3) Media Forms
Identify the key narrative techniques used in the trailer. (12)
The exposition of the trailer begins with a range of close-ups including a shot of a basketball as well as a long-shot of a swimming pool arena. The settings differ between various sporting locations which establish the context of the media text to the audience by acting as visual signifiers. The sound is silent at the start of the video which marks the beginning to exhibiting the original equilibrium of an athlete's day. The calamity is interrupted as the lights at the swimming centre turn on, indicated by the diegetic sound effect of a switch, to highlight the glamorous sporting venue lit up with high-key lighting.
The non-diegetic soundtrack 'Harder Than You Think' by Public Enemy cues to relieve the suspense built up by the previous cinematic shots as the trailer continues to develop characterisation of the paralympians with the audience. A medium close-up shot shows a male figure silhouette in a wheelchair near what appears to be a changing room exhibited in low-key lighting using a backlight to show the figure, this develops suspense with the use of enigma codes as the figure's identity is questioned. A range of poses such as stretching are displayed as well as diving which act as action codes to support this unraveling theme of an athlete's day in the life. The camerawork used presents the athletes as individuals as well as collectives to demonstrate teamwork, this is shown dynamically with many low-angle close-ups to connote power and superiority in the characterisation process. The team of basketball players are exhibited in a low-angle longshot on the other hand as they all perform basketball maneuvers in their wheelchairs displayed as silhouettes.
The trailer continues with the montage of rapid cuts which are parallel to the upbeat background track which features lyrics such as 'generations' to create an impact of inspiration to emotionally connect with the audience in the equilibrium of the trailer's narrative. The non-diegetic music reaches a sudden halt which is the climatic point of the trailer and at this point: black and white footage of a war scene as well as descaled resolution footage of a pregnant woman is shown. This creates the story of a disruptive event occurring in the lives of the athletes as soldiers may develop disability as a consequence of war. This climatic point of the trailer is the disequilibrium and according to Propp's character types, each and every athlete is exhibited as a 'hero' as they are clearly regarded as 'superhumans'. After this interval is shown, it is silent until the diegetic sound of a basketball entering a net cues the montage to resume again with the upbeat soundtrack without the use of a sound bridge to suggest immediacy in the athlete's lives - the resolution and the renewed equilibrium is established.
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