Trailer Breakdown: Trainspotting Trailer #1

Trailer Breakdown: Trainspotting Trailer #1

• 1. Poly Gram Indent. We can take this from the trailer, or create one in either Adobe Photoshop or After Effects
• 2. This mid shot looking up at Renton running highlights the importance or status of Renton within the film. Colours date the film, connoting that its shot in the early 90’s late 80’s, reflecting the “zeitgeist”.
• 3. Camera tilts up from the feet running towards you, the audience feel inferior, creating interest in what’s happening. Music builds pace, increases curiosity. The beat of the music (lust for life- Iggy Pop) fits with the running of the feet.
• 4. Wide shot of the group running away under bridge getting smaller- contrasting from their stature at the start; they begin to look small in relation to a strong concrete bridge. You realise they are not as powerful as they first appeared to be. Also the bridge could be interpreted as “seeing light at the end of the tunnel.” Which is a visual motif framing the film, as Renton tries to escape a life of heroin.
• 5. Mid close up of Renton laughing into the car makes the audience feel like the person in the car; the man leaning over the bonnet laughing appears un-fazed by being hit by the car. He’s invincible. It connotes that Renton can’t be knocked; whatever happens he’ll pick himself up and keep going.
• 6. Long shot, low angle, long shot, long shot/mid shot, action shots of the group during football game – showing their character, you have the ta onell, the loud one, the fierce one, the joker, the realist etc. A lot of back lighting on Sick Boy. The framing for each shot represents the characters personality or possible characteristics.
• 7. Tilt up at the female characters. They are not important in the film, but they play a part. The camera suggests they are an “add on” to the entourage.
• 8. Man falls to the ground and the audience begin to feel a part of the film. Mid close up silhouette of man’s side profile (head and shoulders). He is a silhouette, so the audience still can’t make out exactly what he looks like.
• 9. Match on action of man’s fall. Close up, as smoke exits man’s lips. The smoke could be a metaphor for his lack of drive in life, as it leaves his body and lingers.
• 10. 180 degree rule as camera pans over his body.Out of focus on his body focusing on the images in the background. Drawing attention to the squalor in which he lives. The back light dims the tone of the room.
• 11. Camera pans down the wall “welcome to mother superiors” -the very basic swamp green wall and dark lighting connotes a deeper light with colours that suggest a unhygienic dirty world, or a darker power within. The words in the sentence support this and suggest that there is a god involved. In this case they all worship Heroin and the shots to follow compliment this statement.
• 12. The camera pans across the baby in one doorway then tracks into the heroin in the next room. This shot is clever and highly symbolic.,  It shows the fine divide between reality and a source of release. It also contrasts the story of life, showing a fragile innocence in one doorway and a corrupted life dirtied by narcotics in another. Furthermore, it connotes two possible paths for Renton.
• 13. Bird’s eye view of man on floor, this shot follows on from the last, supporting the statement that there are two lifestyles in one household. This shot is within the heroin doorway, with only a brick wall dividing from the naive innocence of the baby. Spud is establishing the typical household routine, and is framed by the rule of thirds.