Rosemary’s baby

(1968)trailer

analysis

First shot is a title screen/flashcard with the production company information on. This allows the audience to see that this is an advertisement for a film or a TV show and informs them of who it is made by, also, it promotes the film company and generates publicity. There is windy/eerie music playing and a voiceover with a sinister tone which conveys the idea that this is a horror film trailer to the viewer straight away.

First shot from the film is an establishing shot of the room. From the mise-en-scene we can assume that they are a young couple who have moved into a new house (house is empty, cold looking, not much furniture etc.)

This shot introduces the main characters to the audience and reveals the initial plot.

This shot suggests that the female character is regretting something, allowing the viewer to gain an understanding of the characters personality and mood.

By seeing the character like this, it is portraying the woman as vulnerable or scared which is stereotypical.

It also builds up suspense and suggests that something bad is now going to happen.

This is a pan shot of some sort of religious tapestry or painting. It resembles that of a ceiling. This is suggesting that there is a religious theme and presence throughout the film. It also conveys the idea of horror through religious connotations of the devil etc.

This shot, together with the eerie music, and the baby’s cry's, conveys the genre of horror further and the idea that the plot involves a baby.

A series of shots now commence which features the main character having brief encounters with other characters, this allows the viewer to familiarize themselves with some other characters from the film and get to know the characters before they have seen the film. When the female character is eating the mousse, in the next shots, she makes hand gestures which could be considered exaggerated and feminine. This again suggests the woman is stereotypically portrayed. The music at this time also conveys romance.

The quick jump cut to this shot shows the viewer what is going on in the woman’s head. The dialogue “sleep is what you need.” is heard spoken by the man, this conveys the idea of stereotypical gender roles with the man telling the woman what to do, and controlling her by drugging her in the first place. This causes the viewer to sense the man is perhaps the antagonist and that he has something sinister about him.

There is a quick cut to this shot, and the scary music intensifies and gets much louder suggesting that horrible things are taking/about to take place. Suspension is built.Again, there is a male figure telling the woman what to do, conveying further the idea of gender roles and the male being dominant or controlling over the female. There is a black actor here which suggests equality in the film industry and represents black people.

There is next a series of cross cutting shots between the woman’s eyes and a males eyes, however this male looks quite supernatural or devil like which could suggest that the man has devil like qualities or is doing something bad or that this character is the devil themselves. The devil character is stereotypical with red skin and serpent like eyes. This conveys religious stereotypes.

This shot shows the woman realising that she is in danger as she says “this is not dream, this is really happening.” the viewer can then feel her fear and the dialogue makes it clear to the viewer that something bad has definitely happened. The music is still playing which again conveys the genre. The woman is shown as helpless here which suggests the stereotype of the typical “damsel in distress” or “helpless woman.”

There is a hand with a cloth placed over the woman's face now which blocks the viewers view as the screen now goes dark suggesting that we are looking from the woman’s point of view (point of view shot) The information about the film is now conveyed via a voiceover and as the screen is black it suggests to the viewer that we should be focussing on what the voiceover is saying.

We are then presented with a series of jump cuts from character to character whilst the voiceover/narrator says the name of the actor/tress who plays that character. This allows the viewer to connect the actor/tresses names with the characters, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the actors/tresses themselves and the characters they play. This also gives the actor/tresses recognition and publicity for themselves.

This screen then appears which features the name of the film. The voiceover/narrator is also reading the on screen information at this time. The wind like music is playing all the way through this trailer conveying the idea of a storm which links with the films sea based plot and also to the connotations associated with the sea and storms such as unpredictable situations and fear. The baby’s cries are also evident through most of the trailer which adds emphasis to the idea that the plot clearly revolves around the idea of a baby.

We are then shown a series of concluding fast paced shots which cut quickly adding to the suspense and the feeling of danger.

These leave the viewer with a last glimpse of the plot ideas and adds to their excitement. The sound effects still carry on.

