Research and Planning: What is a trailer?

Trailers/ teaser trailers are used to advertise a film before the film’s release. They used extracts from the film to attract an audience. The trailer does not give too much of the narrative away or the ending as they want the audience to go and watch the film. Trailers are usually between two and three minutes long, however teaser trailers last between half a minute to a minute. Trailers feature the name of the film and the release date to inform the audience.

What are the key element in a film trailer?

• Montage - A montage is a series of short shots are edited into a sequence to condense space, time, and information

• A voice over -  It is a voice which is not part of the narrative (non-diegetic) used in a film. It is pre-recorded and placed over the top of the film trailer. 

• Titles - They consisted of the name of the film, release date, the movie company's name and logo and the actor’s names.

• Release date - Usually told through the use of titles or the voice over. It is included to inform the audience the date that the film is out in the cinemas.

• The title of the film - The name of the film is normally either at the start of the trailer or the end. This is done to inform the audience what the film is called.

• Peaks - Is the most exciting moments within the film, some are included in the trailer to persuade the audience to watch the film.

• Studio name - Features in a film trailer, telling the audience who the film was produced and distributed by. The studio's logo usually appears on a title.

• Certificate - This is given before the film is release. In the UK the BBFC give films ratings, the ratings are decided through the use of guidelines. The film will either be certificated a U, PG, 12, 12A, 15 or 18 depending on the content that features in the film.