The trailer for ‘Mean Girls’ uses many different elements that are used in order to attract the target audience of the film to go and watch the film once It is released. There are many different types of shots that are used in the trailer. There is frequent use of medium shots when the characters are being introduced along with their personalities, this gives us a chance to predict the narrative of the film this draws in the audience. Viewers start to see how the film may be humorous due to the personalities of the characters. For example, a medium shot of one character shows her personality is bold and outgoing. The use of long shots are used to establish the setting of the film, the long shots show the school and the large number of people in the shot shows the different characters in the film. The audience may be able to relate to the characters in the film due to the different types of characters at high school as the target audience may be of similar age. This as a result may draw them in to watch the film, this link to the uses and gratification theory of personal identity. This is further reinforced by the use of point of view shots as it makes the audience see things from certain characters’ perspective. The audience are seeing what the characters are seeing in their world. This helps the target audience to understand what the characters are seeing in their own environment and this helps the target audience to understand the plot of the film more. Close ups are used within the trailer for "Mean Girls" to highlight some of the main characters within the film. For example, a close up of the leading man of the film who is portrayed as the typical handsome teenage boy. A close up is used to show off the fact that he is the typical handsome teenage boy to show off his features to the target audience. This close up of the leading guy is also used to show the target audience that there are a few male roles within the film, however, the film is mainly dominated by females for the main roles and this highlights that the film is aimed at women.
There are a variety of different camera angles that are used throughout the trailer of "Mean Girls" to show the different aspects that are within the film itself. Panning is the main camera angle that is used within the trailer. It is used to show the target audience the different cliques within the setting of the film. For example, when all the characters are in the canteen and panning is used to show all the different cliques sitting at their individual tables without mixing with other cliques. Panning is also used to show the different areas within the school, for example, the classrooms. Low Angles and High Angles are another camera angle technique that is used within the trailer. These camera angles are used within the film trailer to show the target audience a hierarchy within the school between the cliques. Below are 2 images, one of a low angle and one of a high angle. There is one shot where they show the hierarchy between the 2 characters within the film.
Within the trailer for "Mean Girls" there are a variety of different edits and transitions that are used. A zooming effect is used within the trailer to show close ups of both characters and the settings of the film. Close ups of the characters are also used to show the target audience that the characters are of a similar age to them and this helps them to relate more with the characters within the film. The trailer for "Mean Girls" is edited in a way so that it highlights and tells the narrative of the film by showing all the evil and devious plots and wars between the main characters. For example, a phone conversation is being held and this is where one of the evil plots is taking place between 2 of the main characters. This is edited so that you can see both characters at the same time. Jumping is used within the trailer to show the difference between the character's appearances and the differences in their personalities. For example, when they are introducing the "Plastics" clique within the film, the trailer jumps from scene to scene showing the different personalities of each of the characters within the clique. Jumping is also used to show off different parts of the school as it helps the target audience to understand the space of the school and how the characters behave within the environment. Reverse shots are used during conversations between characters to show their relationships and their behaviour towards each other. This helps the target audience to understand the conflict that will occur between these characters.
Most of the main female characters within the trailer are wearing the colour pink. This suggests that the target audience is females because it is a colour that is associated with females rather than males. It also shows that the film is dominated by women. The different outfits of the characters show the different personalities within the different cliques. For example, one character is made to look sweet and innocent but she is the "Mean Girl" of the film who is cunning and devious at the same time. The mise en scene of the film also includes the setting of the film. The setting of most of the film is in a high school. This shows the target audience that the characters are of a similar age to them and this helps the target audience to relate more to the film and the characters that are in it. The mise en scene also shows the target audience that the school has a lot of different cliques in it. For example, the school is crowded and all the characters have different personalities. This shows the target audience that each clique has their own identity and personality.
There are many different types of sounds that are used within this trailer to help the target audience to understand more about the films narrative. The background music of the film trailer is upbeat and modern. This attracts the attention of the target audience because it is the style of music that they are used to and it also draws them into the film as the background music makes it sound exciting and fun. The background music of the film also makes the main character of the film seem sweet and innocent at the start of the trailer but shows how she progresses to be just as devious as the main characters. The dialogue that is within the film trailer helps to explain the narrative of the film by telling the target audience about the devious plots that the characters perform within the film. This also draws the target audience in to the film because the trailer shows the excitement and deviousness of the film and its characters.