notes

1. Task 2: Analytical film review of The Force Awakens
General Overview:
 Director- J.J. Abrams.
 Studio-Pinewood Studios.
 Year- 17 December 2015.
 Country- Previews in American then worldwidea day later.
 Budget- $258.6million (net).
 Total Gross- $306 million.
Purpose: The purposeof this is film was predominantly to make money and to
educate their target audience. The profitmade during the film was
approximately $2 billion representing the success of the film and provides the
actors with an enhanced personalprofile. The primary audience for Star Wars
would be the older generation due to the fact that the first Star Wars was in
1977 meaning the older generation will feel more indulged in the release of
new movies. The secondary research would be the younger generation due to
the merchandisebeing more appealing, for example things like costumes and
light sabers, and this then provides further profitto the company. Furthermore
J.J Abrams feels like they haven’t finished the story meaning they will need to
leave the film on a cliff hanger and create new profitable story lines.
Genre: Within the codes and conventions of Sci-fi this includes clones and
cyborgs, for example c3po and R2D2. Theseare different types of robots
providing connotations of a typical Sci-fi film. Although this is a typical
connotation it’s an iconic actor for Star Wars suggesting that the audience
enjoy sci-fi movies and regularly watch it meaning they have an understanding
of whatis going on. The scenes within the trailer would be the moment Luke
Skywalker places his hand on to R2D2 showing that there is a relation between
this robotand humans, creating an effect for the audience of sci-fifilms that
they can relate to a robot.
Form: Some of the technology used was special effects such as iconic special
effects for example hypo drive light speed. Throughoutthe production and
exhibition, the shot produced used a 35mm film stock with one scene shoton a
65mmIMAX, this 65mmshotwas taken in the Desert. The reason being using
this type of camera allows for a high resolution providing a better picture for
the audience. This appeals to the audience due to the fact it provides a better
viewing for the audience which is vital in sci-fifilms, so the film produced is

2. made in a realistic formand meant the audience will have an outlook on the
quality of the overall film.
Style:J.J. Abrams wanted to keep the new Star Wars traditional through the
use of a limitation of special effects. Furthermore, this therefore appeals to the
primary audience that they will be able to relate to the very firstStar Wars.
The fact that their primary audience will be the older generation this will make
them relate to the 80’s nostalgic style. They have also used this due to the fact
that they havekept the same spacetheme from the very firstStar Wars.
Content and meaning: Star Wars The Force Awakens trailer begins with a close
up of an alien who at the time is an unknown person. This instantly provides
the audience with a question with the firstthing they see, but unknown to the
audience this unknown character will play a main role in the film Rey.
Furthermore, they follow this up through the firstvoice we hear, who we later
find out was Maz, asked the alien figure ‘Who are you?’. This then creates a
senseto the audience that this character has never been seen within the Star
Wars scene. The new character creates new excitement for the primary
audience, the older generation, but also to the
secondary audience, the younger generation. The
primary audience will be provided with new life into
Star Wars meaning they are able to create a new
relationship with a new character. Whereas for the
secondary audiencethis provides them to havesomething to relate to with the
primary audience because they both havethe same knowledgeon the new
character. The younger generation will also be moreattracted to Rey because
this is a female actor and the giving of a female the leading role, creating a
positive branding image for Star Wars showing a variety of actors. For the next
few seconds within the trailer the audience are shown the alien character
exploring an abandoned place which looked like a spaceship, thereforekeeping
up with the Star Wars feeling. Also, the fact that this character is exploring this
abandoned place alone symbols sheis a single character throughoutthe film.
The dark low-key lighting furthermoreadds to the feeling that the character is
alone and has experienced a dark feeling during the film.
After the first potential sighting of a new character in Rey wesee her through
an establishing shot of Rey and BB8. This shotwhere Rey is shown from behind
once again adds to the audience’s questions over who this new character is.
Due to the fact the audience see Rey and BB8 side by side it creates a feeling

