A trailer is a short clip that aims to give audiences a taste of the film it’s promoting. The most effective ones are able to engage viewers by firing on all cylinders: the right kind of music, compelling visual scenes and good dialogue.
Post-production elements also play a big role in how well a trailer works. For example, if a film is shot in gorgeous high definition, it helps to have some shots of the scenery and landscapes. However, you don’t want to overload the audience with so many visuals that they forget about the characters and storyline.
Having an interesting storyline is also important for a trailer. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the story is complex, but it should be original and captivating.
This trailer clearly states its premise (two people who don’t get along wind up as guardians to a child) and provides some snippets of the kinds of conflicts they’ll face. It also employs pithy dialogue, which helps to maintain the fast pace needed in a two minute and thirty second trailer.
The music in this trailer, while not a star performer by any means, helps to tell a story on its own. When the music shifts gears, it heightens emotions and draws us into the drama. The lack of dialogue and reliance on the music to convey the story may not be the best approach for all films, but it can work well when the filmmakers are trying to be bold in their creative choices.
One of the more controversial aspects of making a trailer is how long it should be. Traditionally, the film industry has favored shorter trailers, which are usually around 90 seconds in length. In recent years, this has been challenged by a number of films, which have been released with trailers that are longer than the standard two minutes. The trade group that represents theaters recently issued an industry guideline suggesting that trailers be no longer than two minutes, although this is not yet a universal requirement.
While there are several pieces of movie trailer maker software on the market, the best tools for creating a great trailer are creativity and raw footage. For example, Apple’s iMovie program has been used to make a wide variety of movie trailers. However, whatever software you use to edit your trailer, the fundamental principles of storytelling remain the same.
A trailer is a very condensed version of your film or show, so it’s important to focus on getting the best shots you can and leaving out the fluff that isn’t necessary for the main storyline. Using a script breakdown tool to label key scenes that need to be included in the trailer is helpful. This can help you budget your abridged shoot, as well as ensure that all of the required elements are in place when it’s time to put the trailer together.