What makes an effective trailer?

Creating a good trailer is vital, as it is the producers chance to sell their film to their targeted audience and a potential niche audience. This could be considered a challenge because a trailer is between 2-3 minutes long, therefore it can be quite difficult to decide on the best scenes and shots without revealing too much about the film.

The trailer should entice the audience into viewing the film, giving them, enigma codes (unanswered questions), a glimpse into another world displaying eye catching, unique material.

The term ‘trailer’ comes from the fact that, trailers use to be shown after a film had ended, (a trail), however, this did not prove successful as people would leave the cinema straight after their film was over, therefore they wouldn’t see the advertisement for up coming films. As a result the trailers were changed around and put before the film had begun.

Film trailers are mainly marketed through social media sites such as, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram.

The trailer should be able to speak for itself and not scream to you that is it ‘THE BEST MOVIE YOU WILL EVER SEE’ because that does not appeal to an audience member.

The trailer should not give away to much information. Some trailers do this and it makes the audience member want to wait until the film comes out on TV or Netflix. We should have an understanding of the plot but we should mainly be left with enigma codes which act as an incentive to want to watch the film.

The music should compliment the trailer, reflecting the mood. This should not be too over dramatic. Music can make or break the trailer.

The overall mood and emotion of the film needs to be captured so that the your potential audience feel the want to watch the film.

The dialogue between characters, for example, if it is a comedy, would become funnier/horror, more scary and creepy.

The Trailer should be should be ORIGINAL.

Make use of the best and most exciting bits.