iRobot Trailer

Editing

• The trailer begins slowly with frequent cuts and long pauses between each title, then there is a sudden change in pace in the last 20 seconds where there is a montage of action filled scenes from the movie, making the genre very clear.
• Zoom, pan and tilt are used in the majority of the shots in the first 30 seconds of the trailer. The slow movement of the camera helps slow down the pace before the sudden montage of quickly paced footage at the end. This adds to the quick build up in speed and action making the trailer exciting.

Sound

• The trailer starts with the non diegetic sound of long, spaced out piano notes that fit with the slow pace. This seems like ‘the calm before the storm’ as it is a clear build up to the action to follow, when the music increasingly becomes louder, faster and more layered.
• Every third piano note, a title will appear, making it more sudden and effective as well as helping the trailer to flow more smoothly.
• In these first few second when the piano is playing, there is no dialogue, adding to the calm ambience. However we can hear a non diegetic voice over of a radio message which clearly portrays a sense of concern and danger as the robots become aggressive.
• The first and only section of dialogue also helps to portray this idea of distress when he says “just aim and fire” that helps confirm the action genre and involvement of the theme of war or apocalypse.
• As the pace slows and the screen fades to black, the non diegetic music become quieter and eventually stops for a short moment before the action filled montage begins and the non diegetic music abruptly becomes a rapid, layered drum beat. This makes the montage more thrilling through the use of an abrupt build up.
• This sound track is parallel to the on screen action and some of the drum beats are synchronized with actions within the clips such as doors being swung open, gun shots, glass shattering etc. The coordinated editing of this sequence adds to the fast pace and gives a more rhythmic feel to the trailer.

Camera Angles

• Some of the first shots in the trailer consist firstly of a long shot, as two characters walk through the doors of what appears to be and advanced, futuristic factory. From this we can get the idea that the movie will be based sometime in the future. Secondly, a mid shot, which quickly introduces us to two characters, one which we can later assume to be the main protagonist. Thirdly, a crane shot, which pans diagonally upward across a large hall of robots in neat rows, almost like an army, portraying the idea that there is a possibility of apocalypse or war.

• A long shot, zooming out, shows us several soldiers running with guns, helping to confirm the genre (action) and idea of combat.

• An establishing shot is placed both at the beginning of the trailer, during the day, and halfway through the trailer, showing us a modern city as the power appears to cut out. This determines the location of the film and shows us how the problems escalate from calm, everyday life to a night of disaster.

• A close up of a man holding a gun, followed by the actors name, then again followed by another close up of the man confirms the main protagonist and also tells us a well known actor is starring in the movie. Again, this helps us confirm the action genre.

Mise en Scene

• In two shots we see robots neatly lined up in an army like formation. In several other shots we also see them running through the streets, crawling up the buildings, causing destruction and chaos etc. This helps us determine that the film will be set in the future through its demonstration of advanced technology. It also determines the action genre and the strong idea of technology turning on humanity.

• There are several soldiers running round with guns and we see the main protagonist aiming and firing a weapon. Again, this shows the theme of action and war against technology.