A trailer is a short promo film, originally for films but now also for television shows, video games, books, and theatrical events/concerts. It’s a type of promotional media that aims to generate interest and excitement for the main attraction it’s promoting, and is often in a direct temporal relationship with that entertainment; it comes before or at the same time as the film it promotes. Unlike commercials, trailers are usually edited to be more entertaining and artistic than promotional.
Several companies exist in the United States that specialize in creating film trailers, and many of these are located in Los Angeles or New York City. They may create a trailer from scratch or work on an existing film to cut together a shorter, more concise version of the trailer. During this process, the editors sometimes work with rushes or dailies from the film; therefore, it’s possible that a trailer contains footage that doesn’t appear in the final movie.
After the Columbine Massacre, the MPAA became more sensitive to the use of guns in trailers and required that all domestic film trailers not show shots of weapons being pointed at the camera. This meant that the US version of the Matrix trailer had to be heavily reworked, and that some scenes were cut out entirely. Despite this, the international version of the trailer remains a brilliant example of a modern, epic film trailer. It has all of the classic elements of a trailer, including a heart-pounding soundtrack, cool visuals that set the tone for the film, and a cast line up that reveals the starring roles.
The most common type of trailer currently on the market is a movie preview that is a two-minute-and-thirty second clip featuring a brief sequence from the film and an image of its stars. This trailer has become the standard for a movie preview, and it is the most widely used in theaters and on video platforms. The problem with these trailers is that they often reveal far too much about the plot, spoil critical moments, and reduce the impact of the film by oversimplifying its themes.
Another kind of trailer is a featurette, which is typically an educational and behind-the-scenes look at the making of a film or TV show. These are often included on DVD releases of the film or TV show, and they can be seen online as well. Occasionally, featurettes are made for the sole purpose of being a trailer, and they’re then marketed as such.
While trailers are a vital part of a film’s marketing campaign, there’s nothing worse than watching a terrible one. The best way to avoid this is to be informed of what makes a good trailer before you go see any movies. With companies and editors dedicated to their construction, vast websites maintained for cataloguing them, and an award ceremony named after them, there’s no reason to settle for a mediocre trailer.