A trailer is an advertisement for a film that gives audiences a taste of the movie and sells them on the idea of seeing it. Though trailers are usually short, they require a lot of work to put together. A trailer must tell the film’s premise and set up its characters and conflict, while also teasing a riveting climax. The best way to accomplish this is by following the three-act structure of a traditional narrative: the beginning introduces characters, the middle heightens conflict, and the end features a dramatic or emotional climax.
The first step in assembling a trailer is to choose the best footage from your shoot. Then, use storyboards to assemble the trailer’s structure and guide your edit. You should also decide whether you want your trailer to be a drama, comedy, or action movie and select appropriate music to match the tone. The best music for a trailer is often orchestral, but can also be pop, hip hop, or even classical.
Next, you’ll need to highlight your film’s cast and crew. This is called the “cast run.” It typically includes the names of the main actors, along with any directors, producers, or writers whose star power will help draw in an audience. A trailer’s credits will usually appear near the beginning or end of the clip. Most trailers conclude with a studio production logo, similar to the logos used on film posters.
While the format of a trailer may change from one type of movie to another, its essential marketing principles remain the same. If you’re directing a documentary, for example, your pitch reel will probably incorporate interviews and documentary-style scenes. But you can also try other editing techniques, like quick cuts to show action and fading in or out of scenes to control the pace.
Regardless of the genre, the best trailers are often thrilling and leave viewers on the edge of their seats. This is because they don’t give away too much, but rather hook the viewer and make them eager to see more. For this reason, it’s important to keep a lid on spoilers when making your trailer. This will ensure that your trailer gets the attention it deserves without driving potential viewers away from the actual film.
If you’re a filmmaker, it’s helpful to watch documentary trailers to learn how to create effective and compelling clips for your film project. These trailers also provide a useful resource when planning a shoot, as they can help you identify which footage to grab and what shots will have the most impact.
Finally, it’s important to remember that a trailer is an advertisement, and it must be compelling enough to convince the audience to see the movie. A good way to do this is by using a combination of well-chosen music, suspenseful or emotional scenes, and narration. A nod to Don LaFontaine is in order here, as he pioneered the deep voice narration style that’s still popular today.