Trailer Analysis - Braveheart

The trailer for Braveheart is very conventional and displays many of the typical aspects associated with film trailers. Most trailers follow the Todorov structure, which develops from an initial equilibrium, to a disequilibrium, and then ends with an altered equilibrium. However seeing as trailers are designed to whet the appetite of the viewer rather than give away the plot of the film, the altered equilibrium is not shown. The trailer for Braveheart exemplifies this structure; at the start, the viewer is shown the initial equilibrium, when William Wallace is shown to live a peaceful, idyllic life. This is summed up by what the narrator says, "In a land of timeless beauty, William Wallace was a man of peace", while the music in this first segment of the trailer is also serene. Then, the music changes drastically to a darker soundtrack, and the audience is shown the disequilibrium. The English  army led by Edward Longshanks - who is introduced as "the most ruthless king to ever sit on the throne of England" - are introduced. This segment of the trailer is also nicely captured by the narrator, who continues, "But when they threatened his world and the woman he loved, he was driven to war".

Initial Equilibrium















                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Disequilibrium



An aspect of the trailer that goes against the conventions of most trailers is the lack of titles. Generally, trailers include titles in between scenes in order to either give an overview of the basic plot or for promotional purposes such as to introduce star members of the cast and crew or the release date. Instead, in the trailer for Braveheart a narrator fills the storytelling role, and of the cast and crew only the male lead, Mel Gibson, is mentioned by the narrator. The only title that is shown is a brief credit to the main figures and institutions in the production of the film.

The trailer is a conventional length at 2:54 minutes, and this gives enough time to take the audience through the traditional motions of an action/adventure trailer, with a slow start and calm music transitioning to a fast paced, action-packed second half and climax.


Furthermore, this trailer also follows Propp's character theory, which is especially prevalent in historical and action/adventure trailers. The different roles are outlined very clearly from the first half of the trailer. The 'Hero' is William Wallace, The 'Villain' is Edward Longshanks and the 'Princess' is a literal princess - Isabelle, who we see in romantic scenes with the Hero in the trailer.

Trailer Analysis - The Wolf of Wall Street

This follows the conventions of trailers in terms of the use of music. As with most trailers, the music is synchronised with what is happening on screen. The titles appear in coordination with the beat of the song, 'Black Skinhead' by Kanye West. Another convention of trailers, the use of hard hitting and comical soundbites from the film is followed in this trailer. Multiple quotes that sum up the plot and tone of the film are included in order to draw the audience in with the premise. Furthermore, it highlights its star-studded cast and the accolades won by its director through the titles in between clips, which is another common theme in Hollywood film trailers.

The genre - black comedy - is made clear with the frequent comical soundbites throughout. In the opening quote of the trailer, the protagonist states "My name is Jordan Belfort, the year I turned 26, I made $49 million, which really pissed me off because it was 3 shy of a million a week" and later on in the trailer he and his associates discuss the idea of throwing dwarves at a target as sport. This epitomises the amusingly ridiculous tone of the trailer. The comedic value in the trailer is also provided through the presentation of the main character as having a disregard for the value of money. He is shown throwing a wine glass containing an alcoholic beverage away in his garden, while he is also seen throwing money into a bin later on in the trailer. This also helps to attract the target audience as it gives them an insight into the protagonists's lavish and action packed lifestyle.

The female lead is represented in a sexual way in the trailer which is often the case in the modern age of film. The 'male gaze' - the idea of women being sexualised in film in order to attract a male audience - is clearly taken into account in this trailer, as the only scenes in which the female lead is shown, she is presented in a seductive manner.