12B Textual Analysis: Kidulthood Trailer

1.   1.  Media Forms:
What techniques does the trailer use to persuade its audience to see the film?

This trailer uses many different techniques in order to persuade its audience to watch the film; the first technique they use is the choice of sounds, we hear a lot of shouting and banging, but do not see where it directly is coming from, this would leave the audience with many questions and they would want answers, also relating to that they show scenes which are fast paced, by making them fast paced it doesn’t give the audience much of a change to take in exactly what is happening, and if they see something they think is interesting, the only way they can find out what is happening is by watching the whole film. Another technique used is the feeling of the lifestyles shown, they show young teens who are seen to be anti social, and that is how most kids are in society today, by these kids watching them they can feel as if they are being related to, therefore making them want to watch it. When you think deeply about this trailer you can almost see a mini version of the film being created, although it cuts of fast so you do not fully understand what is happening, like for example we see the 3 young boys laughing and having fun together, then later see them fight with each other and them on their own upset, this could make us wonder what was so bad that made this happen? Therefore making us want to watch the film.

2. Media Representation:
How is gender represented in this trailer?

This trailer shows a bad representation for both genders, firstly the males are seen as young and anti social, they are not seen to be a part of a gang but you could say the 3 are their own small “crew”, by showing this it already shows the negative representations, they show the males fighting and doing badness with guns and blades, so this already shows us the negatives reflecting of them. The females are shown to be targets and easy, we can see the girls in this getting bullied and pushed around, one girl is seen getting punched then gets up and kisses the male who punches her; this would not make sense if you watch it in the trailer therefore making you have to watch the whole film. Males are seen as more dominant and powerful, we see one of them with a huge house and nice cars and jewels, he could be said to be a higher class one, where as the younger’s ones. The younger ones are seen getting bullied by 1 other male, but half way through the trailer we see those males beating up the male that bullied them, so this could also show the negatives of the males.

3. Media Audiences:
What target audience would be attracted to this film?

The target for this trailer would be 15-25, no younger then 15 because of the things seen in this trailer, if a child younger than 15 were to see it, they would then most probably go and try these things which could then get them into trouble, then above the age of 25 you would have parents and matured people, who would not be bothered about this film, so between 15 and 25 would be perfect, also the fact that most people between that ages believe they still live a life of crime as shown in the film, some people may still even live that kind of life style and may want to see it for various different reasons. This would mainly be aimed at males, because the contents shown in their trailer is what you would expect males to be doing, and that’s exactly what is shown, males doing what males should do, and because it involved violence, drugs etc. It’s what more men are into so they would be the targets.

4. Media Institutions:
What low budget values and characteristics can you indentify in this trailer?

Firstly we notice the actors. The actors used are not big named stars, as a matter of fact they are all unheard of, probably only Noel Clark is known but he is still not that famous. A high budget film would have super stars, so people know what to expect from that movie. Also we can see that every where they have shot their scenes it’s on the streets of London and no special sets. Also in most movies you would see luxury cars and jewels and everything that seems like it would cost a lot, but in this trailer we see them but it’s not a lot, it may something a friend or family may have leant for the making of this film.