A trailer is a short film that introduces audiences to your project and generates excitement for it. It communicates the story, production value and tone of a movie, TV show or other media in under three minutes. It’s a difficult task because it has to entertain and inform audiences while evoking suspense and engaging them in your project. Luckily, the same storytelling elements and techniques that engage audiences in films and TV shows are just as important when making a trailer.
A perfect trailer must tell the audience what the movie is about, set up the main characters and events of the film, and create a sense of tension. It has to have a clear beginning, middle and end, and the right music can elevate the trailer to the next level. The editing techniques used in a trailer can also make it stand out. The use of sound effects, quick cuts and fading in and out of scenes can all work to enhance the mood and pace of the trailer. Adding a dramatic or lighthearted feel to the trailer through the choice of music is another way that the trailer can be elevated. For example, a thriller might have a dramatic orchestral score and a romantic comedy might feature a catchy pop song.
The opening of a trailer is the most crucial part because it needs to grab the audience’s attention and set up the premise of the movie. It can do this by showing a dramatic or action-packed scene that is a good fit for the film’s genre and tone. It can also set the stage for the main character and the conflict that will drive the story forward.
It is important that a trailer doesn’t give too much away, so the narrator’s lines of exposition are usually brief and illustrative rather than abstract. Rhetorical questions and statements that sum up a character’s ideology are popular options for this kind of narration. The best trailers have a mix of both abstract and concrete imagery, which helps the viewer to feel immersed in the world of the film.
Often, a trailer ends with a cliffhanger that leaves the audience asking what will happen next. This is especially true of movies and TV shows, but it can also be a good technique for a trailer for a documentary or other nonfiction film. A viewer might not be able to figure out how a documentary like Apollo 11 ends, but by leaving them wanting to see more, you can increase the chances that they’ll pay to view the full film.
Creating a great trailer isn’t easy, but by using these techniques and taking a creative approach to the editing, it’s possible to make an effective film preview that will draw in audiences and get them excited about your project. The process can be as challenging as the actual shooting of your film, so don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things.