Theatrical Trailer analysis- The Matrix

The Matrix (1999)

The institution is the first element you see from this trailer, which allows the audience to see who produced and made the film, in this case, 'Warner Bros'. This subverts to the stereotypical use of institution as there is a colour alteration on this certain one as traditionally the institution companies have a set colour used, so they are recognisable. This may surprise the audience as it does not follow the traditional conventions of which, stereotypically, all films follows. The colour used here is green for the logo of the institution rather than the traditional colour yellow connoting happiness; therefore this indicates that the genre is Sci Fi, as green connotes this. Usually the sky is a calming blue colour making the atmosphere comforting and appealing, however, in contrast, the clouds are stormy and grey, which suggests that the genre is action or a drama as this colour connotes dauntingness and suggests that a storm is brewing...

The first shot (establishing shot) gives an establishment of where the film is located, a city. Using a city allows the audience to associate themselves with the film as the majority of the audience would be a working people who work in these locations. Using a low angled shot suggests how minute humans feel compared to their surroundings, which to a certain extent could symbolise how the character within the film feel like. Following the low angled shot is a high angled shot which emphasises the dominance and power this city has, could suggest the impact the city has within the film. A fade in transition is used to introduce the phrase ' In an ordinary world'. This reinforces how ordinary the world is and therefore making the audience feel as though this could happen to them or even be happening now.

Following another fade out fade in transition, a phrase 'You do your job' fades in on screen. This is the same font as the first phrase used to introduce the film. The font is in block upper case font which could symbolise (symbolic code) the importunacy of the text. There is also a green tinge to the font which implies that the genre of the film could be linked to aliens, therefore Sci Fi. Following this phrase was a low angled medium shot of the man working in a cubicle office, which is dimly lit. The use of the dim lighting in this shot, could suggest and symbolise many things, for example it reflect how horrible and boring the man's job is as it makes the appearance of the cubicle simple and dull. It could also symbolise the atmosphere which is known as pathetic fallacy, meaning the surroundings suggest the mood and the atmosphere of the shot; in this case and depressing and upset mood, maybe stuck in a dead end job. Having only one person within the shot suggests he may be the main character of the film, therefore gives the audience an insight of the characters life and status in society. On the other hand, as the man has his back to the audience, he could just symbolise what job people usually do stereotypically. Through the use of dim lighting and dullness of the shot; the audience would feel sympathetic for the character as they either know how one feels or that due to the depressing atmosphere created, they generally just feel sorry for them.

The next shot again has a phrase before the shot comes onto screen, 'You go to parties'. All these phrases are linked with a shot therefore they are describing the phrase. This allows the audience to create an image in their heads of what they do, therefore allows the audience to associate themselves with the trailer. The used is a medium shot which shows a few figures within it. This shot doesn't appear to be a normal party due to the use of productive clothing and punk like hair. This could reinforce that the genre of the film is Sci Fi through the use of clothing and wacky hairstyles (mise en scene). The shot isn't very well lit, which this lighting suggest it's not a normal party the audience would expect, creating an enigma of what kind of party it is.

Another fade out fade in transition is used to show another phrase and shot. The phrase says 'You pay your bills', which would associate with pretty much the whole audience as they would pay these, however, what is the big deal about these bills? All these phrases describe an average person’s life, which makes the audience feel maybe a bit worthless as they describe their life in four sentences. This therefore would make the audience intrigued as they can associate themselves with the person who also feels similar to this. The shot used here is a low angled medium shot, which is a repeated location of the office cubicle, with the same man. This implies that this man may have significance within the film as he has been repeated. The lighting again symbolise the depressingness of what the man is feeling and therefore making the audience feel sorrow for the man. Having used an office location would make the trailer more relatable as the audience would know how it feels to work and therefore would lead to the audience watching the film.

