A trailer is a short film that acts as an advert for your project. It needs to create a buzz about the film, tease a story and get people interested in watching it when it is released. It’s also a great way to secure funding for the full production. A well-executed trailer can be a huge success for your film or unscripted television show project. However, creating a trailer that entices audiences and gives them enough information to make them want to watch the full movie can be a challenging task. This is because trailers need to communicate a lot in a short space of time and have the same storytelling elements that engage audiences in film and TV.
The story in your trailer is the core of it all. If you can’t get that right, it doesn’t matter how good the footage looks or how good your actors are – the audience won’t be convinced to go and see the film. A great trailer will hook the viewer in with the narrative and introduce them to the characters before they even step into your film’s world.
Creating a compelling story for your trailer isn’t always easy, especially when it’s a big budget feature film. However, there are a few things you can do to ensure your film’s trailer is the best it can be.
Start with an outline or storyboard. Outlining your film will help you to organize your plot points and decide which ones you want to include in the trailer. Putting your script into a three act structure will also help to give your trailer an overall shape and sense of direction.
Make sure that all your edits match the tone of your film. If you’re cutting a drama about gritty characters, don’t use dub-step music. The same goes for a romantic comedy, or an action movie. Keeping the tone of your editing consistent will help to build the world of your movie, and ensure that it is engaging for your audience.
Don’t give away too much of the story in your trailer. This can make your audience feel like they’ve already seen the film and won’t want to invest their time watching it. It’s okay to leave a few mysteries but don’t give the whole story away.
Adding sound effects can really help to sell your edits and add to the tension of the scene. It’s also important to balance sound effects with silence so that the audience can really focus on what’s happening onscreen. Using sound effects to add tension and emotion is an essential tool for making a great trailer.
Whether you’re a film student or just starting out on YouTube, you can still create a great trailer with the right software. There are many video editor tools available, from Apple’s utilitarian iMovie to the more advanced Adobe Premiere or Avid Media Composer. Whatever you choose, be sure to research the different options and look at some examples of trailers that have been well-executed. This will help you to understand the building blocks that create a powerful trailer and how they can be used to drive your movie or show to success.