The trailer is the filmmaker’s (or studio or marketing department’s) attempt to sell a film to a potential audience. It’s usually the first and only thing a viewer will see of a movie before they decide whether or not to invest their time in watching it. The key is to make it stand out from the crowd and convince the viewer that the movie will be worth their time and money. Creating a compelling trailer requires a strong understanding of the movie itself and the audience’s needs and interests.
A trailer is essentially a miniature movie that is meant to hook the audience and provide them with an idea of what they will be getting themselves into when they finally sit down to watch the full feature film. It should set up the world and the characters in it, it should talk about what the story is about, and it should give a hint as to how that plotline will be concluded. It also must do all of this in a short amount of time, which can be a difficult task.
There are a lot of things that go into making a good trailer, but some of the most important ones include having a solid structure, cool visuals, and catchy music. Not every trailer needs to have an over-the-top bit of editing or crazy sound effect – but all of them should try to highlight what is unique about their film and what makes it stand out from the crowd.
One of the biggest mistakes that many trailers make is trying to cram too much into them. They can end up feeling like a sizzle reel, with too many scenes and not enough plot or character development. The trailer must be fast paced, with smooth or at least intentionally un-smooth transitions between a lot of different compelling moments.
Another important aspect of a trailer is to have strong visuals that work in conjunction with the dialogue and help tell the story. This is especially important if the film in question is an action movie, as many of those types of movies tend to focus on the visuals more than plot or character. If the visuals aren’t working with the dialogue, it can feel disconnected and the viewer may not be as engaged in what is going on.
A great example of this is the trailer for the film Mortal Engines. This is a film about two people who don’t get along who wind up becoming guardians of a child and then find themselves fighting for the fate of their city. The main problem with this trailer is that it doesn’t give the audience a clear sense of what the story is about or why they should care.
In a world where there are so many options for a potential audience to spend their time and money on, it’s crucial that the filmmakers make their films and trailers stand out from the crowd. The best way to do that is by focusing on the strengths of the film – be it memorable or likable characters, a cool premise, catchy music, or awesome visuals.