A trailer is a vehicle used to haul heavy cargo. It is also used to haul recreational vehicles, boats, and lawn mowers. It is usually pulled by a car. In some instances, it is towed by a traction engine. The term trailer has come to refer to any type of motor vehicle, although the simplest meaning of the term is a container. The word trailer is sometimes associated with a shortened film advertisement, or a movie preview.
The first use of the word trailer in print dates from the 1912, when the phrase was used to describe the short films which trailed feature films. The word came to be synonymous with the word preview, and the term has been adopted for other media as well.
A film trailer is usually a short piece of promotional advertising that contains footage from the movie. It may also include footage that is not from the film itself, such as deleted scenes. The main purpose of a trailer is to attract a large audience. However, some have claimed that they are misleading. They often advertise a film as being more exciting than it is.
The trailer is created by an agency, and it is usually a mixture of shots taken during the film’s production. It is not uncommon for trailers to include music and footage that has been previously used in other movies. This is done for artistic reasons, or to give the audience a different impression of the movie.
The first logos used in trailers were those of Paramount Pictures, and they were used at the beginning of the trailer. Those of other studios used their logos at the end. Until the late 1970s, logos were only used at the end. Today, most studio production logos appear near the beginning of a trailer.
Many trailers have their own signature music. It can be a recognizable song, or it can be a powerful orchestral piece. For example, the music from the film Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedian was used in the trailer.
Most trailers are accompanied by a billing block, which lists the principal cast and producers. These are often included in DVDs, print publicity materials, and television shows. A billboard can also be found at the end of a trailer, and in some cases it is placed on the trailer itself.
A film trailer can be a highly condensed representation of the story of the movie. Generally, it contains three acts: a beginning, a middle, and a dramatic climax. The final act can be a cast run or a visual montage of emotional moments.
Many trailers contain a voice-over narration, which sets the stage for the plot of the movie. Some of these narrations are satirical, while others are designed to enhance the audience’s understanding of the movie. Since the passing of Don LaFontaine, the voice-over narration has largely declined.
Trailers are usually presented in the same format as the feature film, and they may be in 35mm film format, digital 3D, or both. They are usually presented in one minute, and the guideline from the National Association of Theatre Owners is that trailers be no longer than two minutes. Exceptions are allowed, though.