How does the skins promo trailer create representation for young people?

The skins promo trailer represents young people in a variety of ways, creating the effect that we see young people as ‘rebellious youth’. The ways in which they do this is by using certain camera angles, camera movement, editing, sound and mise en scene.

In the promo trailer, camera angles are used to great effect in displaying the stereotypical youth culture. Close up shots are used when viewing the emotions of the characters, they are especially used when one of the ‘main’ characters has just done or used something. For instance, when a character looks as if he has just taken some drugs, a close up shot is used showing what he is feeling right now, this being freedom and sensation, typically associated with the youth culture. Close up shots are also used when showing the sexual nature of the characters, reinforcing the stereotypical nature of youth:

At the beginning of the trailer most of the characters are viewed from a low angle, making them appear in a superior view, ‘on top of the world‘as most teenagers feel, however towards the end of the trailer the characters are viewed in shots from a more higher angle, making them appear vulnerable. This represents that young people are often viewed as being either extremely happy and having a ‘good time’ or extremely sad and depressed, a further stereo typical image.

Sound is used extremely well in the representation of young people in this promo trailer. The soundtrack ‘standing ion the way of control’ is a constant feature throughout, and what the connotations of this are is that the young people in this are seen to be the ones ‘standing in the way of control’ and hence reinforce the stereo typical image of young people being rebellious.

Camera movement in this trailer is pivotal. The camera usually moves in the scenes as we would expect to be moving, or if not as the characters were moving. What this does is create a sense that we are there at the party, helping the audience to gain a better understanding of young people. For instance, when a girl is clearly seen to have taken drugs, the camera moves in a slow close up shot, this emphasis how the girl must feel, portraying it to the audience making them feel slightly how she would be feeling. This helps highlight the representation of young people, however It is in a negative stereotypical ‘youth’ light. Another camera movement is be seeing a girl slumped on the floor, what this portrays again is youth in a negative light. Lots of the cameras movement if also seen as moving towards characters, especially when taking drugs, representing the peer pressure of the youth to conform and take drugs.

The editing in this trailer is also very quick and snappy, reflecting the exciting fast-paced nature of young peoples lives. It also highlights the ever-changing and random lifestyle of young people, with some clips loner than others, showing how distorted young people lives are.

The picture that I have selected for my Mise-en-scene shows the nature of young people very well. It shows them as being from a high angle, looking down on them, with many of them passed out. This shows the stereo typical youth association. The lighting is faded around the edges, but visible in the centre, this could represent how teenagers are only focused on the now and what they are interested in.