A trailer is a wheeled vehicle, often attached to a car or truck, used to transport large or heavy cargo. It is also the name of a film preview or advertisement that movie theaters show before showing a feature film. Trailers are now used to promote many different kinds of media, including television shows, video games and even theatrical events and concerts.
The first film trailer was conceived in 1913 by Nils Granlund, an advertising manager for Marcus Loew theaters. He spliced together rehearsal footage of a Broadway play to create a promotional montage that trailed after movies shown at his theaters. Since then, trailers have become a highly effective form of media promotion for both independent and mainstream films.
Creating a great film trailer takes skill, a good eye and a lot of planning. A well-crafted trailer will draw viewers in, build up empathy for the main characters and leave them wanting to know how the film’s central conflict is resolved. It is important to keep in mind that a good trailer should never reveal too much of the plot.
Trailers are typically a minute or two long, and they contain an edited selection of key scenes from the movie. The introductory shots are usually the most dramatic, and they set the tone for the rest of the trailer. They can also introduce the main character and his or her main conflict.
Most film trailers contain a cast run, which is a list of the principal actors in the movie. This list is accompanied by credits for the director, producer and composer. It is not uncommon for a film to have more than one actor listed in the cast run, especially if the star is well-known or has starred in other popular movies.
In addition to the acting talent, a good trailer should also include interesting visuals and a catchy theme song. This way, the audience will be hooked and excited to see the full film. In some cases, the trailer may be a teaser, which is a shorter version of the film’s main trailer.
A movie trailer is a kind of pre-roll video that is shown on the Internet or on television before a feature film begins. It can also be a standalone piece that is distributed online or in physical locations. A movie trailer is part of a marketing campaign for a movie that is to be released in the theaters and is designed to advertise its main themes, characters, and storyline.
The trailer is a very important aspect of movie marketing, as it can determine whether or not a film will be seen by its target audience. A well-made trailer can be a powerful tool for film marketing, and a poorly made trailer can ruin a movie’s reputation. For this reason, the trailer is a critical part of any film or television project.