Perks of being a Wallflower trailer analysis April Greenwood

Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5rh7O4IDc0

Background information The film is set in America in the present time.

Charlie is the main character. He is an incoming freshman in high school who has no friends and is ultimately an outcast, or a ‘wallflower’ at the beginning of the film.

He then makes 2 friends called, Sam and Patrick who ‘take him in’ and they all describe themselves as the ‘misfit toys’

Camera Shots

Establishing shot: This shot is used to set the scene and we see a big lit up city and this gives the audience a look into where the story will take place.

Medium Shot: This helps the audience focus on what Charlie is doing. It shows some part of Charlie in more detail (his facial expression and we can see that he is writing) while still giving an impression of the whole subject and we can still see where he is.

Extreme Close-up: This really gets the audiences eye as there is only one thing they can see on the screen. It has the effect of intensifying and concentrating on the idea involved.  The extreme close-up of the type writer typing "friends" accompanied with the voice-over saying he wants to be a writer gives an indication of the plot.

Framing: Charlie is framed around the sign and the seats and this draws attention to the fact he is at homecoming and therefore this can also act as an establishing shot.

Shots were used to help try and establish relationships between the characters. Especially the medium shots which show emotion and body language of characters.

The stillness of the shot of Charlie alone at prom can be compared with frantic camera work showing a girl dancing. The change in pace signifies the differing personalities.

Title Slides: These slides are used to reveal things to the audience, for instance, when it begins the first one says “Charlie never stood out until he found friends that let him in” you also learn his new friends names through the use of these slides. Slides like these are a very productive advertising tool as the viewer must read the slide and therefore engage themselves mentally into the trailer.

Social networking: Attracts their target audience of teenagers to try get them to follow them on facebook.

Twitter: They use # to try get they're film trending on twitter and this is a free advertising tool.

More internet relating things.

Sound The 3 aspects of sound that I picked up all fit the genre well and target the audience in an effective way.

When looking at the diagetic sound and dialogue “why do I and everyone I love pick people who treat us like we’re nothing” and the soundtrack used is the instrumental version of ‘Imagine Dragon-It’s time’

The genre of the film is drama therefore use of non-diagetic sound with voiceovers and the only use of diagetic sound is the soundtrack.

The soundtrack attracts a young adult audience as Imagine Dragons are an up-and-coming global band therefore younger audiences may be able to identify with the trailer better.

The non-diegetic sound of the bell near the beginning signifies the change in attitude of the character. It also has connotations of school life.

The pace of the music quickens after a short pause and with it the editing get faster to match the music.

The drum beat of music punctuates the typing of the text insert saying "this fall" to makes the audience aware of the release date

Mise-en-scene Charlie tends to wear more dull clothes and has a more standard look about him which relates to his shy and ‘outkast like’ character. Whereas his friends, Sam and Patrick, wear more bright and eccentric clothes which stand out.

All the colours in the homecoming scene of the trailer are colours which can connote America (white, blue and red flag). This again reminds the audience of where the film is set.

Mise-en-scene At the beginning we se a reflection in the window, it shows how the character is lonely and the lighting is dark depicting a possible depression. The voice over says "Dear Friend" at this point, insinuating that the film will be told from this characters point of view

Near the beginning it cuts to the production company screen insert with bright green background, which reflects the poster and the original book cover (attracting any existing audiences). The bright colour could symbolise the happiness and liveliness that comes after his depression depicted at the beginning of the trailer.

Editing At the beginning of the trailer it fades in and the edits mainly include dissolves

However it does change to more fast paced editing with use of jump cuts and then at the end it fades out again. There is a montage of quick shots to show the two friends including Charlie in their group. He finally has friends.

The fact the characters have a specific part of a short trailer could indicate the big part they play in the film and in the life of the protagonist.