Analysis Of Four Teen Drama Film Trailers

To help us develop our knowledge of the Teen Drama sub-genre even further and give us some ideas for our own media product, I went and looked into British Teen Drama television programs such as ‘Glue’ and ‘Skins’. I also decided to analyse Drama films such as ‘Kidulthood’ and ‘Adulthood’ that were based on teenage characters, and contained a lot of themes and issues that would have been raised in a Teen Drama.  

Kidulthood 

Kidulthood Trailer

In terms of looking at different character types, the characters shown in the Kidulthood trailer appear less stereo typically ‘Americanised’ and the majority of the characters all seem to belong to one specific social group. The male characters shown from various social groups all seem to be wearing flat caps/ ‘snap backs’, tracksuits/hoodies and gold chains. They also appear to have a shaven head look which could be a part of their regional identity. The female character’s seem to dress in a similar fashion by wearing hoodies or hooded jackets, jeans or denim miniskirts and vest tops. The character Sam is seen taking on the role of the antagonist where he is seen causing conflict with one particular group and causing violence and disruption throughout the trailer. Both the male and female characters are represented as quite superior, with the exception of one female character who doesn't seem to belong to any form of social group (‘the loner’) being brutally beaten by her classmates. Another male character is also seen tied down to a table making him appear inferior. In terms of themes, the trailer covers most of the stereotypical issues that you would expect to see in a Teen Drama film. The trailer shows the characters drinking alcohol, taking a number of illegal substances, violence is demonstrated and insinuated with the camera focusing on guns, baseball bats and knives. Vandalism and sex are also feature , and the topic of teenage pregnancy is also raised in the trailer. Stereotypical settings include house parties, social gatherings and school classrooms, along with not so stereotypical settings such as the train station, the estate and street alley ways.

After analysing this trailer I found that wide shots, close up shots and low angle shots were the most occurring. Similar to the film Cherrybomb, the different shots are all strung together and are captured at quite a fast and intense pace. The film begins with five quick close ups of each individual character’s face before cutting to a long shot landscape overview of the city of London. There is also one long shot of two female characters sitting at Ladbroke Grove train station, from personal identity the audience may be able to identify the geographical location. All of the low angle shots that were used in the trailer were used to make the male characters appear the stereotypically dominant and powerful gender opposed to women. The first low angle shot is of a male character walking through a back street alley way. The character’s body language and being shot from a low angle makes the character appear threatening and intimidating. The second low angle shot is of another male character tied to a table, looking up at another male character. From how the low angle is being shot, the audience almost feel as if they are the male character tied to the table and appear inferior opposed to the other male character in the scene. The final low angle shot is of another male character being beaten by one of male gangs appearing defenceless and vulnerable. Most of the close ups are character driven, but there are a couple of close ups that focus on the different illegal substances being displayed on a coffee table. The close ups of various characters allows us to look at the different relationships each of the characters have with each other. For example, in one scene there was a close up of two characters causing conflict and squaring up to each other, whereas another close up shot shows two characters talking in a relaxed and calm environment. Some close ups were also used to create tension for the audience, one close up focused on a male character being threatened with a gun, and another close up shot focused on a male character pressing a gun underneath another male character’s chin. One head- on shot close up of the male character swinging the baseball bat at the screen features both near the beginning and ending of the trailer, threatening the audience. The camera also tilts to follow the female characters movements as she slowly lowers herself to the ground. Wide shots were used throughout the course of the trailer, focusing on the different settings and locations and different character’s actions. For example, what started out as a close up of a male character in a corner shop turned into a wide shot of the male character throwing bottles at another male character, who appeared to be threatening him with a baseball bat. 

Visual effects have been used on the title of the film, by having an all black background, and using white font for the text (the film title) is used to make the text stand out. The text also first appears blurry before fading into focus. Other visual effects include the font that appears in block capitals except for the letter ‘I'. The beginning of the trailer uses several quick jumps cuts of certain character’s faces before cutting to a long shot. There is also a great deal of short takes included in the trailer. Panning is used around one of the male characters to give the audience more view of the setting and is used when following the movements of a male character holding a knife. A fast forward effect is used in certain parts of the trailer, particularly when the two female characters are taking illegal substances and drinking alcohol (could be used to represent the intense effects that it has had on the two characters). The camera zooms in on one of the male characters after he is presented with a gun and a black out effect is shown half way through the trailer, after one of the male characters is seen being beaten in his bedroom. One continuous piece of non diagetic sound plays throughout, excluding the diagetic sound featuring in the house party scenes. The rhythm of the music is quite fast paced to highlight the intensity of the plot. Certain sections of dialogue are included in some of the shots. 

