A trailer is a short preview of a movie, video game or television show. A good trailer will give an overview of the plot, and highlight important details that will entice audiences to see or play the movie. The length of a movie trailer is generally under two minutes, and it is regulated by the same body that controls film ratings. Trailers are usually accompanied by music, and often use voice-over text to convey the main points of the story. If tone-appropriate, a voiceover is an effective way to further enticing viewership.
When making a movie trailer, it is important to shoot the first scene that occurs in the film. This scene is often called the “inciting incident” or the “setup scene.” Choosing this first shot will help establish character, tone, and setting, which are all key to selling your project. Then, choose a piece of music that reflects the feel of the trailer and will excite your audience. Lastly, film the rest of your scenes in the order that they appear in the movie.
Once all your footage has been gathered, find a backing track and storyboard your trailer. This will make it easier to assemble your trailer once you begin editing. It’s also important to keep in mind that a trailer has significantly less time than a full-length movie, so it’s necessary to be as efficient as possible. Using the storyboarding technique will ensure this.
Movie trailers are one of the newest, and most influential, forms of movie marketing. In two minutes or less, a trailer must sell a movie that hasn’t yet been released, and it is a high stakes game.
Unlike traditional film advertisements, trailers are broadcast on the Internet, which gives studios new freedom to reach a wider audience for free and release “red-band” trailers that can’t be shown on TV. The Internet is also becoming the new sandbox for editors, who create fascinating recuts of movie trailers like turning Mary Poppins into a horror movie and The Shining into a feel-good comedy.
In January 2014, the National Association of Theatre Owners issued a guideline that movie theaters must limit the running time of movie trailers to two minutes or less. This has caused some controversy among film distributors who were previously able to control the runtime of their trailers themselves.
In addition to a strong storyline and captivating visuals, a successful trailer requires an engaging script and a catchy title. Many film directors and producers use trailers to gauge the success of a script, and will only approve a movie if it is well-written and has compelling characters and a unique narrative. For this reason, it is important to read and study the work of other filmmakers and screenwriters to get a sense of what works. In addition, film critics are often consulted to offer feedback on the strength of a script and a film’s potential for success. These critiques are valuable for aspiring filmmakers and can be used to shape their own projects.