Research- Elephant film trailer analysis

Elephant film trailer analysis

I decided to research the 'Elephant' film trailer as the plot is based on a school shooting is very similar to the story line of our film trailer. I thought it would be beneficial for me to research another physiological thriller involving a school shooting as it would help me include the key conventions of a school shooting and give us inspiration for our own trailer.
0.05 -In this first shot there is a  wide establishing shot of two white cars driving down a rural road in which they collide with each other. They have used an establishing shot to let the audience get to know the setting and the sort of area the film is set in.

 0.12- This is a mid shot of a young teenage boy and a middle aged man inside the vehicle. The young boy is snatching the keys out of the ignition to prevent the man from dink driving. This is a counter type as it is stereo typically usually the teenager who would drink drives not the middle aged man.

0.14-After a fade to black the film logo 'HBO FILMS' features on the film. We are also going to put out film logo at the beginning of our trailer so the audience can establish us as a company and any films we have previously filmed. This is a generic convention of any film trailer.

0.17-Next there is a mid shot of a young teenage boy playing the piano this is a counter type of the typical teenager who goes out drinking so doesn't represent the stereotype of his age. The music continues after the shot also so add effect to the trailer.

0.24-Then the directors name comes up on the screen which helps people identify other successful films relating to the director. This is an essential convention of a phycological thriller and in our film we are going to include the director, editor and producer.

In this shot you have a dark gloomy shot with low lighting in which you can see two figures one the young boy from the previous shot and next to him a teenage girl. The corridors they are walking down look empty and deserted this immediately tells the audience somethings not right as theres not happy students chatting in the corridors like a normal school day. In our film we have used a similar effect in which we are including a montage of lonely, empty corridors.

Then it cuts to a shot of the boy walking down the corridor by himself however the lighting gets brighter from the last shot. These shots are used as establishing shots to help set the scene of the school in which where the school shooting is going to happen

This shot shows 3 girls back walking down the corridor it shows them with a midshot of their backs. This isn't a classic convention of a physiological thriller as its more a convention of a teen angst film where 3 mean girls walk down the corridor and everyone is scared of them.


This is a mid shot of two boys standing in the corridor shaking hands which is quite stereotypical of teenage people as this is how they are likely to communicate with each other. It also shows how this school day is like normal at this point.

This scene shows a typical school sports day this connotes the typical school day which shows innocence of children and competitiveness. This is further setting the scene of a normal school day before everything gets turned upside down and the atmosphere changes.

Here in this shot it shows the three girls standing in the corridor staring at the young boy who features in a close up. This is very stereotypically of teenage girls to stand giggling to their friends when a handsome boy walks past.

In this mid shot there are two teenagers kissing which is a usual stereotype for people there age. It also regularly happens in schools. It is also quite dim dingy lighting which might suggest something bad is going to happen.

Here is a wide shot of inside the classroom with bright lighting. This shot could be significant as it shows its just a normal school day to these children and how there lives are going to be turned upside down. The emotions on the children faces also look content at this point which helps connotes their innocence.

Reviews on the screen in the trailer allow the audience to see what reviews the film has received and how may stars it has been awarded which also contributes to if they decide to go and watch the film or not.

This is the shot where the audience will realise something bad is going to happen. There are two men in army clothing walking towards the school with large heavy bags which could have weapons inside.  In our trailer we are also going to use a character in similar clothing with a gun inside a large bag.

Next is a close up shot of two teenagers a boy and a girl, you can clearly see their features and they look like stereotypical teenagers. Although their face expressions shows something isn't right, this therefore helps to connote the phycological thriller genre.

Here is a wide shot inside the school where two teenagers are running and clearly are in a panic. The lighting is dim which makes the mood more tense and shows something is wrong.

The title of the film appears on the screen. It is in a very large bold font which shows synergy across all social media platforms and posters the film has which makes people recognise it.

This is a mid shot of a typical teenage boy in a bright lit shot. He is talking to a girl and this is stereotypical of a boy of this age who attends high school.

In this shot the credits role, which include the director and producers. They have used a white font and large capital letters which fit with the trailer and the posters made for the film. For our film trailer were also going to use a recognisable font throughout so synergy is created for our film which makes it more recognisable for audiences.