This is the trailer for the upcoming film “47 meters down”. The trailer opens with a medium long shot looking onto a balcony, the non diegetic score is of a high pitched piano. This sets the mood for the trailer and suggests that it could be relevant to Todorvos theory of equilibrium. This non diegetic score is used well with a voice over of saying “I want to make a toast, thank you so much for bringing me on vacation”. This use of peaceful score and voice over creates a subtle and peaceful tone for the trailer. The next scene is a shot reveres shot between two characters being Mandy Moore and Claire Holt. Introducing these characters at the beginning of the trailer is effective because they are iconic for the roles that they have played in other movies and series. For example Claire Holt has starred in the Australian television program H20: Just add water by playing as a mermaid. Also She has starred in the well known series spin off called “The Originals” where she plays “Rebekah Michaelson”. People who have enjoyed her previous work will want to watch her new feature.
The following shot is a BEV of the ocean. This connotes to the audience that the movie is based around water and is emphasized by the title “47 Meters Down”. A sequence of shots of the two protagonists looking at a deep sea diving cage. This is accompanied by a voice over saying “seriously you have to try it, it’s totally safe”. This foreshadows that it’s totally not safe and they’re gonna die (similar to the titanic)
A few shots later we see one of the protagonists immerse under the water in the diving suit obviously experiencing the deep sea diving cage, the shot is a high angle looking down on her, this connotes that she is inferior in power to the sea and that what lies in the sea is stronger than her or dangerous. The shot then cuts to a worms eye view looking up at the protagonist immersing. The use of a low angle strait after a high angle further emphasizes the idea of a contrast in power. When they go under water the non diegetic score changes to a ominous track that creates tension for the audience. At 0:44 the wire begins to snap and the cage judders, the shot then changes to a reaction shot of the protagonists. As this happens the score changes again to white noise. White noise is a symbol of death and separation from reality, this is representative of the situation the protagonists are in.
Following this the rope snaps and the cage starts to sink. This is followed by a mixture of low angle shots and reaction shots to emphasize the power of the ocean and it consuming them. A shot of the depth meter is shown increasing. This is effective because it is relevant to the title (being 47 meters down). The screen then fades to black with the non diegetic score of the protagonist’s screaming. Reverb is added to the scream because it made it sound like the voice was fading into the void of the ocean, just like the protagonist was. As the scene fades back in the most evident feature that has changed is the color correction. It changes to a darker shade of blue. This is effective because it represents being deeper in the ocean. This scene has the diegetic screams and frantic breathing of the protagonists. This gives the scene a completely new feel to it. The protagonists then have a conversation and say “how deep are we” then the other says “47 feet”. This is effective as it is representative of the title of the movie. Followed by “we need to get back to the top”. mixture of medium long shots, close ups and canted angles are used to create a sense of disorientation to the audience. Instead of using cuts to transition the shots, the editor uses quick fades to black. This connects the shots smoothly and makes a clean transition. Fades to black are commonly used in trailers and this film along with many others follow the convention.
The sound in this part of the trailer is muffled and disorientated to create a real sense of being underwater. This diegetic sound is effective because it involves the audience in the scene and makes them feel like they are apart of it. For a brief second all non diegetic and diegetic score stops. This is effective because it creates tension and leaves the audience wondering what is about to happen.
The sound then re initiates with the introduction of a sequence of short takes of a mix of close ups, extreme close ups and mid shots of the protagonist and a shark attacking them. One of the shots in the mist of these 0.2-0.5 second shots there is an image of water saturated in blood (a red colour), this stands out because it contrasts the blue that the audience has seen throughout the trailer so far. This blood red is representative of danger and fear for the protagonists.
Towards the end of the trailer a sequence of text is shown in 5 shots. In order they say “This Year” “Face” “Your” “Deepest” “Fear”. The background of the text is in the ocean with a black liquid linguring around. This is effective because it represents the nature of the film. The black representing the unknown and the blue of the sea representing the plot. The font is done really well because the creators have made it look like it has been distorted by the water. This connotes the the audience that the experience in the water for the two protagonsits could be traumatic and could mess with their minds and scar them for the future. The ending title is shown on the same background as the other text. The colour of the text 47 is blood red with blood liquid coming out from it and floating in the water. This denotes the danger of being “47 Meters Down”.
Klein Shelton 