Filmmakers rely on trailers to give audiences a glimpse of the movie’s story and entice them to buy tickets. The art of crafting an impactful trailer requires a delicate balance of storytelling, information, and visuals. As the media landscape shifts, it demands new ways of capturing audience attention and imaginations. But despite these changes, the core of impactful trailers remains the same – compelling stories with emotional resonance drive engagement.
The Most Important Rule of a Trailer: Don’t Spoil the Film
Trailers are the Voyager spacecrafts of a film – they send a message out into the ether about your film and have only a few minutes to convince people that it’s worth their time. That’s why it is so important to put careful thought into each and every trailer.
A great trailer must tell a riveting, emotionally engaging story that gives the audience a taste of the film’s plot and characters. The best way to do this is through a three act structure: the beginning of the trailer introduces the main characters and setting, the middle heightens the conflict, and the end features a climax.
The most effective trailers also feature well-chosen music. Whether it is a suspenseful orchestral piece for a thriller or a lighthearted pop song for a romantic comedy, the right music can elevate the trailer and create an atmosphere that conveys the tone of the movie.
Trailer editors use a variety of editing techniques to capture the audience’s attention and to add visual depth to scenes. For example, they often add sound effects to liven up scene transitions and cut quickly between different angles of action to build suspense. They may also use music cues to sync with specific moments of the film, creating a powerful fusion of audio and visuals that draws audiences into the world of the film.
Another key component of an effective trailer is the cast run, a list of the principal actors who appear in the film and any big-name directors, producers, or writers whose name recognition can draw in an audience. A cast run appears in most trailers near the beginning of the video and is also featured on the poster.
Lastly, trailers can also make use of social media influencer collaborations and exclusive content to attract attention and build fan interest. Whether it’s an asymmetrical teaser, a blooper reel, or a behind-the-scenes look at the set, any strategy that helps build excitement and anticipation for the film is likely to help its ticket sales.