Arena (2011) trailer deconstruction

Camera Angles

• The trailer opens showing a room full of modern/futuristic technology where the powerful, controlling game-makers are shown looking at big screens of the game of fighting to the death called the ‘Death Games’ and pressing buttons that are making the game go live on TV etc.
• Having these characters shown right at the beginning of the film trailer, and the low angle shot looking up at them, shows that these are the most dominant, powerful and controlling characters in the film.
• The low angle makes us (the audience) even seem less powerful than them. We are looking up to them and they are looking down on us. 

• The shot of the game-makers cut to this shot is shown using a low angle again, looking up at a man within the ‘game’ ready to fight his battler (the enemy).
• This shows the audience that he is very willing to take part as the determined and focused look on his face shows, with his weapons in between himself and the camera (the audience) telling the audience that this is a fearful character.

• This over-the-shoulder shot shows a fan of the ‘Death Games’ looking down at his computer screen, and choosing a multiple-choice option on what he would like to see happen in the games.
• This shows that the audience in the film are the ones also controlling the victims fate in the games giving the effect that the audience plays an important role choosing whether they like or dislike the victim.

•       Close up shots are used to build up tension and allow the audience to see the victims emotions and expressions on their faces. In this shot, he is shouting out ‘Let me out!’ and we can see that he is tormented and trapped. 

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Mise en Scene

• This shot shows and image of the screen that shows the percentages of what answers the public have chosen to happen to the victims: out of ‘Stay’ and ‘Kill’.
• The choice of ‘Kill’ is shown highlighted in red which has connotations of death, destruction and fire which is exactly what is going to happen if the majority of the public vote for this answer.
• The title of the show ‘Death Games’ is shown in white capital letters which reminds the audience exactly what the answers are for and intend to do. White juxtaposes the emotions and plot of the games as the colour has connotations of innocence.
• There is a substantial difference in percentage between the two different answers the public has to choose from, where ‘Kill’ has the most popularity of 81%. This shows that the public are capable of using their dark side in order to be entertained, which relates to the fact that both the public and the media are controlling factors in everyday life. 

• The game-makers are shown to be wearing very formal, done-up outfits as if they were going out to watch entertainment like a West-End show – which is what the ‘Death Games’ is mean to be portrayed as (in the entertainment industry).
• Although their clothes are formal, they are very dark colours. Black has negative connotations of power, death and dominance which are exactly how these characters are portrayed as. 

• In this shot, we can see that the victim and guards are in a, what looks like, a prison cell with plain grey brick walls with simple, dull lighting. This gives a sense of confined space and isolation with the outer-world and life in general.
• The victim is in a dirty, off-green shirt and dull neutral coloured trousers. This shows that he is treated badly and dull colours suggest no happiness or freedom.
• The guards are wearing black, padded suits which contrast with the victims clothing as they are more protected from harm. Black has connotations of death, destruction and harm which is exactly what the guards are aiming for with the victim.
• The masks of the guards show that they are anonymous and can relate to the audience’s role in the film of anonymity and de-individuation. 

Sound

• ‘We are going live in 3...2...1’ is the first dialogue we hear in the trailer. It changes from non-diegetic to diegetic dialogue which shows us who and where the voice is coming from. The line clearly suggests that victims who are fighting to survive are being recorded live for others entertainment.
• Voice-over is used, saying, ‘in this virtual underground, fighters are captured, tortured are forced to fight for their lives’. This gives the audience a clear idea of what the film is about.
• Diegetic subliminal sounds of technology buzzing ad clicking are heard which suggests that the whole film is about recording and filming other people and that there is a great use of technology.
• Diegetic subliminal sounds of kicking thuds, punching thuds and weapon swinging are heard which suggests that action and fighting is the main ‘topic’ in the film. It will also attract the target audience of both genders (mostly males), ages 18 – 40.
• A non-diegetic drum beat is played throughout the trailer, picking up speed as the trailer continues. This builds up tension and makes the audience more intrigued by what climax the shots and music is leading up to. It makes the audience want to watch more.
• ‘It’s now time for the fanatics to vote’. This is a really good diegetic line to use as the word ‘fans’ is short for ‘fanatics’ which means obsessive enthusiasm for the live footage the audience in the film will be voting on.
•  ‘We can make him fight, for us’. This is diegetically heard by one of the head game-makers who are forcing one of the victims who don’t want to fight, to fight for entertainment.

Editing

• This is a montage used in the trailer, which shows moving images of victims fighting and being tortured and guards kicking doors and torturing the victims.
• This has a major impact on the audience as the montage happens at a very fast pace showing different clips where the audience has to look and observe and quickly take in what is going on while being fascinated by the shots of different emotions in the victims and guards faces.

•       This shot is shown near the end of the trailer, reaching its climax by showing this shot in slow motion. This emphasises to the audience that this is an action-packed film that is filled with fights and realistic stunts.
•       It stresses the moment in time to show that it is an important part to the scene and is why it is focused on
•        It adds drama and shows this fast-paced action to someone slow so the audience can really see what is going on. It has a large effect on the audience.

•      Near the end of the trailer, shots are cut and interfered by a black background with the words ‘There is no greater battle’, ‘than the fight’, ‘for your life’. The separations of these text shots add tension and focus to the words and make the audience remember and take in what its saying. 

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•      This is the point where the victim is in the arena and we can see that the background walls change into what looks like virtual world graphics. It is shown as if he was in an on line game and adds to the effect of the public controlling him and his actions against enemies.