The Shawshank Redemption Trailer Analysis

The Shawshank Redemption Trailer Analysis

I chose to analyse “The Shawshank Redemption” as it is a Crime Drama film. This will be helpful as it is a potential genre for our own trailer as a group.

The sound incorporated in this trailer involves both non-diegetic and diegetic sound. It begins with a voice over, which is non-diegetic sound as it is not visible on screen. There is also a sound backing track playing with the voice over working together to represent the genre. There is a sudden onomatopoeic sound of ‘BOOM’ which is followed by the music change of what seems to be quite a contrasting sound, juxtaposing the genre.  There is a final music change towards the end with regards to the dynamics.  There is a sound effect of thunder that plays over a scene and the image and sound are working in correlation with each other.

The lighting throughout this trailer appears to be dark for the duration. This again works in correlation with the genre of this trailer as the connotations of crime would be dark and dull colours. There are a few moments where the lighting brightens up to show the key characters of the film. The time of day also contributes to how bright or dark the lighting is. There is a scene in this trailer where it is raining and they use a flashing white light to represent the idea of lightening.

With regards to camera work and angles, there are a few that are used and then repeated throughout the trailer. Close to the beginning of the trailer there is a moment where, what appears to be the main character, is holding a gun. For this particular scene the camera sows a close –up of the character. Another part where a man is standing in the courtroom, the camera starts with a middle shot and zoomed into ending with a close up.

Mise-en-scene in this film trailer shows the locations of a court room, a prison yard and what appears to be the inside of a house. These are typical places you would expect to see in a Crime Drama trailer as it is the punishment of committing a crime and a prison is stereotypically where drama would take place. 

Costumes used in a few scenes of this trailer look like what someone would be made to wear in a prison. This works with the genre of crime and the punishment of committing a crime would be going to prison. There are a few moments that focus on a main man who appears to be in a courtroom, for this particular moment the character on screen in wearing a suit.

The main prop we see being used during this trailer is a gun. A gun is a significant prop to the crime genre as it is considered a suspect weapon for most crimes committed. The gun has a huge significance within this trailer and the movie itself as it has its own shot and scene in the trailer. 


HERE IS THE TRAILER: