What is its purpose?

WHAT IS A TRAILER?

A trailer is a short montage of clips from upcoming films that should excite

the audience and motivate them into seeing the film.

A teaser is effectively a ‘trailer of a trailer’, showing significant clips of the

trailer which ignites the audiences interest and makes them want to see more.

A trailer is usually between 1 to 2 minutes and is mostly shown before other

films that are screening at the cinema that show similar characteristics of the

chosen trailer; this means that the correct audience are shown the trailer so

the genre of the film appears to the correct demographic of audience.

THE TEASER

A trailer needs to get across the important

information of the film.This could be

• Introducing the genre of the film

• Introducing a hero or a villain

• A cause and effect in the film

• A dilemma that our characters

• Needs to show a disequilibrium

• Leaves the trailer open ended

• Makes the audience wanting more

• Needs to capture the curiosity of the audience

• Showing dialogue that represents the film

• Could show a clear linear narrative

• Could show a non-linear narrative

• A suggestion of resolution in the trailer that gives context to the plot

The theorist Levi Strauss came with the Theory of the binary opposites.

Binary opposites are very important in horror trailers because they need to get

across the conflict in which the film will address

For example

• Good vs. Bad

• Hero vs. Villain

• Light vs. Darkness

• Man vs. Monster

The Binary opposite in the trailer will determine how the film is categorized and what

demographic will see the film.

BINARY OPPOSITES

Why should we watch a trailer?

A trailer is effectively there so the audience can have a preview of the film so they know

what the media text is about. If the trailer is not very good and does not capture the

viewers attention then they probably wouldn't’t go to see the film because it doesn't’t

interest them.

A trailer should be a chance for the film makers to show of some of there most important

and impressive shots in the film, in hope of promoting the film and persuading the

audience to go and see the film.

A trailer should get across to the audience what the film is about, what genre of film it is,

who’s is in the film, what are the binary opposite in the film, and most importantly the

trailer should excite the audience into going to watch the film.