2. Film Trailers I will be analysing three moving images’ media language, target audience, rules and conventions, camera angles/shots, representations and any other analytic points. The three film trailers I will be analysing: Snatch The Business Outlaw
3. Snatch Background information: Snatch is a 2000 crime film written and directed by British filmmaker Guy Ritchie, featuring an ensemble cast. Set in the London criminal underworld, the film contains two intertwined plots: one dealing with the search for a stolen diamond, the other with a small-time boxing promoter named Turkish (Jason Statham) who finds himself under the thumb of a ruthless gangster known as Brick Top. The film shares themes, ideas and motifs with Ritchie's first film, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. It is also filmed in the same visual style and features many of the same actors, including Jones, Statham, and Ford. Snatch was largely successful, both in critical acclaim and at the box office, and has gone on to develop a devoted cult following. From an estimated budget of £1,900,000 (according to the Director's Commentary), the movie grossed a total of $30,093,107 in the United States and £12,137,698 in the United Kingdom. Rotten Tomatoes lists Snatch as having 73% of the reviews (133 reviews listed in total) as being "fresh”.
4. The Trailer The first thing the viewer sees is the film producer, Screen Gems. A subsidiary of Sony Pictures. Screen Gems have produced films such as Hostel Part 2, Resident Evil and The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Film enthusiasts will instantly be able to familiarise themselves with the production company and know what to expect from the feature production. Even the casual film watcher will be able to see from the three second clip of the production company that violent/dark themes are to be expected. The simple blue, black and white colours accompanied by the mysterious jingle that goes with the logo sets an already dark mood before the film starts. Compared to other production company logos such as Pathe’s yellow and white cot mobile, Screen Gems’ is very mysterious.
5. The Trailer (continued) Straight after Screen Gems’ logo fades away, the upbeat, heavy soundtrack used to emphasise the action and violence in the film starts marginally before the first visual viewing of the trailer, which happens to be a gang of supposes Jews, all armed with heavy firearms. We are shown two seconds of this action scene but its sets the scene for the rest of the trailer. Like most film trailers which are directed by world famous directors, they like to show the name off, almost as if it is a super brand. Snatch is no different, within the first ten seconds the viewer is shown in eerie red text on a black background that Guy Ritchie is the director and we are also shown that he has directed other successful films such as ‘Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’.
6. Characters and Genre We are then introduced to the characters of the feature and the first character the viewer is introduced to, Frankie Four Fingers, is shown to be a high risk gambler and it is visible that he only has four fingers. This can be inferred that indeed most of the characters in the feature are likely to have been involved with some underground, illegal dealings. The loss of Frankie’s finger is not shown to be an accident so the viewer can assume that he has been in trouble within the criminal underworld. The clothes that we see Frankie wear are very classy and appear expensive, Frankie has an aura about him that he has made his money from gambling. The focal point of the trailer we then learn is the diamond, and the first viewing of the diamond we get is of Frankie, the high risk gambler holding it up to the light. Which could mean that he has been involved in many heists or illegal dealings before involving expensive minerals.
7. Character and Genre (continued) We then see most characters in the film appear holding the diamond which could mean that the film will be about acquiring the diamond and using force to do so. The genre is now confirmed due to the references to gambling, guns, diamonds and death and we now know that this is going to be an action packed, British crime thriller. The broad cockney accents also let the reader know it will be set in the heart of London, most probably the East End. The cockney aura compliments the British Crime Thriller genre due to the East End gangster stereotype first founded by the Kray’s in the early 1960s.
8. Camera Shots The camera shots in crime thriller film trailers are usually very fast paced, not allowing the viewer to get a real grip of what is going on and to create a sense of chaos. Snatch is no different, the tempo of the camera shots in the trailer is very fast and aggressive, constantly zooming in on focal points of the film such as the diamond or Frankie’s missing finger. The transition between the scenes is very minimalistic, just extremely quick chopping and changing emphasising the fact that the trailer is not supposed to relax anyone and creating a selling point for the full length feature. If the transition between the slides was at pedestrian pace, the potential viewers would be put off because a Guy Ritchie film is supposed to be fast paced, and a slow moving crime thriller would not sit well with anyone because the element of chaos is vital in these films, whereas an element of liberating relaxation is a necessity in films in the romantic or humorous genres. Separating camera shots, the editing consists of text-on-screen rhetorical questions and quick and simple editing techniques such as shrinking the screen and playing a rewind sound and then the next scene will appear. Using techniques like this is seamless and still keeps the genre of film going as the editing sounds are very loud and aggressive, much like the feature.
9. Target audience The target audience for Snatch would be males, between the ages of 18 – 40 who enjoy overly masculine, home grown, low budget crime thrillers. Snatch is not to be analysed, more to be enjoyed as there are obvious flaws within the plot. I use the phrase ‘overly masculine’ because although the age rating is an 18 and the title of the film has its direct sexual association, the film provides no nudity and extremely little female coverage. This is shown clearly in the trailer as there are only 2 females shown, and this clip is very brief. Another theme in the film which links in with the ‘overly masculine’ feeling to the film is the boxing, boxing is very much a mans sport and the aggression and violence shown in the boxing ring is replicated outside of the boxing ring only bettered by the use of guns and not gloves. I highly doubt Guy Ritchie expected women to want to go and see the film. Snatch is a film which you go and see with male friends and is very quotable, hence the cast of actors chosen: Vinnie Jones, Jason Statham and Brad Pitt are often associated with masculine films and a lot of males will go and see films because of actors such as Vinnie Jones and Jason Statham, accompanied by Guy Ritchie being the director, you can tell this film will be ‘overly masculine’ before the viewer even sees it.
10. Target audience (continued) Snatch is a film which you go and see with male friends and is very quotable, hence the cast of actors chosen: Vinnie Jones, Jason Statham and Brad Pitt are often associated with masculine films and a lot of males will go and see films because of actors such as Vinnie Jones and Jason Statham, accompanied by Guy Ritchie being the director, you can tell this film will be ‘overly masculine’ before the viewer even sees it.
11. Character representations Turkish: A straight edge cockney ‘geezer’ who is trying to make money by promoting boxing matches, he is made to represent the innocent in this film. He is trying to do right whereas everyone else around him is intent on doing wrong. Brick Top: An absolute psychopath who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He has a strong cockney accent and represents the typical wheeler dealer. Mickey: The boxing gypsy who is arguably the main character in the film. He represents the travelling community and plays on the stereotype by being seen as someone who can not be trusted as he plots against Brick Top, who at the time was his employer. Bullet Tooth Tony: The hard nut, although shown to have a brain as well. He is made to represent the ruthless cockney stereotype with his broad accent and golden teeth he strikes fear into the other character’s eyes although he seems well educated. Vinnie & Sol: These two are made to represent the small time hustlers, they aim to make a living from pawning gold and diamonds, they get mixed up in the whole situation at times act like they are going to cry. They are out of their depth and represent the small time wannabe gangsters. Almost, a wannabe Brick Top.
