‘Biggie and Tupac’FILM TRAILER ANALYSIS

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• Trailer opens straight up to footage of the city skyline (Presumably Brooklyn, New York, as Biggie Smalls was born there and an influential rapper from the area) before showing people holding signs of the Notorious B.I.G’s face saying ‘Big Poppa’ – Most likely, in support of him and the ‘West Coast’ as the voice speaking says “… East Coast, West Coast. East Coast was Puffy, West Coast was Suge Knight. East Coast was Biggie, West Coast was Tupac”. This immediately reinforces the idea that this feud between the East and West Coasts was very distinctive and everybody knew which side they were on and who they supported.• Shows various archive footage to reinforce the voice, i.e. Tupac at an awards ceremony, Suge Knight (below, the owner of Death Row Records and the alleged planner behind both rappers’ deaths) and people rapping in the streets.

• Then cuts to Biggie Smalls’ mother, Voletta Wallace, surrounded by artwork of her son and saying “… Come on, you’re messing with people’s lives here.”

• This broad statement could mean anything in the context of this documentary, however, the way that it is delivered in contrast to all the archive footage is done in a way that is attention-grabbing.

• Shot of cameraman, possibly Nick Broomfield, knocking on a door. When answered, the man inside says “… You was just knockin’ like you was scared, man.” and then laughs. This shows that the man is obviously nervous about being here, suggesting it is a dangerous subject for him to be looking into.

• Follows up with more archive/home-made footage of Tupac joking and laughing with friends, possibly to show Tupac in a good light, as many people do see him.

• Possibly to also reinforce the idea that his death was especially tragic or happened too soon.

• Tupac’s joke also references a well-known fictional figure, Scarface, and his infamous line “Say hello to my little friend!”. Scarface is arguably one of Al Pacino’s most famous roles. • Additionally, an aspect of rap was the emphasis on being a ‘gangster’ and rising from the bottom, so Scarface would serve as an inspiration to those in this mind-set.

• A lot of the scene changes are punctuated by a gunshot to symbolise how both rappers died (in drive-by shootings) and the sound of DJ Turntable scratching, which was a common instrumental sound in 90s rap, is heard periodically throughout.

• Shows Biggie Smalls’ stating “… Even though we had our drama I would never wish death on nobody. Know what I’m sayin’? ‘Cause there ain’t no comin’ back from that.” showing that, possibly, he thought of the feud as just within the music even though he didn’t particularly dislike Tupac or any West Coast rapper.

• Scenes could be put together in this way to show that both of these people were actually good people despite the negative assumptions that come with people involved in rap and gang crime.

• More archived footage of Tupac laughing and joking, again possibly used to show how light-hearted or fun he was.

• Goes on to show Tupac at an awards ceremony stating “… I make music to bring us together, not separate us, and all this ‘East’ and ‘West’ needs to stop” linking slightly with Biggie Smalls’ statement, that they did not particularly dislike each other and didn’t particularly want to continue the ‘East vs. West’ feud.

• Also shows many other influential rappers, such as Snoop Dogg and Jay-Z (West and East Coast, respectively) nodding. This indicates that everyone felt the same but nobody would really stop.

• Shows the whole audience applauding to further reinforce this idea.

• Then contrasts it with footage of Biggie shouting “…Representin’!” to show that, as the person speaking right at the beginning of the trailer said, Biggie quite literally represents the East Coast.

• This contrast shows that even though nobody really seemed to want to continue the feud, they did anyway.

• This is shown in the way that the title for Biggie actually identifies him as “Bad Boy Records (East Coast)” just in case people didn’t know whether to support him, or not.

• Shows a man talking over scenes of police officers marching, police cars, crime scene tape etc.

• States “… There was an East/West rivalry. Let’s make it seem as if Bad Boy Records had something to do with the shooting of Tupac Shakur.”

• Then shows footage of Tupac spitting at somebody off camera, showing that, despite his good reputation shown before of a light-hearted, fun joker, he was still involved in violent/hostile situations.