The film was set in inner West London (Latimer Road and Ladbroke Grove area), with a budget of £600,000. The film made £453, 876 on box office. Institutions that were involved with Kidulthood were award winner distribtion company 'Revolver Entertainment' which has also helped to produce other similar projects via the companies 'inside house' production company 'Gunslinger Films'. Other distribution companies that were involved with the film were 'Capelight Pictures', 'Focus Films', 'Image Entertainment' and 'Future Film'. Distribution companies such as ' Focus Films' seems a more appropriate distribution company to be involved with Kidulthood, as Focus Films is a Brazilian distribution company and there is a lot of gang culture there. Other institutions that were involved were production companies 'Stealth Films', 'Cipher Films' and 'TMC Films', all of which have produced low budget films. The target audience for the this film would be an older teenage/young adult audience as there are lots mature themes such as teenage pregnancy, drug taking and violence. The trailer also contains a large amount of abusive language. 

Adulthood

Adulthood Trailer

Following on from the prequel ‘Kidulthood’, the film chooses to focus on male character in particular, Sam who was first portrayed as the antagonist in the film Kidulthood but is now taking on the role of the protagonist. In terms of looking at character types, the trailer includes a few different representations of male characters. Like Kidulthood, the majority of the male characters were seen wearing hoodies or jackets, tracksuits and chains, and had shaved heads, either as part of their regional identity or as a trait look to show that they belong to a particular social group. 

Near the beginning of the trailer shows a male character getting out of a ‘flash’ car, wearing a black suit and white shirt. The suit could be used to portray the character as a powerful figure in the community. It is suggested that the character has more money that most of the other characters by showing the character pulling up outside a rather large house (opposed to other characters being seen living on the estate), along with the car are used to represent the character’s wealth. Another male character is also seen in a full black outfit, wearing a black shirt and trousers along with a black leather jacket and gold chain. This suggests that this character is a dominant figure in the film and could be linked to the main social group that are seen wearing tracksuits and hoodies, via the gold chain that the character is wearing. Reverting back to the point made earlier about Sam now taking on the role as the protagonist, as he is seen being beaten in the trailer on a couple of occasions, making his character appear inferior. There is less exposure of female characters with the trailer only focusing on two female characters. Both female characters are quite casually dressed (apart from the scene where one of the female characters is seen in just her underwear) and take on the character role of ‘the loner/ the outcast’ by not appearing to belong to any form of social group/gang. Stereotypical locations include ‘raves’, the estate and an illegal gang den, whereas not so stereotypical locations such as the graveyard and the train station feature. Sam’s character is seen walking down dark roads and alley ways in the dark in a couple of the shots, which makes his character, appear vulnerable and exposed to danger. Themes such as violence and vandalism feature in the trailer, with a gang jumping and attacking Sam, and two of the male characters are seen smashing a car window. Objects such as knives, guns and baseball bats are used to indicate violence. There are no sexual scenes in the trailer but the half-dressed male and female characters in the bedroom insinuate that the theme sex will feature in the film. 

The trailer slowly opens with high angled close up shot of the male and female character in the bedroom, with the slow fade into the scene suggesting the intimacy between the two characters. The trailer included lots of close ups and wide shots particularly of Sam’s character.  A couple of close up shots are included when Sam and another male character are seen arguing near the beginning of the trailer, followed by another close up shot of Sam lying on the floor after being beaten, making the character appear inferior and helpless. There is a close up shot of Sam holding a gun to another male character’s face, making him appear the superior character in that scene. Low angle shots are used to portray some male characters as superior figure and pose them as threatening characters. There is a high angle shot of Sam sitting in the graveyard and a close up of Sam shows the character crying, which again makes the character feel vulnerable, but also shows a more sensitive side to the character. Another high angle shot is shown after Sam is jumped and beaten by a local gang. There is a wide shot that particular focuses on Sam and another male character pointing weapons at each other, building tension for the audience as to who will make the first move. Long shots and some high angle shots are used to establish locations and social settings. As the trailer opens the camera zooms in and focuses on the female character that appears to be addressing the audience, allowing the character to appear vulnerable and for audience to establish some form of relationship with the character. The camera then slowly zooms out to reveal the male character that she is actually addressing.

