Research - Trailer Conventions

Film trailers, like specific genres, have their own conventions. As the purpose of a trailer is to advertise the film to people and make them want to watch it, the trailer needs to show the highlights of the film and give the viewer a sense of what the film will be about without revealing too much. These highlights are edited together as a montage, not necessarily in chronological order.

This montage is interspersed with credits which tell the viewer which production company/companies, actors and directors are involved, the film’s title and tagline, BBFC rating, and release date. These credits are important as they can make the trailer’s audience more likely to see the full film in cinemas. Famous actors, producers, and directors have their own star appeal and will attract lots of people to the film. Titles and release dates mean the trailers audience know what the film is called so they will know what to see in cinemas, and know when it will come out, increasing anticipation for this date. The film’s title often appears at the end of the trailer so it is fresh in the mind of the viewer.

Voice overs and music are also important conventions in trailers. Voice overs are used to tell the viewers the basic plot of the film and music and sound effects create tone. This is especially useful in the horror genre as music creates a tense atmosphere and sudden loud noises shock the viewer as the trailer builds to a climax as it draws to a close.