A trailer is the short, promotional clip for a movie that gives an idea of what it is about. It shows only a small portion of the film and is intended to attract viewers and encourage them to buy tickets. This is a very difficult task as every shot and cut in a trailer is scrutinized by picky audiences and ravenous franchise fans. A single misstep can cost a studio millions of dollars.
The first step in creating a trailer is to compile all of the footage you need from the movie. Once you have everything in one place, you can begin editing it together. This is a great time to experiment with creative editing techniques, such as bookending and intercutting. It is also important to establish genre in a trailer. Action films usually use a clear format that draws viewers in with all of the big fight scenes and explosions they expect. Romantic comedies, on the other hand, often use a more vague format that teases the audience with romance and comedy.
Throughout the process of editing, it is important to remember that you are making a trailer for a movie, not a television show. Therefore, you should try to stick to a three-act structure. This allows the audience to get to know the main characters, introduce a conflict or complications, and then lead up to the climax of the film.
In addition, it is important to highlight the cast in a trailer. This includes the main actors and any big-name directors, producers or writers whose names could draw in an audience. It is also helpful to highlight any unique locations or sets that appear in the trailer, as this will help to give a sense of what the audience is about to see.
Creating a soundtrack for a trailer is also a good way to add emotion and style. The soundtrack for a trailer should be a mix of music that can be used to convey the main ideas of the movie and set the tone of the film. Lastly, it is always a good idea to have a voiceover in the trailer to add another level of storytelling and narration. During this stage, it is best to look at other trailers for similar films and analyze the ways in which their voiceovers and editing styles entice and engage audiences.
Trailers are the best way for a filmmaker to create buzz about their project. They are stand-alone, short-form tidbits of cinematic excitement and can even be used to secure financing for the full film. A well-executed trailer can be an effective marketing tool for any movie, and is a fun way to learn about fiction genres and narrative structure.
The movie trailer is an iconic part of the film industry and has a lot to live up to in terms of its expectations. In less than two minutes, it must sell a movie that hasn’t yet been released and can often be more exciting, thrilling, hilarious, touching, emotional and artistic than the film itself.