also cuts out when the 2nd phrase
is said, which also shows Martin Luther King is
the key character.
Written text on
screen
•“Selma, Alabama” as
setting and location
•“This January” for
release date
•The location helps the audience to understand
the time period and context the film is set in.
•Also, as it is a key event in history, the location
given is specific, to highlight it’s importance in
the history of Martin Luther King.
•There are several texts on screen near the end,
such as “make a change”, which sums up the
story of MLK and sets a hopeful tone.
•The release date is credited in the trailer to
inform the audience about the release, so they
don’t miss the film.

2. Moving
images
•Close up of the barbed
wire on a baseball bat
•Medium shot of police
with gas masks
•Long shot of crowd in
church
•The images of barbed wire and gas masks
suggests there is violence in the film, which
creates excitement. This also suggests there is a
turning point in the film and sets up a problem.
•The long shot is used to give a sense of scale
and power in the church as it shows a lot of
ethnic people.
Sound
effects
•High pitched sounds
•Rumbling echo as people
stop marching
•Overall, limited special
effects
•We can hear a ringing sound of a gun being
shot, which reflects the ringing sound in your ear
after you hear a loud noise. This engages with
the audience and makes it more realistic.
•The rumble sound may represent the ripple
effect after an earthquake, which creates tension
as it fades slowly.
•Overall, there was not many special effects used
because it makes the film more realistic.
Music
•Contemporary/rap music
near the end
•Music edited to match
the bat of the marching
•The use of contemporary music suggests the
issues raised in the trailer are happening
nowadays. Rap music is stereotypically
associated with the ethnic background and so it
fits with the film. The fact the music is matched
with the sounds of the marching could also
promote a contemporary feel to the film as well.