Research and Planning: Analysis of 'Thor' Teaser Trailer

Media Features
Editing
Editing features in this trailer include:
- Fade to Black
Fade to black transitions are frequent throughout this trailer and happen after each part of the trailer's montage. They may be being used to show a change in time, location or scene.
- Dissolve
These are used after each fade to black, to bring the next scene in. This is used as an emphasis of my previous point.
- Jump Cut
Jump cuts show high action scenes in this trailer.
- Straight Cut
Straight cuts, although rarely used, are also seen in this trailer. They are usually used to show that the time and location are the same, but the camera focus has changed to another person, for example, the straight cut used at around 1:00.
- Match Cut
A match cut is used at around 1:01 in a way of making the trailer flow but still including lots of action. In this match cut, the trailer goes from Thor hitting down some sort of weapon, and just as it is expected to hit whatever it is it's meant to be hitting, there's a cut to a car exploding.

Cinematography
Cinematography evident in this trailer includes:
- Close ups
These are introduced into the trailer right at the beginning, and are accompanied by POV shots as we see in turn Jane from Thor's eyes, looking down on him, and Thor from Jane's eyes, looking  up at her. These show the close proximity of the characters, and possibly hint at the closeness of their relationship, or the closeness required of them for the disruption in the film.
- POV shot
As aforementioned, a POV shot is used right at the beginning of the trailer. Although not accompanied by a low angle, it shows vulnerability as Thor, whose eyes we are currently looking through, is lay on the ground and Jane is stood over him, looking down.
- Establishing shots
An establishing shot is used just after the aforementioned to give the audience an idea of where the characters are and allow them to get their own impression of what may happen to them.
- Two shots
A two shot is used during the equilibrium as Thor explains a little more to Jane what is going on, and although the audience is not completely informed, due to the deixical (context bound) 'they'. The audience does not know what 'they' is, and can only pick up meaning from parts of Thor's definition during the two shot.
- Zoom
Zooms are used to show more of an location as quick as possible in this trailer. This is important in trailers, and particularly teaser trailers, as the audience needs to be given a clear enough idea of the film and be convinced to watch it in only a short space of time. A good example of this is at 0:14.
- Crab
A crab is used to follow a van in the trailer as soon as the momentum music starts. This fast movement accompanies the music in telling the audience that action of some sort is about to occur.
- Birds Eye View
The Birds Eye View at 0:24 is used to show location. It is accompanied by a zoom, as well as a pan.
- Pan
A Pan is used at 0:24 in a similar way as the accompanying zoom is - to show as much location as possible in a short amount of time. The idea behind this technique is to give the audience as much information as possible, but also leave them guessing. This is effective, particularly here, as from watching the trailer alone, we are not too sure what the significance is of the top of the building we have just been shown.
-  Shot Reverse Shot
From my knowledge of teaser trailers, I believe that shot reverse shots in teaser trailers are quite rare. This is generally because of the length of a teaser trailer, where there is generally not enough time to include a conversation of any significant length. However, shot reverse shots and conversation take up 12 seconds of this 1:14 trailer, and allow the trailer to add suspense, particularly with the angles in which each character is shot.
- Low Angle
A low angle is used around a similar time as the shot reverse shots in this trailer, and accompany the dialogue in making Odin appear more superior than Thor. A high angle of Thor during this time does not assist, however.
- Over the Shoulder Shot
An over the shoulder shot is used at 1:03 to show power.

Sound
Diagetic
- Dialogue
This trailer is quite heavy in dialogue, particularly at the beginning, and towards the end. This is to assist the audience in figuring out what is going on.
- Sound Effects
Very little sound effects are used in this trailer, the only ones being the sound of punches from around 0:26, and the ones from the car explosions. This may be because of the balance between dialogue and sound effect, where there is lots of dialogue, so only a small amount of sound effects.

Non-Diagetic
- Score & Mood Music
The score is an important part of this trailer, particularly as the action picks up, as it accompanies what is going on on screen perfectly. The music is not too monotone, but not changing too quickly either, and reflects the action on screen, heightening when action is the main focus, and calming when it is not. The music coming to an abrupt end at the end of the trailer is also quite effective.


Mise en Scene
- Costume
The costumes in this trailer represent the collide of the two worlds - Thor being one, and earth being the other. Thor has been cast out of Asgard, and is now among humans who are dressed fairly regularly in work uniforms or casual clothes, whereas Thor is in full body armour. This helps us as the audience to differentiate between the two worlds, and makes it clear when Thor is in one, and when he is in the other, as clips in trailers do not always go in order.
- Lighting
This trailer is made up mainly of high key lighting, perhaps due to the fact that the trailer is centred around Thor, the hero. Some parts have low key lighting, particularly during the talk with Odin, and these parts show danger and problems for Thor. There is likely to be more low key lighting in the full film than in the trailer.


Genre
This trailer has a couple of different genres, its main one being action, and a secondary genre of fantasy. This film can be classed as fantasy due to the existence of two worlds, and the impossibility of many of the issues occurring in the trailer occurring in real life. I believe this is a good example of Andrew Sarris' theory about genre being recognisable and appealing to a certain, existing audience. This film is given a wider audience bracket because it appeals to action fans as well as fantasy fans, many of which will have seen films with the other genre in anyway, as these are to genres commonly seen together.

Representation
The male gaze is more noticeably present in this trailer compared to that of 'The Spiderwick Chronicles', as there is not a particular emphasis on the film being aimed directly at children. The certificate of this film is 12A, and so naturally contains more 'risky' elements. Laura Mulvey would likely say that it was typical of the main character, Thor, to kiss Jane, played by Natalie Portman, as this is part of the male gaze, and a way to attract men to watching a film.

Narrative
From what we can see in the trailer, it is evident that this film is a good example of Propp's theory about main characters, where there is a hero (Thor), a villain (Odin) and a princess (Jane). The theory also includes tags such as 'false hero', which may also be true to the full film, although there are no signs of it in the trailer.

Audience
Just like with 'The Spiderwick Chronicles', audience members are likely to be more active while watching this film, rather than passive, as there is a lot of information to take in in order for the film to make sense. The reception theory may be present in some cases with audience members who have maybe travelled and are now living in a country other than the one they call home, who may empathise with Thor's position of being an outsider in a strange place.