The martian trailer analysis

1. The Martian Trailer Analysis
Genre Elements Conventions
Setting: mise en scene / Location The location of the film is based in Mars. This
where the main character is stranded after
being presumed dead by his crewmates.
Bright orange/ yellow colours are used when
the main character is shown on Mars. At the
start of the trailer, dark blue/grey/black
colours are used when the storm is
happening. The dark colours at the
beginning could be used to represent,
danger and death, The bright colour used
throughout the remainder of the trailer
could represent life.
Characters: Actors/ Stars of film,
Stereotypes, Behaviour, body language.
Matt-Damon, the main star of the film, is
best known for starring in action movies. In
movies such as Saving Private Ryan, he was
also stranded and going to be rescued. The
audience will stereotype the main character
in this film to be like other characters that
Matt Damon has played. The use of humour
in the trailer shows that this character is
funny person considering the circumstances
he is in, but still has a strong will to live. He
uses humour to somehow make himself feel
better about the situation he is now in. This
character will appeal to the audience
because of how humorous and relaxed he
appears to be, even though he could die at
any second.
Narrative Events: how is the narrative
ordered and structured?
Is it elliptical /enigmatic (elements left out
to intrigue/entice the audience.
The trailer immediately starts off with how
the main character gets stranded on mars. It
then shows that he is still alive, after his
crewmates have left. The main part left out
of the trailer at this point, is how he has
managed to survive the storm, and not run
out of oxygen. In the trailer the main
character says that it will be four years
before the next NASA mission to get to him.
He then says he has enough food for fifty
days, and has to grow food and find a water
supply on a planet where nothing grows.
Iconography: Well known or recognisable
people/ objects/buildings/mise en scene/
Shots of Mars are shown throughout the
trailer; this indicates the genre of film being

2. The Martian Trailer Analysis
props, costumes, setting, symbolic codes a science fiction film. The clothing in the
trailer also indicates the genre being science
fiction because of the main character and his
crewmates wearing space suits, with the
NASA logo on, The city of New York appears
in the trailer , where a large bill board , has
the main character on it, announcing NASA’s
rescue mission.
Style :Technical And Audio Codes – camera
use. Editing, diegetic/non diegetic
sound,sfx, mise en scene/lighting . colour.
Fast pace editing, Non- Diegetic Jimmy
Hendrix music, loud diegetic beeping noise
building up tension, dark colour in the Nasa
building, bright orange/red/yellow on mars.
Use of humour from the main character
lightens the mood. Non-Diegetic sound of
the main characters voice over throughout
the trailer narrating the events. Sound
effects used when the spaceship is taking
off, and when the storm happens.
The target audience for the filmwould be predominantly males, who enjoy science fiction
films. The target audience is aged 16-35 from a lower class (students) to working middle
class male adults. The social classification for this film is C1 –E. Science fiction films would be
mainly targeted to an audience from these classes. The filmis targeted The setting in the
trailer is linked to the genre of science fiction, because most science fiction films are based
on astronauts going to space/ different planets. The title of the film also indicates what
genre of film it will be , because it is called “The Martian” .which gives the idea it has
something to do with Mars.