Trailers are used to gain interest in films and reach wider audiences. They are shown where the target audience will see them, such as before films of similar genres. Effective trailers include clips from the actual film, the release date, the cast, and genre to attract viewers. Over time, trailers have expanded to various platforms like TV, websites and social media. Films now often release multiple trailers to generate more buzz. Trailers were moved earlier in the viewing experience to capture audiences before they leave.
2. WHY DO WE USE TRAILERS?
Trailers are basically to gain interest in a film. So by
showing trailers in places like the internet or on the
TV can reach a wider audience.
When trailers are shown in a cinema, it is mainly
due to the fact that the film trailer genre will match
the film about to be shown. For example, Wreck-it-
ralph is a childrens film, so therefore trailers will be
Monsters Inc. rather than Mama which is
categorized as a thriller/horror.
3. WHAT NEEDS TO BE IN A TRAILER?
Trailers need to include clips of the actual film so it can be
easily identified. For example, using the Simpsons
characters in a movie which in no way features them or even
falls into the same category as the Simpsons would is not a
successful trailer.
The date it is due to be released, for example, although a
trailer may be released a few months earlier than it is
released in the theatre, it cannot be released to far ahead or
people will lose interest and forget about it.
The trailer should show the cast and the genre of the film
clearly, as these are two of the main influences on whether
you will go and watch a film or not.
One of the most simple and basic things to include in a
trailer is the actual film title, it needs to be added or the
audience will not know what they are going to watch.
4. HOW HAVE FILM TRAILERS CHANGED OVER
THE YEARS?
A major change in film trailers is the way in which
they are viewed and received. For example, they
are now shown on TV, DVDs and films. Rather
than just at the movie theatre.
They are also viewed on websites, such as
myvue.co.uk. Many films also have their own
Facebook and Twitter pages where they link and
show wide audience previews, clips and trailers.
Also, there is more than just one trailer shown now.
Often there is two, maybe three. The titanic(1997)
had two trailers, mainly showing the same clips, but
one was 7 seconds longer than the other.
5. CHANGES WITHIN VIEWING TRAILERS.
When films first began showing, trailers would be
shown at the end of the film. However, obviously at
the end of the film people leave so therefore no one
would see the trailers and be excited for new films.
This meant that they needed to change it so the
trailers had more attention, so therefore they were
changed to be just before the film started. This is
also reflected in DVDs, the film trailers are more
often that now featured just before the actual title
scene begins.