Black panther trailer analysis

0:00 - 0:11

Camera Shots
High angle shot: lights turning on and flickering lights
Tilt Shot: Vertical shot of Klaws boots and Handcuffs
Medium shots: Everett's, mistrusting pose, Klaw handcuffed,
Over the shoulder shots: Places the audience into the conversation

Visual Codes:
Colour: Grey, Bleak, infers emptiness/lack of emotion

Clothing: Klaw: formal wear, Everett: Casual everyday wear

Expression: Klaw: Insanity, Everett: Mistrusting

Gestures: Klaw: Limited (Handcuffed, missing arm, Duck tape), Everett: Arms crossed, sat casually

Iconography: Boxes, Sink, Tissue paper: suggests that the interview was hastily put together

Audio Codes
Mode of address: "Tell me something, what do you know about Wakanda?": Informal address, Implies Klaw doesn't take the situation seriously
Diegetic Sound: Lights buzzing

Theorists:
Roland Barthes, Semiotics

0:11 - 0:22

Camera Shots

Fade: Camera fades to black twice (0:10, 0:15)
Panning Shot: Pans over the waterfalls
Close up shots: Shots of both Klaw and Everett in conversation

Visual codes:
Expression: Everett's emotion has changed from looking doubtful/ untrusting to intrigued and worried

Colours: Natural colours (Blues, whites, Browns) further enforce natural, simplistic lifestyle

Audio codes:
Mode of address: " It's a third world country,textiles, shepards, cool outfits" Short and factual, "Cool outfits" less formal, positive opinion, Martin Freeman is a british actor who is talking in an American accent
"It's all a front... explorers have searched for it" implies knowledge of country,people, culture both modern and historical

Audio:
Voice over: implies the interview is still occurring
Diegetic sounds: Clastinets, Water gushing, Heavy bass (Possible influence from African-American hip hop music)

Theorist:
Levi Strauss: Binary opposites

0:22- 0:33

Camera Shots

Fade: The Camera fades to black at 0:33
Tilt shot: Camera focuses on black panther moving from the inside of the aircraft to the waterfalls outside
Panning Shot: It shows off more of the falls, people and shows the aircraft leaving

Visual codes:

Clothing: People along the waterfall are wearing traditional African clothing dependent on the region of africa they are from, Dora Milaje are wearing their uniforms

Iconography: T'Challa's tattoos, as well as others tattoo's, bodypaint and piercings

Colours: The bright and colourful clothing of the people, stand out against the natural colours of the waterfall

Gestures: T'Challa seems to be taking in his surroundings, people in the background are happy that he is back

Audio codes:
Mode of address: " Called it El Dorado... they looked for it South America...but it was in Africa the whole time", Klaw demonstrates his extensive knowledge of Wakandan history

Audio:
Voice over: implies the interview is still occurring
Diegetic sounds: aircraft doors, people shouting, plane leaving, Heavy bass (Possible influence from African-American hip hop music)

Theorists:
Paul Gilroy
Roland Barthes

0:33-0:45

Camera Shots

Fade: The Camera cuts to black at 0:34
Medium shot: Character exiting car
High angle shot: Armed characters exiting vehicles on patrol (T'Challa's  perspective)
Close up shots: Characters eyes and weaponry

Visual codes:

Clothing: Military-esque clothing, Dark green camouflage into the environment, head wraps conceal the identity of the characters

Gestures: Characters are nervous, looking around, spreading out, using there torches and guns to protect themselves

Expression: The character getting out of the car looks unnerved and is assessing the environment around him as something isn't right

Colours: Generally dark colors, black, brown, navy green, the colours are used to create the environment as well as camouflage the characters into it

Techniques: Pathetic fallacy of the fog is used to create an eerie and mysterious environment

Audio codes:
Mode of address: "I'm the only one who's seen it", Klaw sounds nervous and afraid of what he has seen, like seeing a myth in real life
Audio: Heavy bass (Possible influence from African-American hip hop music), Dog barking
Voice over: implies the interview is still occurring
Diegetic sounds: wind, car door, guns

Theorists:
Roland Barthes: enigma code

0:45 - 0:56

Camera Shots

Low angle shot: (Character perspective) looking up at Black Panther perched in a tree, as well as for all the fight scenes
Medium shot: Allows for the whole action sequence to be seen
Fade: The screen cuts to black at 0:53
High angle shot: T'Challa and Okoye viewing Klaw and Everett through the one way glass, possibly suggesting they are conducting the interview

Visual codes:

Clothing: Black panthers suit: T'Challa's suit features triangles patters infused into the design, possible linking to geometrical African design

Iconography: T'Challa's suit was first featured in Captain America civil war, so fans of the Marvel cinematic universe may recognise it form the 2016 movie

