Batman v Superman Teaser Trailer analysis

Name: Batman v Superman
Date Released: March 2016
Rating: PG 13
Box Office: To be released
Actors: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams
Production Company:Warner Bros
Director: Zack Zynder
Awards: To be released.

Target Audience.

I think that the target audience for this film would be teenagers from around 13 up to 30. As this film is based on Superheroes this creates an established audience from the previous Superheroes franchises and the original comics. I think that the age 13 is the age in which kids are typically interested and enjoy watching superhero themed films. The primary gender that this film would appeal to is boys. Stereotypically these films appeal more to boys as boys generally look up to the hero figure as a role model. However this film may appeal well to females as there is a female protagonist. I think that the age of this film shouldn't be higher than 30 as some adults over those age may not be interested in this genre of film and could find it boring and cheesy. However some adults who have grown up watching super hero orientated films may be intrigued to see a newer version.

Settings, location, mise en scene.
The first shot that the audience can see in the trailer is the ident for Warner Bros. By having this as the first shot in the trailer sets the standard for this film. Warner Bros is an established company and have made several films that are well known and off a high quality. By seeing this ident it will make the audience more interested to watch this film. Fans of previous Warner Bros films may watch this film as they are fans from previous productions. The ident is dark and sinister which suggest that this film carries similar themes to this throughout the trailer.

The first shot we can see of the trailer is a medium close up of Batman. The costume that he is wearing is an icon of the Batman franchise and is well known by everyone. The high key lighting in this shot illuminates Batman's face and upper torso. This use of lighting draws the audience's attention to Batman's face- this is the key part of the shot as it introduces him as the masked vigilante. The dark costume that he is wearing shows connotations of power and strength. This shot of Batman infers he is strong and powerful. However this shot is juxtaposed by the next shot which exhibits Batman being chained up. This shot contrasting with the previous shot exhibits a comical tone for the audience and furthers the pleasure the viewer will get from watching this film.

A long shot of Superman jumping down into the shot introduces a new character to the trailer. This shot is very dramatic and connotes to the audience power and an impending battle. The costume that Superman is wearing follows the conventions of a hero costume. The costume that this character is wearing is very distinguishable and immediately that audience knows who the character is. This long shot enables the audience to see the location of these shots and how it relates to the narrative. The location of this shot is very dark and derelict. There is sand and dust on the floor which shows connotations of an underground location. The fact that this is underground connotes that the location is a secret.

The trailer has been broken up with the use of title screens. The font used in this title looks quite dramatic and this is further supported by the use of capital letters. The white typography stands out well against the black background and makes it more eye catching to the audience. The director title has been added first as this is one of the key elements needed in production.

A tracking shot of Superman walking towards the camera as an eye line match exhibits to the audience his identity and makes him distinguishable. This shot is interesting as the protagonist walks into focus. The high key lighting used behind this character emphasises the shape and build of his body. The fact that the superhero is a male supports the archetype that men are typically seen as the stronger sex and the breadwinner of the family.

An over the shoulder two shot of the two superheroes shows the weakness of Batman and the dominance and strength of Superman. The composition of shot exhibits these two superheroes as equals as they both have the same amount of space on camera. The lighting used in this shot emphasises that Batman is tied up and that Superman is overpowering him in terms of strength. These shots are edited together using a fade to black transition which creates a dramatic tone to the trailer. The fade to black transition is conventionally used in thriller films. 

A close up shot of superman revealing the identity of Batman enforces the dominance of Superman over Batman. The medium close up of Superman introduces him to the audience and shows that he is a key part in the narrative. The revealing of Batman's identity is portrayed to the audience through a shot reverse shot which shows this process through several shots. These shots vary from over the shoulder and medium close ups.

When Batman's identity is revealed a medium close up of the character is shown to the audience. The use of a medium close up allows a good look at Batman's face whilst still showing the audience that he is weaker as he is tied up. The camera tracks in this shot. This could allow be connoted as a point of view shot from Batman.

The last shot of the trailer is the title screen. By having the title screen at the end of the trailer means that the audience will be guessing and constantly interested in what film this is for. The title screen being at the end gives a dramatic conclusion to the trailer and leaves a lasting impression on the audience. The black background of the title screen creates a dramatic effect- this also makes the white font stand out.

Sound.
When the trailer opens an incidental soundtrack immediately begins. The tone of the track is very low a
and creates a dramatic effect to the trailer. The soundtrack immediately creates a tense atmosphere which is constantly building throughout the trailer. When the audience first see Batman a boom sound effect is used when his head looks up. This sound effect peaks the audience's interest and puts them on edge. Another sound effect is used when Superman arrive into the trailer. A wind sound effect is used which connotes how Superman can fly. This effect is further supported by the ambient sound and the sound effect of the sand. As the titles are interspersed into the trailer the incidental sound track increases and develops to further create a dramatic atmosphere. As the titles appear on screen a boom sound effect is used again to draw attention to the information that appears on screen. As the trailer comes to a conclusion the tone of the sound track increases and finishes a halt. This creates drama for the reveal of the title.