This teaser trailer introduces the main protagonist and his family who are threatened by antagonists planning to kidnap them. Scenes show the protagonist in Istanbul and establish the kidnapping plot from the previous film. Tension is built through shots of the worried protagonist and his distressed wife held hostage. The end titles reveal the film stars Liam Neeson seeking revenge, continuing the brand and drawing fans of the first film. Elements like focus pull, connected branding and plot intrigue aim to attract action thriller fans, especially younger male audiences.

1. TEXTUAL ANALYSIS: TAKEN 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZlkwnjEQgA

3. SHOT 1:THIS FIRST SHOT IS AN ESTABLISHING SHOT AS IT ALLOWS THE AUDIENCE
TO IDENTIFY THE SETTING; THIS BEING ISTANBUL, AS A TURKISH FLAG IS
VISIBLE IN THE DISTANCE AS WELL AS THE MALE PROTAGONIST
CONFIRMING THIS THROUGH THE DIEGETIC DIALOGUE “WELCOME TO
ISTANBUL” IN THE SHOT THAT FOLLOWS. ALSO, THE FRAMING OF THIS
SHOT ALLOWS THE AUDIENCE TO SEE A MAJORITY OF THE CITY, WHICH
HELPS THEM TO IDENTIFY THE SETTING, AS WELL AS THE CAMERA
MOVEMENT IN THE FORM OF A PANNING SHOT.
THE MISE-EN-SCENE OF THIS SHOT IS CONVENTIONAL OF THE THRILLER
GENRE AS IT COULD BE CONSIDERED A CITY OR EXOTIC LOCATION;
WHICH ARE SOME OF THE SETTINGS COMMONLY USED IN THRILLER
FILMS AS THEY ARE UNFAMILIAR TO THE MAJORITY OF THE TARGET
AUDIENCE.
FURTHERMORE, THE LIGHTING AND COLOURS IN THIS SHOT ARE WARM
TONES LIKE ORANGE, WHICH SUGGESTS THAT THIS COULD BE A
FLASHBACK OR A HAPPIER TIME BEFORE THE TRAUMA/CLIMAX AS THE
WARMER TONES COULD CONNOTE A SAFER ATMOSPHERE.
THE NON-DIEGETIC MUSIC/AMBIENCE THAT ACCOMPANIES THIS SCENE
CONTRASTS WITH THE WARM COLOURS AND FEELING OF SAFETY AS IT IS
A DEEP RUMBLING ORCHESTRAL TUNE, USED TO UNSETTLE THE
AUDIENCE AND TO SUGGEST THAT NOT EVERYTHING IS AS IT SEEMS.
THIS IS CONVENTIONAL OF THE THRILLER GENRE AS ORCHESTRAL
INSTRUMENTS SUCH AS PERCUSSION AND WIND ARE OFTEN USED TO
CREATE DEEP SOUNDS THAT CONNOTE TENSION AND AN UNSETTLING
ATMOSPHERE.

4. SHOT 2:
THIS SHOT IS A MEDIUM SHOT OF THE MAIN PROTAGONIST AND IT HAS BEEN
USED TO ESTABLISH THIS CHARACTER AS THE MAIN CHARACTER OF THE FILM.
THIS IS ALSO SHOWN THROUGH HOW MUCH SCREEN TIME AND DIALOGUE HE
IS GIVEN OVER THE OTHER CHARACTERS; EVEN JUST IN THE TEASER TRAILER.
THE FRAMING OF THIS SHOT SHOWS THE PROTAGONIST AS A TARGET AS THE
CAMERA APPEARS TO BE HIDDEN BESIDE ANOTHER PERSON WHO IS
POSITIONED AT THE FRONT OF THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE FRAME.
THE FOCAL POINT OF THIS SCENE IS THE MALE PROTAGONIST WHICH HAS
ALSO BEEN ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE USE OF DEPTH OF FIELD. THE
CHARACTER IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE FRAME IS NOT IN FOCUS TO PORTRAY
THAT THEY MAY BE HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT. THIS IS CONVENTIONAL OF THE
THRILLER GENRE AS IT SUGGESTS THAT THE PROTAGONIST IS BEING FOLLOWED
OR STALKED – AND STALKERS ARE PROMINENT CHARACTERS IN MANY
THRILLERS AS THEY CREATE A FEELING OF UNEASE AMONGST THE AUDIENCE.
THE SOUND THAT ACCOMPANIES THIS SHOT IS A CONTINUATION OF THE DEEP
ORCHESTRAL NON-DIEGETIC SOUNDTRACK DESCRIBED IN THE LAST SHOT,
HOWEVER STRINGS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN ORDER TO BUILD THE SONG
TOWARDS A CLIMAX; IN ORDER TO SUGGEST A TENSE ATMOSPHERE AND THAT
DANGER IS COMING.
THIS SHOT IS FROM A SERIES OF QUICK CUTS IN THE FORM OF A MONTAGE
THAT SHOW THE PROTAGONIST AND THE IDENTITY OF THE BLURRED FIGURE;
WHO IS SUGGESTED AS A VILLAIN OR STALKER/AGENT AS THEY APPEAR TO BE
FOLLOWING THE MAIN PROTAGONIST. THIS FURTHERING THE REPRESENTATION
OF THE THRILLER GENRE IN THIS SEQUENCE.

