(Overall)
- You must de-construct the film trailers for 'Slumdog Millionaire'
- You must complete an illustrated essay using screen grabs to illustrate your points
- You must show an understanding of audience theories and apply Blumler and Katz 'Uses and Gratification Theory'
- You must show an understanding of how audiences are constructed
Task 1:
You can discuss the task as a group and de-construct the film trailer in small groups
Analyse the original theatrical trailer and the posters for the film and answer the following questions:
How do the creators try to appeal to an audience?
Who is the target audience for this film?
- Age
- Gender
- Nationality
- Ethnicity
- Lifestyle
- Social and cultural background
Use Blumler and Katz 'Uses and Gratifications theory' to discuss how different audiences may use this text to gratify their needs
What themes are there in this film? For example, love or brotherhood. Explain which audiences each theme would appeal to.
Analyse these technical codes and explain how their use targets an audience. Illustrate your points with screen grabs
- Effects
- Pace and style of editing
- Use of colour
- Camera angles and types of shot
- sound effects
- voice over
- music
- selection of clips
- text/titles
Consider these further points;
How does the film attract a global audience?
Danny Boyle is the name used in the titles and he is the director rather than a star. Why is he billed but to the actors?
Research the other films Danny Boyle has made and explain why the chose the Full Monty rather than, for example, Trainspotting.
The film is billed as the 'Feel good film of the Decade' by the News of the World. Is this a fair representation of the content of the film or are the creators trying to construct a wide audience?
The film has been classified as a 15 certificate. Does the trailer reflect this or is it aimed at a younger audience?
Using Blumler and Katz 'uses and gratification theory' discuss how different audiences may use this text to gratify their needs.
Further research could include showing the trailer to different audiences and aksing if they would watch this film and why.
The film is billed as the 'Feel good film of the Decade' by the News of the World. Is this a fair representation of the content of the film or are the creators trying to construct a wide audience?
The film has been classified as a 15 certificate. Does the trailer reflect this or is it aimed at a younger audience?
Using Blumler and Katz 'uses and gratification theory' discuss how different audiences may use this text to gratify their needs.
Further research could include showing the trailer to different audiences and aksing if they would watch this film and why.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyMY7W6rHiM - Another trailer for the film
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAYzVT6vbQo
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/danny-boyle-discusses-audience-reactions-to-slumdog-millionaire/10055.html
Posters can be found on Google images and copied and pasted into your essay
