A trailer is a short video that provides an overview of a film and entices viewers to see it. Trailers are used to market films and are shown prior to the actual movie in the theater or on television. They are often accompanied by music and can contain a cast rundown, movie synopsis, and production credits.
The film industry is heavily dependent on trailers to attract audiences and sell tickets or DVDs. Trailers are scrutinized by picky sponsors and ravenous franchise fans with the same ferocity as the actual movie. Whether it’s the smallest detail or a technical miscue, any flaw will be magnified. Therefore, making a trailer requires a delicate balance between showing off the film’s top talent and revealing enough to entice viewers. Fortunately, with careful planning, perfect music choice and editing, and a little bit of luck, a filmmaker can create an amazing trailer that will attract audiences.
When creating a trailer, it is essential to take into account the genre of the film. For example, a horror or action film will require a different approach than a romantic comedy. Additionally, a trailer for a sequel should avoid freely revealing huge plot points from the first film. In order to do so, a filmmaker should rely on the three-act structure of a film and use a trailer version of a screenplay to assemble the appropriate footage.
Act 1 of a trailer introduces the story’s premise and characters through exposition or interrogations. It should also include dialogues that encourage the audience to think and evoke feelings of skepticism or uncertainty. Act 2 mixes scenes from the film that highlight the main conflict and builds tension and anticipation. Act 3 reveals more intense scenes that lead to the climax. Finally, the trailer ends by displaying the title card.
Ideally, the music in a trailer should be catchy and interesting to draw the viewer’s attention. In addition, it should be synchronized with the pace of the edits. A slow moving rhythm will help to build tension, while a fast movement helps to excite the viewer. Moreover, a trailer should be edited in such a way that it is a representation of the entire film.
In addition to music, a good trailer should have appropriate sound effects and be mixed in Dolby Digital or other multichannel sound mix. The soundtrack should be loud enough to fill the theater, but not so loud that it overpowers the dialog and action. It is important to study the trailers of other movies in the same genre in order to understand the tone, rhythm, and style of music and sound.
The credits in a movie trailer include the name of the director, producer, and cast members. They may also include a list of the film’s distributors, and any production companies or studios involved in the movie. The credits also feature a model year, which is the date when the trailer was produced. The model year can be as early as January or as late as October of the current year.