 A flash effect follows, that reveals an overview shot of London city before a series of quick jump cuts of the rave/party scenes follow. The trailer reverts back to the baseball bat scene taken from Kidulthood in a few shots. Several ‘freeze frame’ effects are applied to certain shots of the trailer that also includes text that is used for audience purposes, and to emphasis the drama and conflict that is yet to happen. For example in one frame, the scene freezes on with Sam’s back towards the camera with the words ‘First Day Out’, with the next freeze frame effect applied to a shot of another male character with the words ‘Time To Settle The Score’, suggesting that conflict is going to occur between these two characters. Another freeze frame effect is applied to a shot of Sam running with the words ‘Nothing To Lose’ which creates tension for the audience. The visual effects that have been used on the text, again like the Kidulthood trailer have chosen to use bold, white font so that the audience focuses on the text and for dramatic effect. The camera zooms in on three male characters at a rather fast pace to make them appear threatening. A quick flickering effect is applied to scene where Sam is walking and gets attacked by the local gang. A ‘black out’ effect features after one male character punches the screen (directly aimed at the audience), again like with the bat used in Kidulthood, the use of the punch is used to intimidate and threaten the audience. Panning occurs during scenes of conflict. The first time panning is used is when Sam comes face to face with a gang, the panning is used to foreshadow future events. The second time panning is used is when Sam and another male character are pointing weapons at each other, the camera pans around them to make the audience feel fear and tension as to who will strike first. The screen blacks out towards the end of the trailer to reveal the name of the film, before reverting back to the last scene, and blacking out again to reveal the text ‘Coming Soon’. 

Sections of dialogue are included, with non diagetic sound playing. The first piece of non diagetic sound has a quick pace which is used to represent the tension and drama of the film. Towards the end of the trailer, the sound cuts out and a second, more slower paced and dramatic piece of non diagetic sound is introduced. The sound is only played for a few of the shots before cutting out to reveal the last scene of the trailer for dramatic effect. The film made £3,347,811 on box office. Production companies that were involved with Adulthood were 'Cipher Films', 'Limelight' and 'Unstoppable Entertainment'. Distribution companies that were involved with Adulthood include 'Pathe Pictures International', 'Capelight Pictures' and 'Indies Home Entertainment. In total the film had 10 distributors involved, suggesting that more institutions wanted to be involved with the film after the success of Kidulthood. Like Kidulthood, Adulthood is aimed at older teenage and young adult audiences as a vast amount of violence and suggested violence is included in the trailer, along with alcohol taking and some scenes of nudity. 

Glue 

Glue Trailer

The trailer focuses on one particular social group that seem to fall in to ‘the rebels’ or ‘social outcasts’ social group. One of the female characters is wearing a police officer uniform that shows that she holds power and authority. The trailer includes both stereotypical and non-stereotypical themes and settings. For example most of the scenes are set on a farm and other countryside areas or at the horses stables. One scene includes one male and female character in a bath tub. Stereotypical settings included character’s homes and bedrooms and parties. Narcotics and alcohol were included along with explosives such as fireworks. The characters were also seen joy riding and nudity was displayed, although no sexual content was shown in the trailer. There was a mixture of both high key and  low key lighting that was used to represent the mixed emotions of the characters after the disequilibrium features almost half way through the trailer. 

The high angled long shot used at the beginning of the trailer is used to establish the scene whereas the second long shot is used to view the police officers retrace the dead victim’s movements. The close up shots are character driven and are mainly focusing on character’s facial expressions when they are alone in a shot. All of the close up shots are quite personal, as the camera explores how each character reacts after discovering that one of their friends is dead. The close up shots of the police officer and one of the male characters creates tension for the audience as they are both staring hard at each other, with a tense expression on both of their faces. The close up shots of the male and female character in the stables creates romantic tension for the audience as they stop what they were doing and begin to  look at each other intimately and lovingly. One low angle shot of the tractor occurs before revealing the dead body found underneath the tractor. An extreme close up of a male character’s eye features, maybe to suggest the fear in his eyes,  and various wide shots are included.

