Film Trailer Conventions

Hello, welcome back!

In today's post I will be researching trailer conventions. Embracing trailer conventions will most likely lead to a well promoted and successful film. Although challenging conventions can be fun and unique, embracing conventions, at this point in our film career, will show we are well educated about what works and what doesn't.

Film Trailer Conventions

Text in trailers

• First things first, the film rating. Film ratings are very important because the display the films intended audience. If a movie is unsuitable for younger audiences because of sex, violence, etc, the parent is warned during the trailer.

• Usually, trailers start with the film production company logo. This helps create a brand for the production company by having the company be associated with a certain type of film and also have the viewer recognize the company and have an immediate incline to watch the certain movie. For example, if a viewer watched Moonlight, an Academy Award winning film, and really enjoys the film, then later goes into the theater and sees a trailer for Lady Bird and recognizes the logo of A24, the viewer automatically associates the two films and has underlying inclination to the film. 

A great example of this is A24 production company. A24 specializes in independent films rather than any other genre. Popular movies that were produced by A24 are Lady Bird, Ex Machina, Moonlight, The Florida Project, and so on.

• Other forms of text that are shown during the trailer are other film producer/ distributors, director's name, and actors' names. This, like the production company logo, creates an underlying inclination to watch the film. If a viewer sees that one of their favorite actor or even musical artist makes a cameo, this make the viewer want to go watch the film.

• The last piece of text in the trailer is most important: the title of the film. The title of the film comes at the very end because it needs to be remembered by the audience. If it is placed at the beginning or middle, not only will it not make any sense but it will not be memorable. The purpose of the trailer is to promote the film and have viewers come out and watch the film, so it is very important to have the title in a place where it will be memorable.

Sound in trailers

• Some trailers have either a voiceover from a narrator or a character in the film. This gives the viewers a sense of familiarity when they go watch the film because in the trailer they heard the narrator or main character speaking. 

-  I, Tonya is a great example of a trailer that uses narration in the trailer. Throughout the trailer the sound consists of clips from the film and narration from the main character, Tonya Harding.

•  Most film trailers have either a song from a soundtrack or score of the film. The soundtrack or score usually reflects the mood of the film so that the viewers can get a glimpse at the mood of the film. 

  - Dunkirk is a combination of the two sound techniques in the trailer but the score is much more poignant than the voiceover. The score in incredible because it evokes an emotion from the viewer to feel that anxiety that the soldiers were feeling on that beach.

Editing in trailers

• The editing in trailers consists of important clips from the actual film to interest the viewer to go watch the film. Trailers are usually quite fast pace due to the fact that it is kind of like a compilation of important clips. These clips aren't put in any sort of sequence so that the plot isn't given away.

Duration of trailers

• The usual duration of a film trailer is from 1 minute  to 2 minutes and 30 seconds.