Conventions of a Theatrical Trailer

Theatrical Trailers:

-Most theatrical trailers last around two to three minutes and contain key moments from the film but do not give away any crucial plot lines or details.




-A film trailer will usually begin with the film    production's logo, as the company's reputation can influence a viewers opinion on whether they want to see the film or not. The logo is also used to make the audience aware of what type/genre film it is. This is usually done to attract and entice the audience.









-The title of the film is not usual presented on screen until the end of  until the end of the trailer, which is usually followed by a release date. This is usually done to built anticipation and excitement, and so that the title will be remembered. The graphological features of the title, such as the colour, font, and backdrop, often indicate the genre and type of film it will be. For example, the comedy film title 'Guys With Kids' is bright, bold and colourful to emphasise its comedic qualities, whereas the horror movie title 'Insidious' is dark, sharp and red, which connotes evil, death, blood and horror.




-The names of the main actors are often presented on screen to the audience very early on in the trailer, as this lets them know who they expect to see in the film. This is an important aspect as often a viewer will decide whether or not to watch the film depending on who the actors in it are.

-An important aspect of a theatrical trailer is the introduction of the characters, as a vital part of a film is to get the audience to connect with and like the main characters.

-Editors usually include short clips from different parts in the film - this is done to give the audience a sense of the story line, while keeping it fragmented enough to not reveal too much. Often as the trailer cuts from clip to clip each one transitions with a fade to black, this helps its continuity and ensures it flows.




-A popular sound choice found in trailers is a voice over, this clearly expresses the basic plot line to the audience and gives them an insight into what the whole film will consist of. It immediately creates an introduction to the protagonist and allows the audience to get a feel of what the film will be like, whether that is comedic, thrilling, emotional etc.




-Commonly the name of the director or producer and their most successful film title will appear onscreen  and read for example 'from the director of...[insert successful film title]'

-The most common camera framing found in trailers are close ups, to explore intense emotion, long shots to highlight action, and extreme long shots to present the location. The close ups and long shots help to build the tension and excitement and would portray the most action packed/emotional clips. The extreme long shots would add to the narrative.