A movie trailer, also known as a preview or coming attraction, is a shor) video advertisement for an upcoming feature film. It is typically shown in cinemas before other films are screened, and it is also released online and on social media.
Movie trailers are designed to generate excitement and interest) in a new film. They typically include a montage of scenes from the film, set to music and narration. Trailers may also include clips from interviews with the cast and crew of the film.
Movie trailers are an important marketing tool for filmmakers. A well-made trailer can generate buzz for a film and encourage people to go see it in theaters.
Here are some of the key elements of a movie trailer:
- Hook: The hook is the opening scene or sequence of a trailer, and it is designed to grab the viewer's attention. It may be a visually stunning scene, a suspenseful moment, or a humorous bit.
- Premise: The premise of a trailer is a brief overview of the film's plot. It should be clear and concise, and it should give the viewer a good idea of what the film is about.
- Characters: The trailer should introduce the film's main characters and give the viewer a sense of who they are and what they want.
- Conflict: The trailer should introduce the film's main conflict and show how the characters will deal with it.
- Tone: The trailer should convey the film's tone and genre. Is it a comedy, a drama, an action film, or a horror film? The trailer should give the viewer a good idea of what to expect.
- Call to action: The trailer should end with a call to action, such as "Coming to theaters soon" or "Get your tickets now." This should encourage the viewer to go see the film.
Movie trailers can be very effective at generating excitement and interest in a new film. A well-made trailer can make people want to see a film even if they were not previously interested in it.
Here are some examples of iconic movie trailers:
- The trailer for Jaws (1975) is widely considered to be one of the greatest movie trailers of all time. It features a suspenseful montage of scenes from the film, set to John Williams' iconic score.
- The trailer for The Matrix (1999) was groundbreaking for its use of visual effects and its mind-bending concept. It left audiences wondering what was real and what was not.
- The trailer for The Dark Knight (2008) is considered to be one of the best superhero movie trailers ever made. It features a dark and intense montage of scenes from the film, set to Hans Zimmer's epic score.
History of Movie Trailers
Movie trailers first started to be used with films in the early 1910s. The first known movie trailer was for the 1913 Broadway production of The Pleasure Seekers. The trailer was created by Nils Granlund, the advertising manager for the Marcus Loew theater chain. Granlund spliced together rehearsal footage of the play to create a short promotional film that was shown in Loew's theaters.
At first, movie trailers were only shown after the Feature Film had ended. This was because exhibitors were worried that if they showed trailers before the feature film, people would leave early. However, by the mid-1910s, trailers were being shown before the feature film as well.
Early movie trailers were very simple. They typically consisted of a montage of scenes from the film, set to music. However, as trailers became more popular, filmmakers began to put more effort into them. Trailers became more creative and visually appealing, and they began to feature narration and interviews with the cast and crew of the film.
Here are some of the factors that contributed to the rise of movie trailers:
- The growth of the film industry: The film industry grew rapidly in the early 1900s. As more and more people started going to the movies, exhibitors needed a way to promote their films. Trailers were a cost-effective way to reach a large audience.
- The development of new technologies: New technologies such as sound and color made trailers more visually appealing and engaging. This helped to make trailers more effective at generating excitement and interest in upcoming films.
- The rise of the star system: The star system emerged in the early 1900s. Audiences became interested in the lives and careers of movie stars. Trailers began to feature interviews with movie stars, and they used the stars' popularity to generate excitement for upcoming films.