5. SHOT 3:
THIS SHOT IS A CLOSE-UP OF THE HANDS OF THE
ANTAGONIST IN ORDER TO PULL THE FOCUS OF THE
AUDIENCE TOWARDS THE PICTURE THEY ARE HOLDING;
WHICH IS OF THE MAIN PROTAGONIST. THIS FURTHERS
THE STALKER ELEMENT AS THE AUDIENCE HAS NOW
BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THE MAIN PROTAGONIST IS
BEING FOLLOWED. THIS IS CONVENTIONAL OF THE
THRILLER GENRE AS IT CREATES TENSION AND UNEASE
FOR THE AUDIENCE AS THEY KNOW SOMETHING BAD IS
GOING TO HAPPEN. HOWEVER AT THIS POINT THE
PROTAGONIST IS UNAWARE MEANING THAT DRAMATIC
IRONY HAS BEEN USED.
THIS SHOT IS ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIEGETIC
DIALOGUE “HE’S HERE” SPOKEN IN THREATENING TONE,
WHICH CREATES TENSION AND AN ATMOSPHERE OF
UNEASE FOR THE AUDIENCE AS IT REVEALS THE
ANTAGONIST’S MALICIOUS INTENT.
THE DESATURATION USED IN THIS SHOT SUGGEST A
SERIOUS AND DARKER ATMOSPHERE, WHICH SUGGESTS
THE THRILLER GENRE BY CREATING TENSION FOR THE
AUDIENCE.

6. SHOT 4:
THIS SHOT USES A LOW ANGLE IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH THE
DOMINANCE OF THE CHARACTER; WHO CAN BE IDENTIFIED AS THE
LEAD ANTAGONIST AS THEY ARE GIVING ORDERS TO THE OTHER
ANTAGONISTS PREVIOUSLY SEEN IN THE TRAILER.
THE HIGH-KEY LIGHTING COMING FROM A SOURCE DIRECTLY
ABOVE THE ANTAGONIST CAUSES HIS FACE TO BE PARTLY OBSCURED
AS THE LIGHT-SOURCE IS NOT SHINING ON HIS FACE, MEANING
THAT HIS IDENTITY CAN NOT BE ESTABLISHED – THIS BEING
COMMON FOR THE THRILLER GENRE AS SHADOWS ARE A POPULAR
FORM OF ICONOGRAPHY IN THE GENRE.
FURTHERMORE, THE USE OF DESATURATION AND COOLER COLOUR
TONES CONNOTES THE SERIOUS AND DARK ATMOSPHERE OF THE
FILM, WHICH CONTRASTS WITH THE FIRST SHOTS OF THE TRAILER
AND THEIR WARMER COLOURS SHOWING A SAFER AND HAPPIER
TIME.
THIS SHOT IS ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIEGETIC DIALOGUE “THE WIFE,
DO IT NOW” WHICH SUGGESTS THE INTENTIONS OF THE
ANTAGONIST AND HINTS AT THE MAIN NARRATIVE OF THE FILM. AS
WELL AS THIS DIEGETIC SOUND, A NON-DIEGETIC ORCHESTRAL
SCORE MADE UP OF PERCUSSION AND STRINGS IS INCREASING IN
VOLUME IN ORDER TO UNSETTLE THE AUDIENCE WHICH IS
COMMON OF THE THRILLER GENRE AS SOUND IS USED IN ORDER
TO CREATE TENSION.

