Dallas 2012 trailer Analysis

Linked to evaluation Q1

Dallas ran from 1978 – 1991 originally started as a drama. In America there are either Soap Operas or Daytime dramas. At the end of the 1st series the main character was shot and that sparked it off as the story line gripped people’s attention all across the nation. This was rare in 1978 as it related to everyone

• At the start of the trailer we are given an establishing shot of Dallas. The Arial shot we are given is as if we are in one of the character’s helicopters. All the glass sky scrapers we are shown in the blazing sun tell us that we are going to be joining the lives of the wealthy people who own them.

• Dallas is heavily rich in oil and this also tells us that these people are going to be extremely wealthy
Texas in itself is famous for oil; oil brings money power and ultimately greed and corruption. America made its money off oil; it wouldn’t have made itself what it is without it. America can exploit Texas by the amount of oil. You get families making their name and their status off oil. You end up with a few families striking the oil and making money off it. At the start of Dallas you get a family that are slightly rich but then change throughout the season and by the 13th they have changed.

• The characters are introduced unlike the English soaps; it’s so different. Although the soap is named Dallas we are also knitted in to the lives of the families that live there by the actors being introduced. The intro takes you through a journey. We see families dramatically change throughout.

• The music has a drum beat that’s like a horse galloping which takes us back to the old times in Texas when they would have used horses. This non-diegetic soundtrack plays a newer more modern version of the soundtrack that was used in the original Soap. Dallas is aimed at women who stay at home all day and have a lot of free time on their hands. This is instantly recognisable to the audience wherever they hear it and this makes them want to know more.

• The weather is dry and sunny and this makes the audience aspire to be like the characters of Dallas and dream of living there and having that lifestyle because Dallas wouldn’t be as good as it is without the fantastic weather

• The screen then fades to black and we are given a 2 shot which then changes to a point of view of the back of an old man’s head; this is JR. JR is shown as an old man to show the audience that the soap’s characters have aged a couple of years, we are shown this by him sitting in his chair with a blanket over his knee and his fancy housecoat. We are also shown a Point of view shot of his watch to also imply to us that he is wealthy.

• The character bobby says “for what?” in the diegetic sound of the trailer and after that the shot changes to a title card saying “Money” in large gold lettering. This makes the audience subconsciously think of money and power and this relates back to oil.

• The stern facial expressions which the character’s are giving each other in the trailer signals to the audience that there is a feud in the family to do with the subject of money. Also the argument between J.R and his son Bobby fits in with the fast paced music and introduces to us the new characters and how the same problems are being passed down through the generations.

• There are quick shots shown in the trailer to create excitement between the viewer and the screen. This therefore makes the audience more excited to watch the series and gets them on the edge of their seats.

• The new characters are now young and hot, this is an attempt to try and coax in the children of the mothers who watched the programme from the start. The word Dallas becomes bolder and has become a brand. The theme tune is bolder and has also become a brand this also makes the younger viewers more likely to watch the programme.

• The title cards used in the same bold gold lettering, “power” and “rivalry” make the argument between the family clear and this tells us that they have “rivalry” with each other because of “power” and this leads to “money”

• We hear Bobby say “I don’t want them to be like us” which shows that even though there is a rivalry between the two brothers they still love each other just the same. The hate used between family members in American soaps is different to English due to the fact the characters love and hate each other.

• The montage edit used helps introduce more characters to the table and makes the younger viewers yet even more intrigued as to what the programme beholds

• The fast paced establishing shot combined with a zoom towards the mansion which shows us again that these people in this programme are extremely wealthy. Bobby’s son’s voice used in the non-diegetic sound shows to the audience that this is his house. He says, “my whole life I’ve been trying to put your name back on top” this quotation tells us that he’s fighting to make his father proud of him and although he has this huge house he’s still not happy.

• The couple kissing and the wedding implies that there will be romance in the show and this will attract female attention and get them into watching the programme because females enjoy watching this sort of thing and will have something they feel that they can relate to.

• “No drilling on my ranch” is yet another hint to the audience of the conflict between the characters in the show. This shows that maybe the community is corrupt and the characters have been stealing oil from each other to try and gain the most “money” and “power”.

• The establishing shots of Dallas and its buildings show to us again what a well of city this is and that the people who live in it must also be extremely well off.

• The dialogue, “I am sick to death of this family devouring itself over money” clears up to the audience why the family do not get along and it makes them more intrigued as to what the family are fighting over.

• American soaps are escapists; they are surrounded and based on wealth and beauty. Though they are still about family, neighbours and because they’re so close this feuds conflict. The conflicts are still about brothers fighting and people having affairs even though everything’s so heightened and unrealistic.