Trailers are an important part of movie marketing. These small bits of promotional material provide an overview of a film without spoiling the major plot points. In addition, the trailer often features music not on the soundtrack of the movie.
A movie trailer may not be the first thing you think of when you hear the word “trailer,” but it is one of the most popular forms of advertising for feature films. Besides being a useful marketing tool, trailers can present even poor movies in a positive light.
Trailers can be found on DVDs and Blu-ray Discs. They are also widely available online. Although they are not mandatory, the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) suggests film distributors provide at least two-minute movie trailers. The guideline allows for some exemptions.
Movie trailers are created by a number of companies that specialize in this type of advertising. Some of these companies are located in Los Angeles and New York. During the early days of trailers, they were shown before feature films. Nowadays, they are generally presented in the same format as the feature film. This may be in the form of a short video, or in a 35 mm film format.
A good trailer will utilize the three-act structure. It will introduce the premise of the film and introduce the main characters. At the same time, it will show the most exciting parts of the film. The middle of the trailer will heighten conflict and the end of the trailer will feature the climax.
One of the more notable parts of a movie trailer is the voice-over. While not as prevalent today, the voice-over can enhance an audience’s understanding of the film’s premise.
Featurettes are similar to the trailer in that they are an informative piece of advertising. Featurettes are used to fill a time slot on television and are routinely included on DVDs and TV show websites. However, they are rarely used in the film itself.
A teaser is a similar concept, but it is a much more concise. In the teaser, the premise of the film is briefly explained. Usually, the teaser is about half the length of a trailer.
The best trailers use a clever naming convention to identify the most important elements of the film. For example, a trailer for a romantic comedy might include a song that uses a pop song in a witty manner. Other examples of a great trailer might include a montage of emotional moments.
Using the right technology, trailers can be produced in a relatively short amount of time. With the advent of high-bandwidth Internet connections, a trailer can be viewed from anywhere, at any resolution. Even though trailers are a relatively recent innovation, their production has become a highly polished form of advertising.
Trailers are also a fun and interactive way to learn more about a film. When compared to other forms of advertising, they are able to give a more nuanced perspective on the story of the movie.