Analysing a Film Trailer
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Camera Angles
The trailer for the second film in 'The Hobbit' trilogy uses a wide variation of camera angles to create different effects on the audience.
There are a large amount of full shots and establishing shots in which the audience are able to see the full body of characters and a wide shot of the location they are in. One of the first establishing shots in the trailer is of Bilbo standing on his own inside Smaug's cave. In this shot the audience is able to see the character's entire body and attempt to analyse how he is feeling in that precise moment by looking at his stance and body language. Bilbo does not appear particularly brave in this shot despite the fact it is also a low angled shot which usually suggests superiority of the character. However, as the scene progresses the camera angle gradually raises possibly symbolising his gradual loss of belief in himself slaying the dragon. Whenever Bilbo and Smaug are in a scene together the camera angle is always lower when the shot is of Smaug emphasizing the dragon's power, strength and size compared to that of Bilbo.
Another reason establishing shots are used frequently is due to the fact there is a wide range of locations and scenery in the film so the shots are used to make it clear to the audience where the scene is taking place.
Close up shots are sometimes used but not as often as the wider shots. One particular close up which stands out is the extreme close up of Thranduil's eyes where the audience are able to look directly into his eyes, accentuating the inhumane colour of them. The colour is very beautiful and the area around his eyes which we can also see appears flawless, reminding us of the perfection of the Elves. We can also interpret how Thranduil is feeling from the anxious and fearful look in his eyes which can give away a lot about a character.
Low and high angled shots are used a lot in this trailer to determine superiority levels of characters. When Thorin is in the shot he is mostly shot from a low angle to show he is superior to the other dwarves and Bilbo. This may represent what level he feels he is on compared to them, not just how the audience are supposed to react to him. On the other hand, high angled shots are mostly used when the dwarves and Bilbo are in the shot. High angled shots are also often used when there is a wide shot of a location which make the characters look minuscule in comparison to the scenery around them, especially Bilbo. This could symbolise the size of the world he has been thrown into as such a previously insignificant character living in The Shire.
Over the shoulder shots are also used a couple of times in trailer when there is a conversation between two or more people. An example of this is when Gandalf and Bilbo are talking each other and this camera angle is used over both characters' shoulders to focus on only one character's reaction at a time. It is also used to make the audience feel like they are part of the conversation so has a very inclusive effect.
There is only one cut in shot which stands out in the trailer and that is the shot of the ring on the ground. This shot is used to focus on a specific, important object that is significant to the plot. This object in particular is massively significant to the plot yet no one else but Bilbo knows that yet. The close up shot of the ring makes it seem like you are part of the secrecy and what Bilbo is hiding which most definitely makes the audience feel like a part of the story.
Editing
The way in which a film trailer is edited has a lot of impact on the audience and it can alter the whole feel of the trailer. The majority of transitions used between clips in the trailer are fading in and out effects which are frequent and quick. This makes the trailer action packed and keeps the audience's attention all the way through due to so many short, exciting clips being shown one after the other. Only snippets of the film are shown in the trailer as the aim is to not give too much away about the film but still leave the audience intrigued and wanting to watch it.
Quite often in the trailer, clips overlap each other for instance the audience will hear dialogue from another scene of the film played over a clip with little or no dialogue. This is done to prevent the audience from possibly losing interest if a clip with no dialogue or sound in general was played as the aim is to keep attention for the entirety of the trailer. However, the dialogue-free clips could also build up suspense so they are used very occasionally. The length of the snippets shown is most definitely teasing the audience as it makes them want to see where the snippet was going. It also seems like the majority of the clips are faded out just before something is about to happen, making it even more intriguing. The shortness of the clips could also symbolise how quickly a lot happens in the film and how much happens in the film.
At one point towards the end of the trailer, after fading to black the shot stays black for approximately 3 seconds which could make the audience think the trailer has ended so they are surprised when another snippet of the film is played, possibly giving them an idea of what the film is going to be like. This is then followed by a small number of slightly longer clips and another longer fade to black shot.
The last part of the trailer is only clips of Bilbo and Smaug which are very short and sudden. These clips often fade to black whilst Smaug is talking to create an eerie effect and could make the audience feel tense because it is as if you don't know where the sinister voice is coming from when Smaug is not actually on screen. This almost puts the audience into the perspective of Bilbo and makes them feel like they are included a lot more.
