This trailer is for the sports drama film 'Southpaw'. It focuses on the rise and fall of boxer Billy Hope as he deals with tragedies in his personal life. After his wife's death, he loses his daughter and his boxing career is suspended. The film explores how these events impact and motivate him. Notable stars like Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest Whitaker, and Rachel McAdams are highlighted to attract audiences. The hybrid genres of sports and drama along with themes of overcoming adversity position the target audience as predominantly male fans of boxing and sports films.

1. ‘SOUTHPAW’
TRAILER
CLOSE READING TASK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh2ebPxhoLs

2. GENRE
› From the moving images, dialogue and music the film falls into two
genres making it a hybrid genre. It’s main genre is sports which is
clear from the main character being a boxer and fights being shown
throughout. The film also falls into the drama genre because of the
tragedies shown in the trailer such as the character having his
daughter taken away from him, the murder of his wife and his
boxing suspension.
› Conventions of the sports genre are that they tend to be hybrid
genres with dramas or documentaries. They also tend to be
emotional and document the success and failure of a sporting star.
They can also be fictional or non-fictional. This film fits into all of
these categories, except it’s non-fictional.
› This film has a male lead character, as many films of this genre
tend to, so only really represents men. In this film they are
represented as both strong because of the successes and fighting
but vulnerable when all of the events take place. Boxing also tends
to be a predominately male sport.

3. TARGET AUDIENCE
› The target audience for the film is clear through the narrative
and genre. As it is a sports film, specifically about boxing,
sports and boxing fans are going to form part of the target
audience.
› As fighting and violence is stereotypically associated with
males rather than females, the audience is likely to be
predominantly male. The main character is also male which
will create a male target audience as well.
› Therefore, the audience is likely to be those 25-35 skewed
towards men as well as 35+.
› The film also focuses on family which may cause parents to
want to see the film. The more caring and emotional side of
the film may also attract a female audience.

4. USP
› The audience becomes interested in a film through watching a
trailer because of the unique selling point which distinguishes
one trailer from another.
› As the conventions of this genre are all in this film, there isn’t
anything different in terms of the narrative as the character’s rise
and fall is the main focus, as it is with other sports films.
Therefore, the stars are the USP as Jake Gyllenhaal, Forest
Whitaker and Rachel McAdams are well known and popular
stars. In the credits Jake Gyllenhaal is recognised as an
‘Academy Award Nominee’ and Forest Whitaker an ‘Academy
Award Winner’.

5. NARRATIVE
› This film focuses on the rise and fall of boxer Billy
Hope. The story looks at the tragedies he faces in
his life and how he is affected by them. After the
death of his wife he loses his job temporarily and
his daughter is put into care. Therefore, events
stem from the first event which then becomes the
main problem.
› His pain and emotion is highlighted by images in
the trailer such as the medium shot of the main
character’s muffled screaming whilst clenching his
fists before switching focus to the gun on the bed
and him in the background.
› The close up of him shouting with blood and
injuries whilst fighting in the boxing ring shows how
motivated he is and how successful he is as well.

6. STRUCTURE
Opening
• The main narrative is
established with the character
shown boxing immediately
and in the ring.
• It also introduces the three
main characters being the
boxer, a woman and a young
girl.
Build Up
• Through the use of dialogue the characters are
established.
• The main character is introduced as ‘light heavyweight
champion of the world Billy Hope’ telling us that he is
successful and who he is. This character than goes
onto talk about his wife being who we learn is called
Maureen. We learn that the young girl is his daughter
through their relationship shown.
Problems and Events
• There are several problems and events which overlap in this trailer.
• The main events are his wife dying, him being suspended for boxing, losing his child to family services
for not being a responsible parent, the car crash and the fight for the title. Most of these events all
spiral from his wife dying and the tragedies that he faced because of it.
› The trailer is in chronological order in order to tell the story clearly so that the
audience can follow and have a good understanding of the narrative.

7. SOUNDTRACK
› The soundtrack, dialogue and music is key to understanding the narrative of this film.
The stars, directors, writers and producers are all shown for credits.
Soundtrack Functions Specific Information Conveyed
Helps us make sense of
the narrative by giving
us background
information, such as
where the action is set.
› Bell ringing and the speech "the more you get hit, the harder you fight, I
get it" signifies that the film is about fighting specifically boxing.
› The gun shots being heard followed by the dialogue "no no no no"
suggests someone has died. There is also a high-pitched ringing after the
gun shots which is what people tend to hear after loud sounds.
› The dialogue "the child will remain with family services" and "I can't lose
my daughter” suggest a child is taken away.
› The dialogue "It'll be a year till your suspension is up” is likely linked to the
main character's boxing career.
Informs us about the
characters
› The main character is male and is a boxer as he is introduced as "the
light heavyweight champion of the world, Billy Hope”.
› We also meet his wife as he addresses her by saying "I wouldn't be here
without my wife, Maureen".
› There is also another character who is introduced in the dialogue "think
about her" followed by "I love you" in a young girls voice and the same in
response by an older woman with a man chuckling. This suggests that
the three characters are a family and the young girl is the daughter which
is confirmed by "I can't lose my daughter".
Reinforces the title of
the film
› 'Southpaw' is a boxing term and a lot of the dialogue is about boxing so
the narrative supports the title.

8. Sets the tone for the
film
› The dialogue and music is dramatic and motivational which sets the tone
as when he loses his daughter he wants to get her back and fights for it.
This is the same for his boxing career as he has to fight to get his career
back after being suspending and damaging his reputation.
› The song "I am phenomenal" also supports the narrative and sets the
tone as it reflects how he is successful and fighting for what he believes
in. It’s also motivational and fits with the sports genre convention.
Summarises the story in
few lines.
› “This is your time. This is your moment. You can control you destiny”
sums up the whole idea and message behind the film in one line and
also creates the sets for the film.
Key dialogue › “What chance is there that Hope could win?” – The idea of having hope
in order to win contrasts this.
› “I’m gonna fight again. I’m gonna get my kid back.” – Motivational.
Other points › When he is driving and getting increasingly faster, the pace of the
soundtrack increases to mirror the action.
SOUNDTRACK

9. CREDITS
› The trailer relies of written text to reinforce the USP and create audience interest through the use of
credits. However, the credits don’t support the narrative in anyway and dialogue and moving
images are relied on for that. The stars are showcased through the use of credits with notable
awards being mentioned. The director is also repeated twice and we are given information about
his previous work to emphasise his role in the film further
0:06 - Production companies
0:57 – Director – “A film by Antoine
Fuqua” “Director of Training Day
and The Equalizer”
2:12 – “Academy Award Nominee
Jake Gyllenhaal” 2:15 – “Academy Award Winner
Forest Whitaker”2:17 – “And Rachel McAdams”
2:22 – Title - “SOUTHPAW”2:25 – “Story by Kurt Setter”
“Screenplay by Kurt Setter and
Richard Wenk” “Directed by Antoine
Fuqua”
2:28 – “#SOUTHPAW”
2:30