• The statement is a quick introduction to the theme of the whole documentary, as it explores one theory of who ‘masterminded’ the murders.

• Also contradicts with Biggie’s statement moments before where he said he would never wish death on anybody.

• Furthers these suspicions as Biggie’s mother, Voletta, asks “… If the FBI was following my son… Where were they that night my son was shot?” over footage of music videos and other footage of police officers marching.

• These suspicions are reinforced further by the statement from the man pictured below “… Y’know, I was thinking like, that there was something fishy goin’ on.”

• This coincides with the posters of the film claiming it is controversial as this is a rather significant theory surrounding both rapper’s deaths.

• This sudden change in tone from light-hearted/fun musicians to fairly sinister ‘behind-the-camera’ style revelation of ‘all is not as it seems’ is a good way to promote the idea of the documentary – To reveal the truths about this event, good and bad.

• Again shows Suge Knight, this time walking around what looks like a prison.

• Suge Knight had a history of violence so it may be suggested that he would be capable of committing or ordering a murder.

• The person below claims that somebody told him “… Yes, Death Row Records wants you dead.” which coincides with the images of Suge Knight and the allegations that he (i.e. Death Row Records) were again capable of manufacturing something like that.

• Scenes are now punctuated by multiple, rapid gunshots, rather than single gunshots as it was before.

• Continued use is obviously there to reinforce the theme of these two rappers being murdered in drive-by shootings and by linking it to scenes/images of Suge Knight the association is that he was directly or indirectly responsible.

• Also has a man stating that “… Law enforcement officers were working for gangsters, known felons, basically organised crime.” to support this conspiracy theory and would explain how it was covered up.

• Along with these are images of two police officers’ ‘mugshots’ with possible written charges over the top of them.

• Shows the cameramen walking through a prison, possibly to interview Suge Knight or the police officers who were arrested.

• This suggests the information in his documentary will be reliable as he is directly interviewing his sources.

• Also suggests that he has some influence as he has actually been allowed to film an interview within a prison environment.

• Has audio of a man claiming that “There are certain people within the DA’s office that knew about this thing all along.” to reinforce this idea of organised crime and corruption.

• Shows a picture of Tupac and Suge Knight sat together to keep reinforcing this idea of the connection between them and Tupac’s death.

• Plays audio (presumably genuine, archived audio) of what sounds like somebody involved in an investigation/radio report asking “Y’know, had it been your ordinary drive-by shooting we would have solved it a long time ago. You gotta think ‘Who could do this and get away with it?’”

• Then cuts to a woman who is visibly upset saying “Please stop rolling ‘cause this is nothing to do with the interview.” indicating that they have uncovered something sensitive or upsetting (again supporting it’s “controversial” content).

• Reveals one person they interviewed in prison, claiming that they came forward because of “Guilt.” as they begin to cry.

• Shows footage of what appears to be a televised interview of Suge Knight.

• When the interviewer asks if he would tell the police who killed Tupac, if he knew, he replies “Absolutely… Not.” which could be suggested that he either would not want to turn himself in to the police or would not want to have any of the investigation link back in.

• Could also suggest that he actually wanted Tupac dead and would not want to help any process in finding out who killed him.

• Cuts back to show archive footage of Tupac and other people in the streets as somebody else films them.

• Cuts back to show the man who claimed he felt guilt admitting that he “… Transported moneys to arrange the hit on Biggie Smalls.”

• This proves that it was definitely a pre-meditated attack that somebody had ordered (at least, in the case of Biggie Smalls).

• Tupac’s shooting was allegedly revenge from a fight between Tupac and a member of the street gang, the Crips.

• Man in the below picture appears in the trailer again admitting that he believed the same person was responsible for both killings and that the LAPD has know “… All along.”

• Biggie Smalls’ mother then states that she “… Would like to know why. Ms. Wallace would like to know why.” this suggests that the documentary would not only help from a legal standpoint but would also benefit Biggie Smalls’ mother and other people close to him emotionally.

• Ends with the repetition of a single gunshot.