Gestures: Black panther in his movements are very poised and effortless (much like a cat) being perched on a tree, throwing multiple people, and being shot at repeatedly, Black panther handled those situations with grace and tact

Colours: Black panthers suit is all black, with embellishments and features being silver, it allows for the character to be more stealthy and blend into the environment, like a wild cat

Expression: Klaw ends his monologue about Wakanda and Black panther by laughing manically, it gives the impression that he has lost his sanity after seeing what they are capable of

Audio codes:
Mode of address: Klaw laughing gives the impression of insanity and delusion
Audio: Dog barking, Impact, Glass breaking, Kicking, Gunfire, Ricochet bullets, Laughter
Diegetic sounds: Quick movement, drum

Theorists:
Roland Barthes: Semiotics

0:56 - 1:07


Camera Shots

Medium shot: T'Challa and Okoye through the glass whilst listening to klaw's manic laughter
High angle shot: airplane going down for landing
Close up shot: Close up shot on T'Challa's face looking to Okoye confused

Visual codes:

Clothing: Characters in Wakanda are wearing traditional african clothing, for instance the shaman Zuri is wearing a nigerian shawl with beading from the Turkana tribe

Graphics: The Marvel Studio introduction and Logo, the shift from the traditional red and silver to solid black, introduces and sets the trailer into place

Images:  in the background of the observation room there are news broadcasts on the televisions, as well as this the marvel logo features images from marvel comic books

Colours: contrasting cold tones of the interview room juxtapose the warm tones of the observation room T'Challa and Okoye are in, the purple of the shamans shawl indicate, high power and authority

Expression: Okoye looks dissatisfied at the interview with Klaw, and turns to see how T'Challa is feeling, showing that she is dedicated to her job as the head of the Dora Milaje

Audio codes:
Mode of address: Klaw laughing gives the impression of insanity and delusion
Audio: Hip hop style music (Historical African American influence) Laughter, Airplane sounds
Diegetic sounds: wind

Theorists:
Roland Barthes: Semiotics
Paul Gilroy:

1:07- 1:18

Camera Shots

Medium shot: T'Challa and Okoye through the glass whilst listening to klaw's manic laughter
High angle shot: airplane going down for landing
Close up shot: Close up shot on T'Challa's face looking to Okoye confused

Visual codes:

Clothing: Characters in Wakanda are wearing traditional african clothing, for instance the shaman Zuri is wearing a nigerian shawl with beading from the Turkana tribe

Graphics: The Marvel Studio introduction and Logo, the shift from the traditional red and silver to solid black, introduces and sets the trailer into place

Images:  in the background of the observation room there are news broadcasts on the televisions, as well as this the marvel logo features images from marvel comic books

Colours: contrasting cold tones of the interview room juxtapose the warm tones of the observation room T'Challa and Okoye are in, the purple of the shamans shawl indicate, high power and authority

Expression: Okoye looks dissatisfied at the interview with Klaw, and turns to see how T'Challa is feeling, showing that she is dedicated to her job as the head of the Dora Milaje

Audio codes:
Mode of address: Klaw laughing gives the impression of insanity and delusion
Audio: Hip hop style music (Historical African American influence) Laughter, Airplane sounds
Diegetic sounds: wind

Theorists:
Roland Barthes: Semiotics
Paul Gilroy:

1:07- 1:18

Camera Shots

Medium shot: T'Challa and Okoye through the glass whilst listening to klaw's manic laughter
High angle shot: airplane going down for landing
Close up shot: Close up shot on T'Challa's face looking to Okoye confused

Visual codes:

Clothing: Characters in Wakanda are wearing traditional african clothing, for instance the shaman Zuri is wearing a nigerian shawl with beading from the Turkana tribe

Graphics: The Marvel Studio introduction and Logo, the shift from the traditional red and silver to solid black, introduces and sets the trailer into place

Images:  in the background of the observation room there are news broadcasts on the televisions, as well as this the marvel logo features images from marvel comic books

Colours: contrasting cold tones of the interview room juxtapose the warm tones of the observation room T'Challa and Okoye are in, the purple of the shamans shawl indicate, high power and authority

Expression: Okoye looks dissatisfied at the interview with Klaw, and turns to see how T'Challa is feeling, showing that she is dedicated to her job as the head of the Dora Milaje

Audio codes:
Mode of address: Klaw laughing gives the impression of insanity and delusion
Audio: Hip hop style music (Historical African American influence) Laughter, Airplane sounds
Diegetic sounds: wind

Theorists:
Roland Barthes: Semiotics
Paul Gilroy:

1:07- 1:18

Camera Shots:
Close up shot: Unknown character putting on african mask
Extreme close up: Explosion
Medium shots: Characters walking/ action shots
Establishing shots: Explosion, Casino scene, Black panther, Klaw with a gun
High angle shots: View of the casino floor from above
Low angle shots: Children working,klaw in chair, Character thrown from balcony,Klaw with a gun,T'Challa at world peace union

