A trailer is a short, promotional video that previews a film or TV show. It consists of footage from the film and is intended to intrigue and excite audiences about the film’s story and characters, and it also helps to establish its tone and genre.
A well-made trailer will typically include a mix of post-production elements firing on all cylinders, from a cool, engaging title design to a pulsing soundtrack that tells the story in its own way. It is important to know how to use these tools because they are what help to make your trailer stand out from the crowd.
Music is an important element in any trailer because it tells the audience how they should feel about the movie and creates an emotional connection with the project. It’s crucial to find a composer with a good understanding of the genre that you are working in and who can effectively convey your vision for the trailer in their work.
Another key ingredient to a great trailer is a strong, focused narrative that packs the most punch into its two minute or thirty second runtime. Unfortunately, many modern trailers are overstuffed and don’t have a clear focus. They flit between hyping up the stars on screen, showing cool visuals and trying to explain the plot of the film in detail. This can lead to a lack of consistency and feeling of being overcrowded.
While a proof of concept trailer can be helpful for pre-production planning, it is best to have a full script or at least a solid outline before you try to shoot one. The reason for this is that you will want to have the most accurate representation of your final vision for the trailer, which will be more difficult to accomplish if you don’t have a script.
The other key component to a successful proof of concept trailer is having a great cast and crew. Whether it’s actors, directors or even extras, it is critical that you have people who are passionate about your project and will go the extra mile to do their best on set. This will make all the difference when it comes to creating a compelling trailer.
One last thing to remember when making a proof of concept trailer is that it’s not just about what you say but how you say it. A compelling voiceover can take your trailer to the next level and will have a big impact on how your audience will perceive your film. It’s worth the investment to hire someone who has a good understanding of the production process and knows how to deliver a compelling performance on camera.
Finally, a key piece of advice is to watch lots of trailers for produced films in your genre. This will give you a good idea of what works and what doesn’t. You should also pay attention to the length of most trailers, as they have recently been cut down to just two minutes due to the popularity of streaming platforms.