7. SHOT 5:
THIS SHOT IS A MEDIUM TILT SHOT USED TO SHOW THE PROTAGONIST’S FACIAL
EXPRESSION; WHICH IS WORRIED AS HE IS LOOKING TOWARDS HIS WIFE WHO
IS IN DANGER, AS WELL AS DRAW SIGNIFICANCE TO THE GUN IN HIS HAND,
WHICH IS USED TO SUGGEST VIOLENCE, DANGER AND DEATH, AS WELL AS
DEFENCE.
THE WAY THIS SHOT IS FRAMED MAKES THE GUN APPEAR TO BE POINTED AT
THE AUDIENCE – SUGGESTING THIS MAY BE A POV SHOT FROM ONE OF THE
ANTAGONISTS SURROUNDING THE PROTAGONIST. THIS ALLOWS THE AUDIENCE
TO BECOME MORE INVESTED AS THEY FEEL MORE INVOLVED IN THE TRAILER AS
WELL AS WORRIED AS THE GUN IS BEING POINTED IN THEIR DIRECTION.
A FURTHER PROP HAS BEEN USED, IN THE FORM OF A PHONE IN ORDER TO
SHOW THE AUDIENCE THAT THE PROTAGONIST IS TRYING TO CONTACT
SOMEONE FOR HELP. IT IS REVEALED THROUGH PARALLEL EDITING AND
DIEGETIC DIALOGUE THAT HE IS CALLING HIS DAUGHTER IN ORDER TO TELL HER
THAT HE WILL BE TAKEN – CONFIRMING THE CENTRAL NARRATIVE OF THE FILM.
THROUGH THE PROTAGONIST’S FACIAL EXPRESSION IT IS EVIDENT THAT HE IS
WORRIED FOR SOMETHING THAT IS TAKING PLACE OUTSIDE OF THE FRAME,
WHICH CREATES TENSION FOR THE AUDIENCE AS THEY ARE UNSURE OF WHAT
IS UNFOLDING OUT OF FRAME. ALSO, IT SHOWS THAT THE PROTAGONIST IS
NOT INHERENTLY FOCUSED ON THE IMMEDIATE DANGER TO HIMSELF AND IS
INSTEAD WORRIED FOR HIS WIFE – WHICH IS WHO HE IS LOOKING AT IN THIS
SEQUENCE OF SHOTS. THIS PORTRAYS THE PROTAGONIST AS BRAVE AND
HEROIC AS HE IS RISKING NOT LOOKING AT THE IMMEDIATE DANGER TO
HIMSELF IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF HIS WIFE.

8. SHOT 6:
IN THIS SHOT, A CLOSE-UP HAS BEEN USED IN ORDER
TO SHOW THE FEMALE PROTAGONISTS WORRIED AND
SCARED FACIAL EXPRESSION. THIS PORTRAYS HER AS
VULNERABLE AND IN DANGER AS SHE IS BEING HELD
HOSTAGE BY SOMEONE WHO IS POINTING A GUN AT
HER NECK. THIS SHOT ALSO CONFIRMS THE NARRATIVE
OF THE FILM AS IN A PREVIOUS SCENE THE
ANTAGONIST MENTIONS “THE WIFE” – SUGGESTING
THAT HIS INTENTIONS INVOLVED HER.
THE FEMALE PROTAGONIST FITS THE DESCRIPTION FOR
THE ‘DAMSEL IN DISTRESS’ AS ILLUSTRATED BY
VLADIMIR PROPP’S CHARACTER THEORY, IN THAT SHE
IS VULNERABLE AND HELPLESS AND IS TO BE SAVED BY
THE MALE PROTAGONIST WHOM OF WHICH IS HER
HUSBAND, AND HER DAUGHTER, WHO COULD BE
CONSIDERED THE ‘SIDEKICK’.

