A trailer (also called a teaser or an attraction video) is a short promotional piece that gives audiences a taste of what’s in store for a feature film, but it’s also used to promote TV shows, documentaries, video games, theatrical events and even books. Regardless of the medium, great trailers have to capture the audience’s attention and imagination by appealing to the same emotions that drive people to watch movies and TV shows. They must be entertaining, exciting, and a little bit deceiving, in order to hook audiences and make them want to see the full movie version.
Creating a trailer is not an easy task, but the rewards can be significant. A successful trailer can create buzz about a project and even lead to successful financing. It can be a powerful marketing tool that showcases the film’s visual style and central story elements. It can be a way to introduce the audience to your cast and crew, and it can also help build a community of fans who are eager to see the final product.
The first step is determining what to include and what to leave out. A successful trailer will not give away too much of the plot, but it will introduce viewers to the main characters and set up the key conflict. Ideally, the trailer will end on a cliffhanger and leave the audience wanting to know how the protagonists will resolve the conflict.
In addition to capturing the main character’s journey, a good trailer will highlight key moments that elicit emotions, such as suspense and empathy. This is especially important for dramas and thrillers, where arousing the viewer’s emotion can make them more likely to remember the film and recommend it to friends.
Another important consideration is how the trailer will be edited. The trailer should be bookended and intercut with other scenes to create an emotional and dramatic flow. It is also a good idea to use sound effects to add dimension and emotion to the trailer, allowing it to stand out from other movies in its genre. For example, distant war sounds may convey the feeling of a war movie while ambient futuristic noises can suggest sci-fi.
To cut costs and make the trailer more engaging, it is a good idea to incorporate footage from multiple sources. This will create a more dynamic, layered edit that will be more interesting to the audience than just using one shot of the film for the entire trailer.
Finally, the trailer should be edited in a way that is compatible with YouTube or Vimeo playback, as well as other social media platforms. It is also a good idea to have a call-to-action at the end of the trailer, such as the film’s purchase link or a request for mailing list sign-ups.
In the world of online content, it is more important than ever to create a trailer that is brief and captivating. Attention spans are limited, and a long trailer can be a turn-off for many viewers.