The trailer is one of the most important parts of your film or documentary project. It can make or break your audience’s decision to watch the full-length version of your work. That’s why it’s so important to create a trailer that is original, exciting, and engaging. But how can you do that? In this article, we’ll talk about some tips for creating a great trailer.
The first thing you need to do is establish the basics of your movie. This means establishing the genre, main character, and mood of your film. This can be done quickly in the first ten to thirty seconds of your trailer.
Next, you need to choose the visuals that will go with your film’s dialogue and story. This is where it’s helpful to have a log of all the footage you’ve shot. Having this on hand will help you see which clips are the most powerful and help you decide what to cut out.
Once you’ve got a good idea of what footage you want to include, it’s time to start editing it together. Many filmmakers find it helpful to use a video editing software program. There are lots of different options out there, and each has its own benefits and drawbacks. Some are free, while others may be more expensive and have more advanced features. Whatever you end up using, it’s important to be prepared for a little trial and error. You might have a plan for how you want your trailer to look, but it’s often necessary to adjust your plans on the fly, especially as you begin cutting up your footage.
As you edit your footage, try to match the audio with the visuals. This will add more context and depth to your trailer. It’s also a good idea to keep your trailer under two minutes. This will keep the viewer’s attention, and make them more likely to click on your film’s link when it’s released.
Most movie trailers feature some type of music to set the tone and pace of the film. Some filmmakers will create their own soundtracks, while others use music from the film itself. Whatever you end up using, it’s a good idea to keep the volume level low, so viewers can focus on your film and don’t get distracted by loud music.
Another key aspect of a great trailer is ending with a cliffhanger. This is a great way to build empathy for your characters and leave them wanting more. It can be difficult to achieve this, however, as you don’t want your audience to figure out how the film ends by watching the trailer. A great example of this is the Apollo 11 trailer, which ends without showing any clips of the crew members celebrating or stepping on the moon.
Some trailers also use voiceover or text cards to give the viewer more context about the film’s story. However, this should be used sparingly, as too much can detract from the footage itself and make it feel like a run-of-the-mill movie trailer.