Visual codes:

Clothing: More characters are wearing traditional African clothing in and out of Wakanda, e.g: Nakia is wearing a dress which has boxes with wakandan writing on it, Klaw is wearing a paramedics uniform 

Expressions: Nakia looks very serious whilst walking through the casino, T'Challa looks proud when he is walking back up to the people of Wakanda, Klaw looks angry/determined when he draws his gun

Gestures: The unknown character putting on the african mask may be symbolic of stereotyping and grouping the majority, Okoye shows her fighting skills when she fights off multiple assailants as well as throwing them off of balconies, when T'Challa is walking back he raises his arms like he is asking for/ giving applause to the people of Wakanda, finally Klaw draws his gun very quickly like he intends on surprising whoever he is drawing for.

Iconography: The neon jacket is generally associated with paramedics, and government workers, it contrasts what klaws actions in the jacket

Colour: The colours are much more bright and vibrant in the city setting, and richer in the casino landscape, in Wakanda the color scheme is more natural and homely

Audio codes:

Mode of address: Unknown voice giving a speech "The World is changing,soon there will only be there will only be the conquered and the conquerors" formal tone, almost like advice 
Audio: Hip hop style music (Historical African American influence) explosion sounds, Impact, Weaponry, gunshot

Thorists:
Bell Hooks: Feminism
Paul Gilroy: Colonialism
Levi Strauss: Binary opposites
Roland Barthes: Semiotics

1:18- 1:30

Camera Shots

Medium shot: Characters being introduced
High angle shot: Show grandeur and importance: peace union, Wakanda meetings
Close up shot: introduces more characters e.g Erik Killmonger or Shuri
Low angle shot: Show T'Challa/Black panthers influence
Long Shot: The peace union, T'Challa on the stairs, Erik walking
Panning shot: Character union meeting with Suri man
Tilt shot: Black panther: Vaguely implies things may go wrong

Visual codes:

Clothing: More of the characters are shown wearing there traditional clothing styles, as well as this the Dora Milaje are shown with there bald heads, significant as they shave their heads as a sign of dedication, Nakia is shown wearing the uniform of the Dora Milaje but doesn't have a shaved head

Iconography: The world peace union logo is featured towards the beginning of the segment

Colours: Bright colours are featured throughout the buildings of wakanda, as well as on peoples dress and accessories

Gestures: Erik is seen fighting with T'Challa on the waterfalls as well as having a fighting stance with many members of the Dora milaje, and the Dora Milaje are shown in defensive and offensive stances , Shuri is shown wearing fighting gauntlets

Expression: Mostly all the characters are shown with angry/determined expressions as they are mostly in stressful situations

Audio codes:

Mode of address: "You are a good man, with a good heart, and its hard for a good man to be a king" formal tone, like advice or a warning
Audio: Hip hop style music (Historical African American influence) weapon impact, Dora milaje
Theorists: "step into the spotlight" lyric repeated

Roland Barthes: Semiotics
Paul Gilroy: Colonialism
Bell hooks: Feminism
Levi Strauss: Binary opposites

1:30- 1:42

Camera Shots


Close up shot: Black Panther running
Low angle shot: M'Baku holding up a person against their will
high angle shot: Black Panther in the air
Panning shot: Black panther in the air, hopping from one car to the next

Visual codes:

Clothing: Black Panther is shown wearing his suit at the end of the trailer participating in active, agile situations, it leaves a lasting impression to the audience of what the character is like and what the overall film will be like

Colours: Dark colours are shown around Black Panther, from the suit to the environment to the cars, they emphasise the namesake of the movie and allow for subtle camouflage and stealth

Gestures: The slow motion flip between the cars how agile and cat like T'Challa is

Expression: M'Baku seems to be chanting angrily and the person being held against their will looks scared, the situation may be a sacrifice

Audio codes:

Audio: Hip hop style music (Historical African American influence) Yelling, Car crash, impact on car hood, horn, music slowing down
Dietetic sounds: slowed movement
Theorists: "step into the spotlight" lyric repeated

Roland Barthes: Semiotics
Paul Gilroy: Colonialism
Bell hooks: Feminism
Levi Strauss: Binary opposites


1:42- 1:52

Camera shots:

Low angle shot: Implies that the black panther is the person who has the power in a given situation

Visual codes

Colours: The black signifies the mystery behind Black Panther as it camouflages into the background of the title card, as well as this the gold trim around the letters implies power and authority linked to Black Panther

Graphics: The sharp edges on the font may represent the claws of the black panther suit, inferring danger

Audio Codes:
Audio: Hip hop music (African-american influence), hea

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