A trailer is a short video that catches the eye and entices the viewer to want to watch a movie. It can also be used as a teaser for a product or service to get attention before it launches. The term “trailer” was first used in the early 20th century for a film preview or advertisement that theaters show before a movie.
The Definition of Trailer
A film trailer is a short clip that introduces the plot and setting of a movie. It can be as simple or complex as the story itself, but it must pique interest and encourage the viewer to buy tickets.
To make a great trailer, it requires a lot of planning and creativity. You need to think about the characters, the tone, and the setting. You also need to know what type of movie you want to make and what genre is right for it.
Choosing the right scene for your trailer is essential to telling your story effectively. You will want to shoot your inciting incident or setup scene to set up the rest of your story and build the tension between the characters.
The most effective movie trailers use a three-act structure, which means you have to establish the characters, tell the conflict, and then wrap up the drama with a climax that makes your audience want to know more. This is a basic structure that has worked for thousands of years and it can still work today.
Music is also important for a trailer, because it tells the audience how they should feel and what the story will be about. A good composer will be able to create a track that matches the mood of your trailer and the theme of your story.
In some cases, you can even add stock footage and images to your trailer. Animoto offers a wide selection of high-quality stock photos and videos that are free to use. If you don’t have any of your own, you can find them by searching for terms like “stock” in the Media Library tray on your Animoto account.
If you are a filmmaker, you will need to edit the trailer with some type of video editing software. There are many options, from iMovie to Adobe Premiere and Apple Final Cut X. Whatever you choose, it will need to have the ability to add titles and voice-over to your footage.
You may also need to use editing tools that allow you to resize, crop, and rotate your footage. Depending on your budget, you might be able to hire a professional editor to help you create a top-notch trailer.
Having a great trailer is one of the most important aspects for a successful book launch, so be sure to do your research before you start writing. Take a look at the trailers of other books in your genre to see how they’re done.