The final phrase which comes up is ' You live as a slave!' This phrase is separated with shots in between the word 'live' and 'as' with a tuning non diegetic noise. Having this phrase separated buildings up tension within the trailer which is reinforced by the tuning effect noise. The use of punctuation emphasises the word 'slave', which implicates that this is a main factor in which the people involved in the film feel like. This could be the reason why there are so many angled shots (high/low), so that it makes the characters seem very small and worthless and also the audience watching it. This section of the trailer is fairly fast pace, (fast pace editing), which makes builds tension but also makes the word 'Slave' stand in your memory as the phrase doesn’t fade out for a while. The shots in between these phrases, are different people, which suggests these are the main characters of the film, especially as the man is furthermore repeated. The last shot of these short shots, is the man waking up, but what from? This therefore creates an enigma for the audience. This man waking up creates a metaphor of him finally realising what is happening in this 'ordinary world'...

The next shot is introduced by a narrative saying, 'Have you ever had a dream, which has felt so real. What happens if you are unable to even wake up from that? How will you know the difference from the dream and the real world?' This automatically begins building the tension of the trailer, especially as the tone of his voice deepens as he asks the finally question. The pause between the 'dream' and 'the real world', reinforces this tension building as, it tells the audience that things are not as they seem. The narrator is revealed, who is portrayed as some sort of spy of rebel against society die to the use of mise en scene, of the dark shades and black leather jacket. This makes the audience want to know who this person is and why they are saying this to this average young man. Also within this scene of shots is the black haired man who was in the opening of this trailer, therefore reinforcing he is one of the main characters of the film and the audience will be following his journey. The use of the liquid portal implicates the trailer is advertising a Sci Fi film due to having an alien like prop and special effect used. After this phrase was said there is a sequence of shots which involves shots of supernatural events of a young girl moving objects with her mind and a mouth sealed with skin. These shots reinforces the genre of the film being Sci Fi due to having unnatural and weird events. These shots are also very short cut, which makes the audience unable to see these shots in detail. This therefore makes the audience want to know what this is so would watch the trailer or film to see what was going on. Due to the editing, it suggests that when the man touches this portal he sees all this supernatural things. This links to the slogan early, ' Live as a slave', as he is just realising what this 'ordinary' world is like. These shots are also all close up shots which provides minimal information for the audience, therefore making the audience concentrate and become more intrigued as they want to know what and where this person is.

 The next shot is a close up shot of a woman whispering into the black haired man's ear, which he asks, 'What is The Matrix?' This obviously explains what the concept of the title means, which would give the audience an insight of what the film plot is about and what it could lead too. Having used this over the shoulder close up, with the woman facing the camera and the man away, shows that she has more dominance; therefore has a main part within the film. Following this shot is a medium of the dark skinned man, ‘Morpheus’ in the film, which due to repeated appearance suggests that he is an important figure within the film. The use of mise en scene, the dark lens glasses, makes the character seem as though they are the boss or the leader, but of what? The dialogue used here 'It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth', explains what is meant by ' The Matrix'. This tells the audience that these people are going to uncover 'The Matrix’, and destroy it. Due to the tone of the man’s voice, it creates a negative representation of 'The Matrix' as the tone is very low. The medium shot allows us to see the dimly lit room, which this lighting reinforces that 'The Matrix' is a topic which is unnerving and dangerous.

This dialogue continues as a narrative for the next shot of a man looking out of a window. The dialogue says 'you are a slave born into a prison for your mind'. This tells the audience that whatever's going on, individuals are being used for something bad. Having this as a narrator over the medium shot of the man looking out of the window creates an effect that this man is realising and understanding what 'Morpheus' is telling him. This is reinforced by the expression on the characters face as being fairly tense and gob smacked. Due to the lighting used, it illuminates the characters face, making him seem innocent' therefore making the audience feel sympathetic for him.

The following shots is a medium shot of a group of people crossing the road, which are all wearing suits or work clothes. This allows the audience to associate with them as they themselves go to work. The use of clothing (mise en scene), is all black which connotes to death, sadness and despair, which could suggest their life as they are doing the same thing every day with no change. Having everyone looking the same, due to clothing, makes them all seem like they are no different from each, therefore no uniqueness in anyone. This medium shot also allows us to see the location of the film, as being a city based location, very relatable. Morpheus is again explaining 'The Matrix' in more detail, therefore reinforcing that the audience understands what is meant by the title and therefore understand the general plot/ storyline of the film. He is introduced after the medium shot, by the use of another over the shoulder medium shot. This shows us that he is walking against the direction of walkers in the street, which to a certain extent creates an illusion that in the film he will be rebelling against society. The use of tracking also makes us feel as we are walking alongside him as this tracking shot as like a POV shot; this therefore makes the audience feel as they will be part of the trailer and therefore become more engaged.

