A trailer is a wheeled container attached to the rear of a vehicle. It can be used for transporting large or heavy items, and it is often connected to the vehicle with a hitch. A bicycle trailer is a type of trailer that is used to transport children. People also use trailers to carry boats, horses, and other recreational vehicles. A trailer can be towed behind cars or trucks, and it can be pulled by horse or donkey. People can also rent trailers for a short period of time.
The term trailer may be a bit misleading, as it is also used to refer to a film preview or advertisement that theaters show before a movie. This is why it has become common to hear people refer to a movie as being a trailer. The earliest trailers, at the beginning of the 20th century, were called trailers, and they came after the film, trailing it.
Trailers are typically created at companies such as The Cimarron Group, MOJO, Aspect Ratio, Flyer Entertainment, Buddha Jones, or Trailer Park, while the film itself is being edited by the studio. This means that the trailer may contain footage that does not appear in the final cut of the movie, or it might be cut slightly differently than the film edit.
Many trailers have a three-act structure similar to that of a feature-length film, with an act one that lays out the main characters and premise, an act two that builds on this, and an act three that delivers a dramatic climax. This is usually achieved through a visual montage of powerful and emotional moments in the film, or by showing a sequence that will surprise and delight the viewer.
Some of the most effective trailers create empathy for the protagonist and leave viewers with a major cliffhanger, begging them to see how the character will overcome this conflict. The cliffhanger may also be used to encourage viewers to purchase tickets or sign up for the film’s mailing list. This is a form of social proof, and it has been shown that recommendations are very influential in the decision to watch a movie or purchase a product.
In recent years, digital platforms such as YouTube have become the newest and most cost-effective aspect of film marketing. These platforms allow studios to reach much larger audiences for free, and they can also release red-band trailers that are too racy for television. YouTube has also become the new sandbox for editors to play with trailers, including recutting them into funny or insightful clips.
Movie trailers are a great way to advertise films, but they can be overused. It is important to keep in mind that the primary purpose of a trailer is to drive audience interest in the film, and it should not be seen as an opportunity to promote the logo of the production company or distributor. The best trailers are short, engage the audience within a few seconds, and end on a cliffhanger that leaves them wanting more.