What is a Trailer?

Trailers are forms of advertisement and are created in the purpose of promoting a new feature film that would soon be viewed in cinemas. They are a merge of selected shots from a production that will later be shown. Trailers are mostly distributed over the internet and between television adverts. However, many can be found on DVD's and Blu-ray Discs. They are used to attract audiences, spiking interest and excitement which encourages them to go and see the film.

Originally, trailers were shown at the end of a film screening hence the term "trailer". However, due to the public's tendency to leave immediately after the film's end, the practice did not last long. This led to the decision of trailers being shown at the beginning of a film screening. Trailers have a maximum length of 2 minutes and 30 seconds to provoke interest whilst preserving much of the film footage.

Here are a few examples of some.

The Devil Inside

-Exactly 2 minutes and 30 seconds in length.
-Uses a transcript from a 911 call with white text on black to introduce the trailer. It is a bold statement and stimulates panic in an audience.

-Catchline: "No soul is safe"
-Alternates between shots from a handheld camera and a broadcasting camera. The handheld camera shots partially presents the film as a documentary, which may effect audiences in a more intimate manner.
-Uses direct mode of address in some shots, drawing attention to the eyes

The Hangover

-2 minutes and 29 seconds in length

-Intro music is a song that most people know and can sing along to
-Outlines the synopsis of the film completely without using all the film footage
-Makes references to other films that the director has done: "From the director of Old School"
-Flash cuts that are in time to the music

The Hunger Games

-2 minutes and 39 seconds in length which is technically over the limit. However, a studio or distributor is allowed to go over the limit once a year.
-The light is very de-saturated in the 'Districts' to portray poverty and the harsh lifestyles they are forced to live. This is contrast to the capital which is saturated to present luxury.
-Handled camera work gives it a sense of realism.