3. that these two characters will experience this together, providing the audience
with a new connection that they are able to
create a view of. The non-diegetic sound of
the piano during the establishing shotallows
for the diegetic voice of Rey reply to the
question of Maz with ‘I’mno-one’. Rey again
gives the audience no knowledgeof who she
is during the trailer, this can be used to intrigue both primary and secondary
audiences to watch the film to find out whattype of character Rey is. Whilst
the non-diegetic sound of the piano is carried onto the next scene it’s also
played during the showing of the LucasFilm logo. The LucasFilm logo is shown
in a glissening grey font, this font gives positive connotations of the company
as good quality which in turn reflects well on the
film. The glissening font on the black background
further creates th brand to seem rich and very
wealthy, creating further positives on the outlook
of the film due to LucasFilmproviding the audience
with the special effects of the film. Due to the fact
that Lucas film are a respected brand during film making this and all reasons
will provide the Star Wars with great respect from fellow well known film
producers and actors creating a promotion campaign for the movie.
Once the Lucasfilm advertisement had finished the trailer then transitioned
through a fade to an establishing shotof all the Storm Troopers. Theshot of
the StormTroopers which can be furthered linked to the Nazis through the
formality of them and all in a distinct
uniform, represents the firstlink to Star
Wars. The StormTroopers are iconic
characters of Star Wars becausethey have
featured in every Star Wars to date. Furthermore, the white suits of the Storm
Troopers contrasts in the usualconnotations of the colour white since it
usually symbolises the purity, this says to the audience they are the hero’s in
the film which the audience know not to be true. However, thewhite also can
provideconnotations of innocence which can be backed up through the fact
that all the StormTroopers havebeen brain washed.After seeing all the Storm
Troopers as a force wethen see a close up of one in the next seen. Only for
then to removethe helmet and reveal the character welater find out to be

4. Finn. Once the helmet was removed the
audience are suprised to see the revealing
of an British African, which will create a
surprisefor the audience since there has
only ever been one other black character in
Star Wars. This can prove profitable for Star Wars becausethis will provideto
be appealing to new audiences and will create positive press for the brand of
Star Wars. During therevealing of Finn there is diegetic sound when he says ‘I
was raised to do one thing’. The fact that Finn was a Storm Trooper represents
to the audience that he was brainwashed sincehe was a child and is a empire
of the new empire. This close up was used to help with an emotional
attatchment with Finn due to the fact he is seen as one of the heros in the later
in the film.
The first image we see of the villain, Kylo Ren, during a long shot when he is
surrounded by the distinguished cover colour of red at the control desk of the
home of the empires spaceship. The colour red
presents negative connotations of blood and
danger, also potentially providing a visual
representation of what is going on within Kylo
Ren’s head. Kylo Ren was likened to the iconic figureof Darth Vader through
his appearancethe black armoured costume and the voice used. We then hear
Kylo Ren using diegetic sound using his metallic tone saying, ‘Nothing will stand
in our way’ when voicing his requests to
the empire. This then represents to the
audience that they will expect conflict and
an iconic space battle. Following that
scene, we see a closeup of Kylo Ren’s face
which shows a black mask, similar too Darth Vader. Creating a senseof a
hidden identity likening to Rey at the beginning of the trailer, preventing the
audience to create a relationship with Kylo Ren, which further lives up to the
villain title. This view of Kylo Rens mask shows us severaldents within his mask
potraying the fact he may have had severalaltercations within the film. We are
shown that Kylo Ren and Darth Vader previously had a relastioship within Star
Wars through Kylo Ren htalking to a burntDarth Vader mask. This burnt mask
provides the audience with fresh questions that need to be answered within
the film fromboth new and previous audiences. Furthermore, this creates a
link between the previous Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, this link will be useful

5. when attracting the primary audiences so they
have something to relate to when watching the
new Star Wars. The diegetic sound used when
Kylo Ren quotes ‘I will finish what you started’,
portrays his feelings towards Darth Vader and his
legacy which furthermoreagrees to the villain staus that Kylo Ren requires. We
can also infer the relation to Darth Vader due to the digetic sound of Darth
Vaders breathing when Kylo Ren is speaking. The transition into the next seen
through the useof a plain black screen and silence represents the importance
of whathappens next. This next seen represents
the power that Kylo Ren holds as he is inflicting
pain onto Poe, which gives a further
representation into Kylo Rens personality that he
is twisted and evil.
As we see the power of Kylo Ren the non-diegetic sound increases significantly
representing the fact that the plot is intensifying. For the following scenes we
further see that the plot is intensifying through the speed in which the shots
are changing. All these plot intensifying moments is due to a scenewith an
iconic chase, giving the trailer the sci-fi conventions of past Star Wars films.
This iconic chaseincludes the popular culture of Star Wars the millennium
falcon. By using the millennium falcon, it provides the primary audience with
excitement due to the return of such an iconic figure that has been a part of
many Star Wars. This match cut of a high-speed chase also allows iconic special
effects to return and enhance the sci-ficonventions of the film. The special
effects during this scene are shown through the
use of fire and explosions to increasethe
entertainment side for the audience. The
cinematography used in this scene is the wide
angle shot which contains lots of action, this can further build excitement for
the viewers as it relates to former Star Wars meaning it will be pleasing older
fans. The diegetic sound used when Rey says, ‘Thereare stories about what
happened’, this quote fromRey provides questions for the audience that what
they have previously watched may not have been true and only stories.
We then aresurprised as both primary ad secondary audiences to see both Rey
and Finn standing together surrounded by the colour blue. As a primary
audience we are able to suggestthat the colour blue generally represents the
good side, where as for the secondary audiencethe plot will be easier to

