A trailer is a short clip of footage from a movie or television show that acts as a teaser to get people interested in seeing the full film. A great trailer can create a buzz about a project and help secure funding or distribution deals, so it’s important that the same storytelling techniques that engage audiences in films and television shows work in trailers.
A great trailer begins by establishing the film’s characters and central conflict. A good trailer will also provide an idea of the story’s arc. This may be done through a brief scene or dialogue, or it may be more effective to use abstract imagery that suggests the film’s theme. Rhetorical questions are often used to hint at the film’s thesis without giving away too many plot details.
The next part of a good trailer is to use editing techniques to elevate scenes and create tension. This can be done through quick cuts, varying the speed of shots and using sound effects to liven up transitions between scenes. In addition, music can be very powerful in setting the tone for a trailer. Suspenseful music can add tension, while light or soft music can be used to convey a lighter mood. Music can be purchased from production music libraries or composed specifically for a trailer.
Most trailers also feature the logos for the film, the production company and the distributor. The logos are usually displayed in the same treatment as they appear in the film, but the trailer’s music and editing can be used to creatively modify them. A common technique is to use music that fits the feel of the trailer, or to cut the standard logo with a shot of the film.
After the logos, a short piece of dialogue or exposition is often used to set up the film’s plot. In the case of a trailer for a science fiction film, this might be something like “In a world where technology controls our lives, one man will stand up to the system.” This sets up the main conflict of the film and gives the audience a sense of what they’ll see in the trailer.
Action scenes are a key part of any film, but the best action trailers don’t simply string together a series of fight scenes. The most exciting action scenes are those that have some sort of context, such as a character explaining the stakes or why they’re fighting. This makes the audience care about what happens and will make them want to see the film for more.
A good trailer will also end with a cliffhanger to keep the viewer interested. This can be as simple as a provocative image or a witty line of dialog, but it should be enough to make the audience eager to watch the film to find out what happens. It’s also possible to use the cliffhanger to give a hint of what is to come, such as a surprising twist or a moment that will make the audience want to see how it was resolved.