Shawshank Redemption - Trailer Analysis

• Warner Bro's Pictures is introduced straight away before anyone or anything is seen. 
• USP - Bankable Actors - Morgan Freeman who brings in a large audience. Tim Robbins - attractive actor for female audience.  
• 'getting one over the system' - USP - seems to be a desirable trait in many movies of a similar genre. 
• genre not completely established - require a more active audience to think about his situation. Although it is clear that he is being 'unfairly' kept in prison - have to piece together the action on screen. 
• Genre unclear - crime/drama?
• Actors names not introduced until much later on in clip - followed by title of the film in same shot as on the movie posters - links them. 
• "Get busy livin, or get busy dyin" - voice over echoes that of the actual film and is part of the USP (Morgan Freeman telling a story). 
• Music instantly makes the movie into a more hugh-budget production - creates drama by having dramatic music in the background. 
• More of a character based trailer - getting to know the main characters as their is little action in the movie (main focus is on different characters and their life stories). 
• focus is on character development as shown the multiple shots (close-ups, mid shots etc) - causes audience to empathise with Freeman's and Robbin's characters.

MT