6. understand through the use of the colour blue. The
cinematography used during this scene is the two
shot, we see Finn stood behind Rey, potentially
meaning that Finn is there as back up to Rey. Also,
the positioning of Rey in front of Finn could representthe fact that Rey is the
main character. The non-diegetic sound of the music changes form loud during
the chaseto quieter when we see Finn which could potentially resemble the
change in side for Finn fromthe beginning of the trailer. The non-diegetic
sound of the music also changes so we areable to focus on the return of the
iconic character Han Solo, this allows the secondary audience to also realise his
importance to the film. This moment in the
trailer will providethe primary audience
with high amounts of excitement and
surprise. To enhance that excitement a Mid
close-up of Han Solo then appears, who is
an original hero fromthe original Star Wars. The fact that the colour blue is
surrounding this iconic figurefurther suggestthat both the new characters,
Rey and Finn, are potential heroes of this Star Wars.
Following Han Solos arrival, we are greeted with special effects through the
use of hypo drivelightspeed as stars stream pastand a tunnel of blue follows,
further showing the continued sci-fi conventions of Star Wars. After these
special effects we are shown thefirst text throughoutthe whole trailer which
says, ‘This Christmas’. Therelease date of the film
allows the audience to begin to build excitement for
the film whilst also creating an anticipation a wait
for the film’s release due to the fact you know it will
appear on your screen soon. The fact it also is being release at Christmas
means this is another major time in the calendar year to release a film, this is a
major time becauseit is when all generations of families will be able to watch
the film together, targeting all audiences. After the release time is stated we
are shown the firsticonic shot on the light saber. The fact that the light saber is
the colour red it represents that the people holding it are villains within the
film due to the colour red representing blood and
danger. Furthermore, the way in which these
villains are dressed in the colour black can portray
signs that they are evil. However we can also see
the importanceof these characters due to the fact

7. that they stand out in back costumes on a dark background, which could
potentially representtheir power that they will stand out. The non-diegetic
sound of one of the iconic soundtracks in Star Wars goes quiter during this
scene allowing to build suspensefor the audience, for then the audience to be
made to watch through the the quick jump cuts of huge action for many
scenes.This can potentially allow the audience
to know what to expect within the film, again
building the anticipation around the film.
Throughoutthese scenes there is a match cut
fromone explosion to another building the
suspensefor the audience. During one of these scenses of explosion we see a
medium shot of Rey and Finn looking terrified in the desert, although they are
in acton looking like they are ready to fight. If the audience were to read
further into the location of the desert it shows that this is the same location as
at the beginning, potentially representing the fact that they met on the planet
not in space. This means that Finn wouldvehad to rebel againstthe empire
when on the planet showing a strong side to his character.
As a newer audience they are again left questioning another character when
we a contrastof a hooded actor touching
the iconic robotR2D2. This hooded actor
however will be recognisblefigureto the
older audience due to the fact of the metal
hand. We are again shown the power of
both Kylo Ren and the Storm Troopers of
the empire as they are shown walking through large amounts of fire and
devestation with Kylo Ren maintaining the useof the red light saber. Also in
the following scne to the show of devestation weare shown a emotional Rey,
who is potentially reacting to the power of Kylo Ren. Following this scene we
are shown the firstsighting of the reunited relastionship between both Han
Solo and Chewbacca. This relastionship is an
iconic one for Star Wars and the older viewers
will recognise and be able to create a
relastionship themselves between Han Solo
and Chewbacca.After this scene the audience is reunited with the high speed
cuts between speed with iconic high speed chases and loud music helping
representthe formallity of the film and what the audience should expect. At
the end of every trailer the film name is shown and Star Wars is no different.

8. To help enhance the importance of whatis
coming next the screen from the trailer contrast
and changes fromhigh speed action to a black
screen, similar to the music which turns a lot
quieter. The transition used to show the logo of
‘Star Wars’ is a fade helping to highlight the name. ‘Star Wars’ is highlighted on
the screen through the iconic background of the galaxy, keeping the origional
theme for both the older and newer audience. The following scene has the
release date of the whole film building the excitement for the audience but
also the availble pltforms that can access the new Star Wars.