Wonder Woman

Film trailer analysis

Used: extreme close
up shots, fade
transition
The trailer opens with two extreme close up
shots of Wonder Womans boots and shield,
with fade transitions after each one. Since
these items are quite iconic then it is would
make sense for them to be the first shot as
they are easily recognisable to pre-existing
fans. As well as this, the voiceover begins
with Wonder Womans mother saying
Diana. This, along with the soft non diegetic
sound of strings (assumedly a viola) and a
womans voice singing soprano. This gives
the impression of high drama- along with the
low key lighting and dark colour scheme.
Used: panning shot,
SFX
In this shot the camera pans up as Diana is
fighting as bullets ricochet off of her
bracelets. Special effects are used to simulate
the sparks flying from the contact in post-
production. The soft music continues but
picks up pace to show how times are
changing within the film. As well as this, the
film continues its use of speech through a
voice over from the mother as she states be
careful of man kind Diana. This gives the
impression that the character is not ordinary,
nor will they be liked and supported by all.
The colour scheme remains dull and dreary,
showing the depressing nature of the
fighting.
Used: over the shoulder
shot, mid shot, close up
shot, aerial shot
The non diegetic music really picks up pace
here, building to a crescendo and finishing
promptly at end of a quick succession of
jump cuts. These shots are highly successful
in showing the viewer an accurate
representation of the film as they show
Diana facing immense trouble and being
fired at from all direction- which is especially
clear through the aerial shot and use of
special effects in post production. Yet she is
not seen as particularly violent, only
shielding herself from the attack. The colour
scheme remains dismal and blue- connoting
sadness. This makes it appear likely that
Diana does not wish to be fighting in the
same way as the soldiers firing at her.
Used: flashback, wide
and low angle, fade
transitions
This shot depicts a young Diana and shows,
through the use of dialogue between her and
her mother, how she wishes to fight. Her
mother states that mankind do not deserve
[her]. This shows the viewer immediately
that there is something special about Diana
as this shot if a flashback to when she was a
child and gives limited context to the scenes
showing her fighting with only a shield. The
warm colour scheme mainly revolves around
gold- contrasting greatly with the blues of
the majority of the film. This gold colour is
warm and could represent how she is in good
company here.
Used: panning shot,
close up shot, tracking
shot
There is a quick succession of a variety of
shots used here that is especially effective.
The first is a panning shot that show the
characters rigid, upright posture- connoting
strength and confidence. The close up also
shows a contrasting facial expression of
unsureness but also determination. The
tracking of her character as she leaps from
the cliff also proves how Diana is to be an
extremely brave individual and will not
appeal to the male gaze theory coined by
Laura Mulvey. The colour scheme throughout
the shots is mostly blue, though much
brighter than at the start of the trailer. The
bright lighting suggest hope for the future
and blue can connote wisdom or confidence,
which we could see in Diana.
Used: establishing
shot
This use of an establishing shot is powerful as
the bright lighting and blue colour scheme
continues. This shows the start of the
introduction of the other main character
through dialogue that overlaps between the
two shots through to use of a J-cut. The
cinematography here will also draw in
viewers as well as the shot revealing the
general location for part of the film-
something that is not entirely clear so far in
the trailer.
Used: establishing
shot, wide shot
These shots are key are they include SFX and
show many characters through a few
seconds. The quick cuts mean that the
viewer is able to see the scenery as well as
the costume and SFX. The colour scheme is
gold and warm once more with low key
lighting to show the characters in a more
serious situation. As well as this, the pre-
existing fans would recognise the lasso, made
a glowing gold colour in post-production SFX.
The dialogue between the characters here
also reveals more of the plot.
Used: wide shots
Here, slow motion editing is done in post
production as Diana is shown leaping
through a window. The low key lighting and
return of the dark mood through the blue
colours connoting sadness. The music that is
playing is dramatic and features drums as the
main component. Although only a few
seconds long it is able to show how she is
incredibly powerful and can be seen over the
shoulder of a man in uniform that can be
assumed to be an enemy.
Used: close up shot,
zoom
This shot uses very low key lighting and is
able to portray how dark the movie will
become despite some comedic moments.
The zoom of the close up shot makes Dianas
facial expression ever more powerful as a J-
cut in used and the enemy she is facing
begins to ask the question what are you?.
Here it is shown that she is highly powerful
and will become someone that should be
feared by others in the film. The non-diegetic
music continues in the background to further
elevate the dramatic tension.
Used: wipe transition,
wide shot
A wipe transition is cleverly hidden in the
wall of the building as the shots moves
between Diana leaping with the man of out
the window to them going through the air.
The music momentarily pauses as the lyrics
we are the warriors are left being sung-
further driving the point of wonder woman
being a warrior fighting evil. Some slow
motion editing in post- production is also
used as Diana jumps through the window as
it shows how incredibly dramatic the
moment is.
Used: graphics- post
production
This shot shows the main logo for the film
and the words WONDER WOMAN in capital
letters in a serif font. This, along with the
gold colouring and artistic background makes
the film appear well put together and shows
that it is likely to mainly have a very serious
nature to it. The logo is most likely much
larger as it will be more easily recognised by
pre-existing fans and makes the shot look far
more powerful as a whole.
 To Conclude
The film trailer for Wonder Woman focuses heavily on the drama and
action within the film and gives the majority of the camera time to
the main protagonist- Diana. The film came out in 2017 and had a
pre-existing fanbase due to Wonder Woman appearing in a variety of
other media types in the past. The trailer was especially successful as
it had the ability to draw in both old fans and entice new viewers to
come and watch the film.