A few shot later the antagonist of the film is shown. We presume he is the antagonist for many reasons. Firstly due to the use of mise en scene, through clothing; the black suit and black glasses makes him seem a bit mysterious and someone you wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of. Having used all black clothing connotes to death, sadness, evilness, which is a stereotypical element to have for an antagonist. The close up shot used also supports that he is the antagonist as the character face is looking into the camera as if he is in your face. This suggests that he is talking down at you making the audience feel as though they are small less superior than him, making us create a negative response to his character. The dialogue the character says 'Humans are a disease' suggests that he doesn't like people, however he is a human himself, isn't he? This creates an enigma on why he is saying this, unless he is not a human himself...

Fire explodes onto the screen, which acts as the transition for the next shots. The use of fire is a convention which all action sci fi films has, therefore this conforms to a stereotypical sci fi trailer. The next sequences of shot range from close up to medium shots, which allows us to see different characters but mainly 'Morpheus' and the black haired man. These shots also allows us to see the different location that would be included within the film, for example a Japanese judo room. The use of lighting in these shots also reflects who the protagonists and who the antagonists are. This is shown by the use of lighter and brighter lighting used when protagonists are in the frame, for example when Morpheus is in the Judo room. Whereas the antagonist who is in the black suit and glasses is shown in dark dim lighting which therefore reflects the goodness and evilness of characters. 

The next shot involves the innocent black haired guy from the beginning being interviewed by the antagonist. This shows how the character has to develop, and to a certain extent supports Tessa Dixon theory that characters are complicated. Having this interview shot creates an enigma as the audience would become intrigued on why he is there, meaning they would then watch the film to find out. 

The following shots involves supernatural behaviour of which aliens could possess. Involving the special effects of someone smashing through walls and dodging bullets follows the convention of an action genre, which therefore appeals to the target audience, sci fi action fans. 

The final shots of the trailer is where the music speeds up to build tension and the use of fast cut editing is used. This fast pace editing builds up tension and suspense, which intrigues the attention of the audience, especially the action sci fi fans who thrive on this. These shots all involve the use of guns, violence, stunts and even alien actions such as floating in mid-air and projecting forces from your hands. These are convention of this genre of trailer. It also involves the protagonist fighting the antagonists of the film, however the protagonists are also wearing g black clothing, which subverts to the stereotypical view of protagonists. However, the black clothing could suggest that what every they are doing them are doing it undercover...

The trailer ends with the title of the film. The title is introduced by a decoding animation, in which the there is a combination of numbers and non-human symbols. As the shot moves out, the decoding letters and symbols show a name of the film 'The Matrix'. The technology/ computer like style of font used reinforces that 'The Matrix' is a system, which these protagonists will decode, which could explain why this animation is used, The font is also green which connotes to aliens that reinforces that the genre is sci fi action. 

The music throughout the trailer is used to build tension and suspense throughout it. At the begin, due to the choir like music used makes the black haired character seem innocent as this music creates an image of the music being sung by angels. After the phrase 'As a slave' the music deepens in tone and becomes quieter, which although is quieter volume it still slowly builds the tension. This volume decrease allows the use of diegetic music such as the thunder and lightning sounds to be heard. As soon as the villain of the film in the trailer makes his first appearance, the non-diegetic music begins to increase and therefore reinforces that he is the villain. This also build tension as the music begins to now increase throughout the rest of the trailer. Also a chanting sound is used within the non-diegetic music which suggests that this is a war between good and evil. During the fast cut editing the music become more dynamic and explosive which compliments with perfectly with the rest stunts and violence involved here. 

This trailer perfectly illustrates the Tzvetan Todorov's theory of narrative as the trailer begins in a state of equilibrium, the office of the man working. Then there’s a disruption of the equilibrium, which is when Morpheus intrudes into the black haired man's life. This is then recognized which is where the black haired man realises that Morpheus is right about 'The Matrix'. The trailer then shows that the man is trying to fix the disruption, by fighting against the antagonist, which would hopefully the equilibrium would be restored. This trailer follow this theory very well without giving too much of the film away, very effective.