9. SHOT 7:
THIS SHOT IS THE FIRST IN THE SET OF TITLES SHOWN
NEAR THE END OF THE TEASER TRAILER. IT SHOWS THE
ACTORS NAME IN A BOLD WHITE/GREY COLOUR
CONTRASTING AGAINST A BLACK BACKGROUND WHICH
MAKES IT VERY EASY TO SEE. IT IS THE NAME OF THE
LEAD ACTOR IN THE FILM, AND AS HE IS VERY WELL
KNOWN, THIS WILL ATTRACT THE AUDIENCE AS THEY
MAY BE INTERESTED IN HIS WORK.
SYNCHRONOUS SOUND IS USED THROUGHOUT THE
MONTAGE THAT THIS SHOT IS A PART OF; THE NON-
DIEGETIC ORCHESTRAL MUSIC AND RUMBLING
AMBIENCE INCREASING IN VOLUME AND REACHING A
CLIMAX WHEN THE TEXT APPEARS ON THE
BACKGROUND.
THE SHARPNESS OF THE FONT SUGGESTS THE MORE
SERIOUS TONE OF THE FILM, AS WELL AS THE FONT
LOOKING LIKE IT MAY BE MADE OUT OF METAL WHICH
COULD BE CONNOTING ARMOUR OR DEFENCE.

10. SHOT 8:
THIS TEXT GRAPHIC CONTAINS THE TITLE OF THE FILM
IN LARGE, BOLD, RED LETTERS. THE RED COLOUR OF
THE FONT COULD BE USED TO SUGGEST BLOOD OR
DANGER, WHICH ARE BOTH COMMON THEMES OF THE
THRILLER GENRE. ALSO THE BRIGHT COLOUR ALLOWS IT
TO STAND OUT ON THE BLACK BACKGROUND.
THE NUMBER 2 SHOWS THE AUDIENCE THAT THIS FILM
IS A SEQUEL, MEANING THAT IT WOULD MOST LIKELY
ALREADY HAVE A FAN FOLLOWING OR AUDIENCE. AS
WELL AS THIS IT COULD MAKE PEOPLE WHO ARE
UNAWARE OF THE FILMS GO AND WATCH THE PREVIOUS
ONE, SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHING THE BRAND
IDENTITY.
SIMILARLY TO THE PREVIOUS SHOT, SYNCHRONOUS
ORCHESTRAL SOUND IS USED THAT HAS BEEN MATCHED
TO THE QUICK CUTS USED, AND THE CLIMAX OF THE
SONG HAPPENS WHEN THE TITLE APPEARS.

11. SHOT 9:
THE FINAL SHOT IS NOT ACCOMPANIED BY ANY
SOUND WHETHER DIEGETIC OR NON-DIEGETIC AS IT
IS SUPPOSED TO BE STRICTLY INFORMATIVE BY
MAKING THE AUDIENCE AWARE OF WHEN THE FILM
IS DUE TO COME OUT.
THERE IS A CONTRAST USED OF THE BLACK
BACKGROUND AND WHITE FONT IN ORDER TO MAKE
THE TEXT EASY TO READ.
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME, THE DISTRIBUTION
AND PRODUCTION COMPANY LOGOS ARE VISIBLE TO
MAKE THE AUDIENCE AWARE OF WHO PARTICIPATED
IN THE PRODUCTION OF THIS FILM.