This is the final shot of the trailer. There is no sound apart from the faint wind effect and a bell like chime which resembles that of a funeral bell, ship siren/fog horn, or warning alarm which all convey the idea of danger or a sense of warning. The text is in pink which conveys the feminine side to the main character. It also reveals the main characters name and plot ideas. It is also a play on the words from the title and is a slogan for the film. It also conveys the idea that there is something wrong with the baby so we have to “pray for it” or perhaps that we have to pray and look forward to the release of the film. The word pray, also links in to the religious ideas in the plot or could also be interpreted as the word prey, and therefore conveys the idea someone is being preyed on.

Style: vintage, narrative, dramatic, ordered however gets faster towards the end.

Music: dramatic music is used to build up the tension towards the end of the trailer. Music is also used to set the scene for when they are eating the meal in the house.

Plot (that we can identify from only the trailer): lady and husband are having a baby, then she is possibly drugged whilst having dinner. She then has visions/dreams which are either real or in her head. Gives the impression that there is something wrong with the baby.

Editing: quick cuts, fades and distortions of the shot as they fade and turn into the next shot.

Mostly close ups and extreme close ups, some point of view shots.

Graphics: title of the film is written, basic graphics due to the technology available at the time.

Actors/actresses:

Mia Farrow, John Cassevetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer, Maurice Evans, Ralph Bellamy, Victoria Vetri, Patsy Kelly, Elisha Cook jnr. (and others)Br

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How is the narrative portrayed? (linear, flash backs, cross cuts etc.) How can I use these in

my trailer?

I believe the narrative is portrayed as linear ( as it seems to be showing the shots and telling the story in order) however towards the end when there is quick shots of the different characters I believe these shots do not fit in with the linear idea as they are probably shown earlier in the film.

There is cross cutting between the characters eyes and the eyes of the devil, I am not too sure that this is definitely classed as cross cutting because I believe the characters are in the same location.I know that cross cutting is definitely evident, however, in the shots where the woman is on the bed and then it cuts to where she thinks she is on a the sea etc. as this is cutting to two different locations and then back again.

I like how cross cuts can convey what different people are thinking and feeling and how they can show the contrast between two different locations or what is happening in several different locations at the same time. I think this style of editing would be useful to include in my trailer.

Also, featuring the trailer plot in order following a linear narrative is useful for the viewer as they get a sense of what is going on and when, and how the story plays out and they gain a stronger understanding of the plot. However I think that perhaps showing the shots in order as they appear in the film maybe reveals too much plot, and gives too much away. So I am not so keen on including this style in my trailer.

Young – middle aged-Main characters are young so audience can relate to them.

Likes reading (film is based on a book)

Connotations of being well educated or intelligent

Upper class, cinema would appeal to this class at this time-Characters seem quite upper class, well spoken/dressed etc.

White British

Who Is the target audience and how

does the trailer appeal to them?

Religious people-Challenges their perceptions on religion. Also portrays the devil.

Who does this trailer represent? (social groups, age, ethnicity, gender, stereotypes etc.)

Young couples and young parents,

Black actors(there is a black character/actor featured)

Possibly religious groups as there is a strong sense of the devil portrayed

Variety of different aged people (there were old and young characters)

Middle/working class conveyed

Stereotypical “damsel in distress” character, innocent female, unaware of what’s going on

Man is perceived to be the antagonist as he drugs the female character,

How can elements of this trailer influence my own?

Themes: I could portray a range of characters with different ethnicity's, I could also feature some religious themes or beliefs. I particularly like the shot of the religious tapestry/murals so perhaps something similar can be done in my own trailer. Characters: I could portray a range of characters with different ethnicity's, perhaps I could include a stereotypical male antagonist and a stereotypical female protagonist who is often portrayed as a “damsel in distress” or as overly feminine.Mise-en-scene: I could include dark locations, stereotypical costumes, spooky lighting and scenery with religious or supernatural connotations as this has been carried out successfully in this trailer.Shots: Fast paced shots with quick cuts, fades and cross cuts. As these create suspense and allows lots of shots to be featured in the trailer in a short space of time.Sound: stormy wind or other eerie sound effects add to the suspense and help convey the genre, the dramatic/eerie music used in this trailer works well and a similar piece of music in my own trailer could compliment the plot and my shots.