The trailer for the second film in 'The Hobbit' trilogy uses a wide variation of camera angles to create different effects on the audience.
There are a large amount of full shots and establishing shots in which the audience are able to see the full body of characters and a wide shot of the location they are in. One of the first establishing shots in the trailer is of Bilbo standing on his own inside Smaug's cave. In this shot the audience is able to see the character's entire body and attempt to analyse how he is feeling in that precise moment by looking at his stance and body language. Bilbo does not appear particularly brave in this shot despite the fact it is also a low angled shot which usually suggests superiority of the character. However, as the scene progresses the camera angle gradually raises possibly symbolising his gradual loss of belief in himself slaying the dragon. Whenever Bilbo and Smaug are in a scene together the camera angle is always lower when the shot is of Smaug emphasizing the dragon's power, strength and size compared to that of Bilbo.
Another reason establishing shots are used frequently is due to the fact there is a wide range of locations and scenery in the film so the shots are used to make it clear to the audience where the scene is taking place.
Close up shots are sometimes used but not as often as the wider shots. One particular close up which stands out is the extreme close up of Thranduil's eyes where the audience are able to look directly into his eyes, accentuating the inhumane colour of them. The colour is very beautiful and the area around his eyes which we can also see appears flawless, reminding us of the perfection of the Elves. We can also interpret how Thranduil is feeling from the anxious and fearful look in his eyes which can give away a lot about a character.
Low and high angled shots are used a lot in this trailer to determine superiority levels of characters. When Thorin is in the shot he is mostly shot from a low angle to show he is superior to the other dwarves and Bilbo. This may represent what level he feels he is on compared to them, not just how the audience are supposed to react to him. On the other hand, high angled shots are mostly used when the dwarves and Bilbo are in the shot. High angled shots are also often used when there is a wide shot of a location which make the characters look minuscule in comparison to the scenery around them, especially Bilbo. This could symbolise the size of the world he has been thrown into as such a previously insignificant character living in The Shire.
Over the shoulder shots are also used a couple of times in trailer when there is a conversation between two or more people. An example of this is when Gandalf and Bilbo are talking each other and this camera angle is used over both characters' shoulders to focus on only one character's reaction at a time. It is also used to make the audience feel like they are part of the conversation so has a very inclusive effect.
There is only one cut in shot which stands out in the trailer and that is the shot of the ring on the ground. This shot is used to focus on a specific, important object that is significant to the plot. This object in particular is massively significant to the plot yet no one else but Bilbo knows that yet. The close up shot of the ring makes it seem like you are part of the secrecy and what Bilbo is hiding which most definitely makes the audience feel like a part of the story.
Editing
The way in which a film trailer is edited has a lot of impact on the audience and it can alter the whole feel of the trailer. The majority of transitions used between clips in the trailer are fading in and out effects which are frequent and quick. This makes the trailer action packed and keeps the audience's attention all the way through due to so many short, exciting clips being shown one after the other. Only snippets of the film are shown in the trailer as the aim is to not give too much away about the film but still leave the audience intrigued and wanting to watch it.
Quite often in the trailer, clips overlap each other for instance the audience will hear dialogue from another scene of the film played over a clip with little or no dialogue. This is done to prevent the audience from possibly losing interest if a clip with no dialogue or sound in general was played as the aim is to keep attention for the entirety of the trailer. However, the dialogue-free clips could also build up suspense so they are used very occasionally. The length of the snippets shown is most definitely teasing the audience as it makes them want to see where the snippet was going. It also seems like the majority of the clips are faded out just before something is about to happen, making it even more intriguing. The shortness of the clips could also symbolise how quickly a lot happens in the film and how much happens in the film.
At one point towards the end of the trailer, after fading to black the shot stays black for approximately 3 seconds which could make the audience think the trailer has ended so they are surprised when another snippet of the film is played, possibly giving them an idea of what the film is going to be like. This is then followed by a small number of slightly longer clips and another longer fade to black shot.
The last part of the trailer is only clips of Bilbo and Smaug which are very short and sudden. These clips often fade to black whilst Smaug is talking to create an eerie effect and could make the audience feel tense because it is as if you don't know where the sinister voice is coming from when Smaug is not actually on screen. This almost puts the audience into the perspective of Bilbo and makes them feel like they are included a lot more.
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