12. TEASER TRAILER SUMMARY:
IN THIS ONE MINUTE SEQUENCE THE AUDIENCE IS INTRODUCED TO THE MAIN PROTAGONIST, HIS FAMILY
AND THE ANTAGONISTS; THE SITUATION BEING THAT THE MAIN PROTAGONIST AND HIS WIFE ARE GOING
TO BE KIDNAPPED, AND THE PROTAGONIST, WITH THE HELP OF HIS DAUGHTER, TRY TO GET HIS
WIFE/HER MOTHER BACK. ALSO THE MOTIVE OF THE MAIN ANTAGONISTS IS REVEALED – MENTIONING
THE MAIN PLOT OF THE FILM’S PREDECESSOR ‘TAKEN’ IN ORDER FOR CONTEXT FOR THE EVENTS
OCCURRING IN THE TRAILER TO BE ESTABLISHED. THE AUDIENCE ARE LEFT QUESTIONING WHETHER THE
PROTAGONIST’S FAMILY ARE REUNITED, AND WHETHER THE ANTAGONIST IS DEALT WITH. THE UNIQUE
SELLING POINT OF THIS FILM IS THAT THIS FILM ALREADY HAS A BRAND IDENTITY AND A FAN
FOLLOWING, SO THEY ARE ABLE TO RELY MORE SO ON THEIR EXISTING AUDIENCE THAN TRYING TO
BUILD UP A FOLLOWING AS IF THE FILM WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM OTHERS. THE TYPE OF
AUDIENCE THAT IS BEING ADDRESSED IS MOST LIKELY YOUNG ADULTS; MORE SO MALES THAN FEMALES
AS THEY WILL BE ATTRACTED BY THE ACTION THRILLER ELEMENT THAT IS SHOWN THROUGH THE USE
OF FAST PACED FIGHT SCENES AND WEAPONS (GUNS). ALTHOUGH, THE DAUGHTER OF THE
ANTAGONIST EXPERIENCES A DEVELOPMENT IN HER CHARACTER THROUGH THE TRAILER AND APPEARS
BRAVER AND STRONGER AS SHE IS WILLING TO FIGHT TO SAVE HER PARENTS. THIS WOULD MAKE THE
FILM MORE APPEALING TO FEMALES THROUGH THE PORTRAYAL OF THIS STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER.

13. MAIN ACTOR’S NAME
TITLE OF FILM
BILLING BLOCK
TAGLINE
MAIN PROTAGONIST
WEAPON - GUN
SETTING –
ISTANBUL
THIS IS USED TO ATTRACT AN AUDIENCE THAT MAY
BE FANS OF THE ACTOR SPECIFICALLY AND WANT
TO SEE MORE OF HIS WORK. IT ALSO GIVES THE
FILM CREDIBILITY AS EVERYONE IS MADE AWARE
THAT A VERY FAMOUS ACTOR STARS IN THIS FILM.
WHITE FONT CONTRASTS WITH BACKGROUND AND
RED FILM TITLE IN ORDER TO STAND OUT.USED TO SUGGEST THE
THRILLER GENRE AS WELL AS
THEMES OF DANGER AND
DEATH.
INCLUDING COMPANY LOGOS.
BRIGHT RED LARGE FONT
IN ORDER TO GRAB
ATTENTION. SAME FONT
THAT IS USED IN THE
TRAILER IN ORDER TO
CREATE A BRAND IDENTITY
CONFIRMS SETTING SHOWN
IN TEASER – EXOTIC/CITY
LOCATION
“REVENGE” SUGGESTS
THREATENING TONE.
“THEY” SUGGESTS THEY
VS US MENTALITY AND
ALSO AMBIGUITY AS
WE ARE UNSURE OF
WHO “THEY” ARE. FACE VISIBLE WHICH ALLOWS THE
CHARACTER TO BE RECOGNISED BY FANS
OF THE PREVIOUS FILM. FACIAL
EXPRESSION AND BODY LANGUAGE IS
CAUTIOUS BUT FOCUSED.

14. PRODUCTION PLANNING:
ON ELEMENT OF THE MARKETING THAT WE COULD BORROW FOR OUR OWN PROJECT WOULD BE
ENSURING THAT THERE IS A LINK/CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TRAILER AND POSTER. THIS WOULD
MEAN THAT WE WOULD USE THE SAME FONT STYLE IN BOTH THE TEASER AND THE POSTER FOR
THE TITLE OF OUR FILM. ALSO, ANOTHER ELEMENT THAT WE COULD USE IS FOCUS-PULL. THE
TEASER TRAILER USES FOCUS PULL IN ORDER TO HIGHLIGHT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A CHARACTER
OR OBJECT IN A SCENE, WHICH IS IMPORTANT FOR ENSURING THAT THE AUDIENCE UNDERSTAND.
FURTHERMORE, ANOTHER ELEMENT THAT WE COULD TAKE FROM THE POSTER SPECIFICALLY IS THE
INCORPORATION OF THE BILLING BLOCK. DESPITE THE BILLING BLOCK BEING AN INTEGRAL PART OF
MOST POSTER ADVERTISEMENTS, I THINK THAT IT WOULD HELP TO MAKE THE POSTER APPEAR
MORE REALISTIC AND PROFESSIONAL.