Quick cuts are used briefly for the first couple of shots of the trailer until the shot blacks out and slowly fade into the next scene. Another slow fade in effect is applied to the scene of the male and female character staring at each other, used to create and emphasise sexual tension.  A ‘zooming out’ effect is applied for the bath tub scene. There is a quick jump cut from the male character’s face to him driving off in the tractor, and the development of quick jump cuts is seen towards the end of the trailer. Panning is used to follow the movements of the patrolling police officers, and faster panning occurs when one of the male character is seen running through the woods. The change in pace builds up tension for the audience and forces them to feel anxious for the character’s safety. The last slow fade in effect is used on the final scene of the trailer, following the series of quick jump cuts for dramatic effect. There is one piece of non diagetic sound that flows through out the length of the trailer, with some dialogue included. One of the female characters voices over the beginning and ending of the trailer, breaking the fourth wall by directly addressing the audience.

Filming took place in Berkshire. It was described by The Independent as the 'rotting despair of the Countryside'. The programme was produced by 'Eleven Film', an independent production company that produces factual programmes, feature documentaries and comedy and drama series. Glue was distributed by E4. From analysing the trailer, I would suggest that Glue is aimed at a more teenage audience, despite indicated drug taking and explosives been shown in the trailer, the trailer appears more tame and less threatening for younger audiences to watch. 

Skins 

Skins Series 3 Trailer

Again like Glue, the trailer is only focusing on one particular social group. The male characters are seen in t-shirts, jackets/hoodies jeans, although two out of the four male characters don’t necessarily take on the role of the ‘hunk’, but do represent your typical popular and ‘cool’ male character. Another male character is seen wearing a chequered jacket and fluffy hair, suggesting that he is taking on the character role of ‘The Geek’. One of the female characters is seen dressed in a floaty dress, wearing minimal make up and her hair in bunches, making her character appear almost child-like. In terms of character role, she would be taking on ‘The Kooky’ or ‘The Weird One’. Contrasting with this image the other female characters are seen wearing quite a lot of make-up, dresses/skirts, or fitted jeans. It is hard to place them in a specific character role, but they help to show the contrast between ‘The Kooky’ female character and themselves. Despite the specific character roles that some of the characters play, they all belong to the social group of ‘the outcasts’ or ‘the rebels’ as they are seen starting fights with various people, messing around with explosives, drinking alcohol and drugs are briefly shown in the trailer. The trailer is set in a very stereotypical, beaten down British pub, with the stereotypical Bull Dog being shown a couple of times in the trailer. Police officers feature in the trailer, which represents authority trying to be restored. The scenes of the male and female character kissing have a blue tint applied to them, simply for creative purposes. 

The majority of the trailer is made up of wide and close up shots. The trailer opens with a wide shot of the characters running down an alley way and entering the pub. The wide shots that were used focus on the characters as they each enter the pub, and the reactions of the extras that were already seen in the pub. To emphasise people’s reactions to the gang entering the pub, some shots were shot at a fish eye lens angle. This was done for dramatic effect. There were a few close ups of the character’s faces and a close up on the narcotics that were briefly shown. An extreme close up of a male character and female character kissing was used to appear more sexual than intimate. Some frames were shot at a canted angle which could have been used to represent that disorientated state of the characters, as well as to disorientate the audience. There is one high angle shot included in the trailer on one of the male characters messing around with explosives, suggesting that we as the audience are looking down on his behaviour. Low angled shots and more close up shots are featured during the scenes where characters are seeing punching each other and being beaten. The low angle shots were used to make certain characters seem superior and the close up shots were used to make the audience feel tense and unsettled. Low angle shots were also used when the characters were making their escape from the pub after the police arrive.

The trailer uses continuity editing as the trailer is following real time movement of both the characters and the narrative of the trailer. A lot of the action that is captured in the first half of the trailer is captured in slow motion for dramatic effect and allows tension to build. Half way through the trailer, when the conflict has begun, the speed returns and continues to stay at a normal pace. In the second half of the trailer, smashed alcohol bottles and a man being pushed through a window have been captured in slow motion for emphasis and to over exaggerate the extent of the gang's actions. A 'blurred' effect has been applied to some of the characters, again to disorientate the audience. Panning also features in the first half of the trailer when analysing the reactions of the gang entering the pub, and the actions of the characters themselves. There are a great deal of quick cut away shots in the second half of the trailer. Non diagetic sound features all the way through the trailer, but in the second half of the trailer minimal dialouge is included, along with other diagetic sounds such as glasses smashing and police sirens.