A trailer is a short clip or video that promotes a film, television show, or book. It is typically shown before the main feature in a movie theater, and it serves to build anticipation for the film by creating a teaser for its story. A movie trailer is a vital part of a film’s marketing campaign, and it can help boost ticket sales. Whether you are planning to produce a trailer for your own film project, or you are looking to create one for someone else’s movie, there are certain techniques and best practices that should be followed.
The first step in making a trailer is selecting the footage you will use. A film trailer requires a lot of visuals, including shots of the main characters and key locations. It is also important to have a wide variety of shots for the trailer to demonstrate visual variation. The best way to find great shots is by watching trailers of similar movies.
When choosing the footage, focus on getting shots that reflect the tone and setting of the movie you are advertising. A dramatic trailer should focus on action, but a comedy might benefit from more light-hearted moments. Once you have chosen the shots you will use, it is time to start editing your trailer.
It is important to use a trailer editor that offers a wide variety of features for your needs. Some of the most popular trailer editors include Final Cut Pro, iMovie, and Adobe Premier. Each trailer editor has its own unique set of features, but they all include options to crop your footage, add filters and transitions, cut and paste multiple clips together, and animate text. The most popular trailer editors offer a free trial period, so you can try out the software before purchasing it.
A movie trailer must capture the spirit of the film, and tell a compelling story in just two minutes or less. The best trailers are not only entertaining, but leave viewers wanting to see the movie. To achieve this goal, the trailer must introduce the main character and the central conflict, and then end on a cliffhanger that makes the viewer want to know what happens next.
Most trailers start with a cold open, which is a high-energy scene that grabs the audience’s attention. Then the trailer will slow down to build up to a climax.
Some trailers will also include a list of the cast and crew at the end. This is a common practice for most movies, and helps with branding and marketing. A good trailer will include a “cast run” that matches the list on the poster and other promotional materials.
After the trailer ends, it is important to provide a link to where viewers can purchase tickets or download the film. This can be done by using a call to action button on Facebook, or by leveraging the “swipe up” feature in Instagram Stories. If the trailer is well made, it can even be used as a call-to-action for an online crowdfunding campaign.