A trailer is an exciting and effective way to get your film in front of potential audiences. Whether you’re making a movie, a television pilot, or a documentary, a trailer can give your project an edge when seeking out investors and audience members. A trailer is also the best way to promote your video online and on social media, allowing you to reach more viewers than ever before.
A great film trailer starts with a compelling storyline, and the right visuals that align with your film’s tone and content. Then, use editing techniques to highlight key moments and elevate the emotional resonance of your footage. This will help viewers connect with your film’s characters and hook them in for the long haul.
The first scene of your trailer should be the one that draws in the viewer. Then, use a series of scenes that show your film’s main characters and their relationships to each other and to the world around them. Often, this will include close-ups of faces and body language. You’ll also want to highlight any special effects, sets, or locations that will help set the mood and place of your film.
When choosing your film’s visuals, be sure they are high-quality and align with the emotional and dramatic tone of your script. Then, use editing techniques to highlight the most important parts of your footage and create a montage that conveys your film’s narrative. You can also use stock music or sound effects to help elevate your visuals and create an emotional arc for the audience.
Depending on your film’s budget, you may wish to hire professional video editors to help you craft your trailer. However, if you’re working on a lower-budget, you can use movie trailer maker software like iMovie, Adobe Premiere, or Avid Media Composer to create your film trailers. These tools can help you make professional-quality movie trailers for a fraction of the cost of hiring a pro to edit your film.
As you draft your trailer script, remember that the purpose of a film trailer is to introduce the audience to your story and encourage them to buy tickets or subscribe to your channel. As such, your trailer should end with a cliffhanger or stinger to leave the audience wanting more. However, don’t go overboard with cliffhangers and stingers—this will give the impression that you’re trying to trick the audience into watching your full-length video or product.
Once you’ve finalized your film trailer, you should upload it to a platform that will optimize it for mobile viewing and social media sharing. The most popular platforms for filmmaking are YouTube and Vimeo, which offer fast load times and high playback quality. You can also host your trailer on your website or blog if you have one.