A trailer is a type of vehicle used to transport goods, equipment and materials over long distances. Trailers are made from a wide variety of material, including fiberglass, steel and aluminum. They can range from small, lightweight utility trailers to larger commercial models with high payload capacities. Many trailers also have special features, such as ramps and lockboxes, to make loading and unloading easier and safer.
The trailer for a film may contain clips from the movie itself or be entirely new footage. Film companies typically hire trailer editing agencies to create the trailers while the film is in production, rather than afterward. As a result, the trailers often contain scenes that are ultimately deleted from the film or are edited in a different way than the finished film.
Occasionally, trailers are criticized for spoiling the plot of a film by revealing too much about it. This can ruin the audience’s anticipation and impact. The trailer for Jackie Chan’s Rush Hour 3, for example, was criticized for not integrating the comedic elements of the film properly into the trailer. It also rushed through the story and made the movie seem less exciting than it could’ve been.
Trailers also use music to set the tone and atmosphere for a film. For example, the classic Psycho trailer used a voice-over to give viewers a tour of the Bates Motel before revealing Vera Miles’ bloodcurdling scream. More recently, the Godzilla trailer uses simple but terrifying sound effects to convey the ominous feel of the monster’s roar.
In addition to creating the overall tone and story of a trailer, music and sound effects can help convey a film’s genre. For example, the music in a horror film trailer sets the tone for the movie, while a comedy trailer may use comedy-related sounds to evoke the genre.
Some trailers have a specific musical theme that runs throughout. The theme can be as simple as a certain instrument, such as the guitar, or a specific song. In many cases, the soundtrack for a trailer is created before the composer is hired for the film. The trailer editors will then use the songs in the trailer, either laying them directly over the footage or using remixes of existing hits. The Creator (2023) trailer, for instance, uses a remixed version of Aerosmith’s Dream On throughout the trailer.
Other trailers have a voice-over narration that introduces the film’s main characters and explains the premise. This is especially common in trailers for films with well-known stars, such as Jerry Seinfeld or Tenacious D. The voice-over can also be used for a comedic effect, as seen in the Jerry Seinfeld trailer, The Pick of Destiny.
Trailers are an important part of a movie’s marketing campaign and can be very effective at selling the film to potential audiences. As a result, the art of creating a great trailer has become a highly refined industry. Trailers can be seen on the internet and at movie theaters before a film’s release.