Trailer Research

1. Research (Film Trailers)

2. Trailers
Trailer:
A trailer (also known as a preview or coming attraction) is an advertisement or a
commercial for a feature film that will be exhibited in the future at a cinema, on TV
and/or on various social media platforms through the result of creative and
technical work and design. The term "trailer" comes from their having originally
been shown at the end of a feature film screening.
Content:
A trailer contains within it small sections or scenes from the movie that will pull in
an audience and showcases a basic story for them to follow. This is essentially a
“highlight real” of the film showing the best bits of the movie without revealing any
of the plot.
Purpose:
The purpose of a trailer is to inform and advertise the movie or film, this commonly
involves features that will draw in an audience and allow the product to be sold.

3. Genre: Action – Disaster/Apocalypse/Horror.
• Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist or protagonists end up
in a series of challenges that typically include violence, close combat,
physical feats and frantic chases
• The action genre of film/movie is an enormous category with many
different sub genres including: sci-fi, action horror, historical action, action
adventure and disaster/apocalypse action.
• Action disaster/apocalypse is a sub genre of action that includes elements
of thriller and sometimes horror or sci-fi. The main element of this genre
includes some form of natural or artificial disaster. Some examples of the
sci-fi element include: Independence Day, War of the Worlds etc. The
natural disaster style of disaster film include: Day After Tomorrow, Dante’s
Peak, 2012 and Armageddon. Finally, the horror aspect of the disaster
action genre includes movies such as: Resident Evil, 28 Days later, Book of
Eli, Mad Max.

4. Types and Conventions of a Trailer
• There are various different types of trailers that all include different elements of a film or movie for effect.
These include:
• Theatrical Trailer: Commonly only about two or two and a half minutes long, these trailers are dramatic and
show small parts of the movie that hint toward the story. This type of trailer is shown very close to the
film/movies release date allowing for the build up of multi media hype and vast excitement.
• Teaser Trailer: A teaser trailer is very short trailer that does what it states in the name itself, tease. It doesn't
reveal any part of the plot and gives a minor glimpse of what is to come, this means it can be released a long
time before the drop date of the movie itself allowing for a build up of anticipation.
• Other Movie Trailers: These include DVD trailers and specific internet, social media trailers. DVD trailers are
often shown before the start menu of a DVD movie, these are commonly related to the same genre of film
as the DVD you have selected. This allows you to see short teaser trailers or theatrical trailers that may
interest you. Similarly, trailers only intended for the internet and social media will be based around other
films, pages or other interests you have followed or liked. This allows you to see movie trailers you may
otherwise miss.
• Theories: “Genres are instances of repetition and difference”, “Difference is absolutely essential to the
economy of the genre” Neal is stating that a film must conform to the stereotypes of a genre enough to still
be classed or identified as part of that genre. However, the film/movie must still subvert the conventions of
the genre to not be the same as every other movie and thus avoid being another clone.