2. Introduction
A teaser trailer is a promotional advert in preparation for a
upcoming film that is soon to be released.They are created to
broaden the target audience and create hype for the upcoming
films release, is usually released to audiences long in advance of the
products official film release, as to tease the audience and begin
exciting them and show possible plots.
In this task, I shall be exploring the conventions and types of teaser
trailers in order to fully gain a strong understanding of what it is like
to create one. Increasing the chances of success when it comes to
production stages and giving me an understanding of what an
audience expects me to create.
Using a variety of reliable sources and links to aid within my
research of this task, I shall be using this as well as my own
observations to carry out research into the different types of teaser
trailer and into the conventions of a teaser trailer. Identifying the
key differences between a teaser trailer and a theatrical trailer,
including features such as the length, structure and pace of both.
I shall be concluding by explaining how this piece of research I have
undertook will help myself whilst constructing my own teaser
trailer throughout production and planning stages. Allowing me to
understand the essential work that needs to be undertook and how
has it inspired myself to pursue this forwards and bring this into my
own work.
3. What is a
theatrical
movie trailer?
A theatrical trailer is usually between two and three minutes long,
and is fairly close to the film’s release. It is very rare that the
footage shown at this stage does not make it into the film,
because of how close it is to release and has usually passed the
edition stages, where the cuts have been made.These trailers
build upon what was shown in any initial teaser trailers, and have
extra footage to really draw in the audience.These are usually
shown in the cinema due to the longer clips and length.
4. What is a
teaser trailer?
Teaser trailers, in contrast to a theatrical trailer, are between 30 and
60 seconds in length, and are usually found online through
YouTube or social media, because they are so short and so far
away from the official release and theatrical trailer. Teaser trailers
are often released from any time before 6 months before release,
although these trailers are found to be released more frequently a
year before the film’s release. These shorter trailers do not
guarantee that the clips shown in them will be in the final cut for
the film, as during the edition stage, before the theatrical trailer
release, the clips from the teaser may have been cut altogether
from the film, but can be the first hints of what a film may pertain
in short, interesting and fast paced clips.
5. What are DVD
Trailers?
DVD trailers can be the same as a theatrical trailer, but are shown
onTV instead just before the release of the film on DVD.These
trailers can be edited to have the inclusion of ‘special features’
and ‘deleted scenes’ on the DVD, but are mentioned in the trailer
to entice the audience to buy it for the extra special features.The
trailer also may have extra clips or promote an alternate cut or
extended play of the film on the DVD, which would include
footage that was inappropriate for the cinema.This further
entices the viewer to buy the DVD for the extras, and the editions
to the trailer are majoritarily to do with marketing techniques to
generate more sales.
6. What are
internet film
trailer?
The internet trailers are usually deleted scenes from the film,
interviews with the cast or behind the scenes filming where you
see more of the cast and the process behind making the film.
These are most commonly released to keep the hype up after the
DVD trailer, and circulate social media as well as feature on the
films dedicated website. Most of these extras find their way onto
YouTube, where the hype is continued and keeps people
interested in the film while enticing them to buy it.The majority
of the extra clips are there to attract attention as part of a
marketing campaign, to further increase hype by promoting
online exclusives.
8. Conventions
within a teaser
trailer
Often the teaser trailer involves a build up to the most prevalent
obstacle the characters must overcome, shown through dramatic
camera shots that add to the atmosphere, but also introduces the
key characters that the producers want the audience to focus on,
who is often the main protagonist and the villain.The clip itself
generally is fast paced, or begins slow and builds in pace.The
music chosen creates the majority of the atmosphere, supporting
the short clip from the film. Sometimes, the teaser shows
excerpts that end up not being in the film, often because during
editing the scene was altered or removed altogether, as the
teaser trailer is predominantly made while the film is still being
produced and edited and the clip does not make the cut.This
teaser trailer is often released a year before the film’s release, but
these sorts of trailers are commonly associated with high
grossing films, although it is becoming more common for
‘popular culture’ themed movies to have a teaser trailer as well.
9. Conventions
within a teaser
trailer
The sounds in a teaser trailer are key to building up the
atmosphere, whether they be background music, edited sound
effects and dialogue.The background music is the main source for
creating the atmosphere, as it pulls into account the dramatics
and intensity that will be required for the teaser, which can
greatly set it apart from others if it is a unique and fitting
soundtrack.The dialogue gives us insight into what potential key
moments could be in the full film, and gives a glimpse into how
some characters may interact and the potential narrative for the
film.The edited sound effects can add drama, tension and
suspense to the teaser, all which make it auditorily interesting.
Voiceovers are classed as a sound typically, but are more about
providing information to the audience rather than adding to the
atmosphere in relation to teaser trailers.
10. The main characters are often introduced through the teaser trailer, in
particular the hero and the villain.The hero allows the audience to
immediately see who the film will commonly be following, and who will
be trying to overcome the obstacle/opposition and ‘win’ out over
everyone.The villain does not have to be a typical villain who is pure evil
and trying to destroy the hero, but can be a general opposite to the
hero, such as in Captain America: CivilWar, where you have Captain
America v. Iron Man (tradition vs technology). Inherently, neither are
evil, but in this situation you have the divide between the two teams,
which allows the formation of an early fan base, which can encourage a
‘hype’ around the film and increases the interest in it.
It is also important to note that the teaser trailers show off the big stars
that will be in the film to draw in their fan bases.The more well-known
the star, the larger the fan base for the star, which then brings in more
interest for the film because the fan base want to see them in the film.
For example, if someone is a fan of Jennifer Lawrence, they are more
likely to watchThe Hunger Games than Divergent, because Jennifer
Lawrence plays the lead inThe Hunger Games Franchise.
Conventions
within a teaser
trailer
11. Conventions
within a teaser
trailer
Comedy and action packed moments are often shown in the teaser
trailer to intrigue the audience and to set out the themes for the
film. For example, The Inbetweeners teaser trailer showed
humorous moments because it is classed as a comedy, and
wanted to show the audience the best funny moments from the
film to interest them, and encourage them to watch it if they are
interested in comedic films. Including the most action packed and
dramatic parts of the film in the teaser trailer encourage people
to watch the whole film to see all of the action and see how it
ends, especially with dramatic parts that leave the trailer on a
cliffhanger.
12. Conventions
within a teaser
trailer
Most commonly, the first thing we see in a trailer is the film
production logo, which can start off the initial hype, especially if
the film company is known for making high-grossing films, which
then a large fan base would be associated with it. If the logo
shown for example was for 20th Century Fox, we would know that
the majority of films that are associated with them are known to
be successful, and have a fairly high budget, which correlates to
the likeliness of having a higher quality film.
13. Conventions
within a teaser
trailer
The film title and other titles and captions in the trailer reveal key
pieces of information that could pertain to the plot, the
actors/actress’ names, as well as any key dates to do with the
release date.The title often is at the start of the trailer, or right at
the end, to build up the suspense for a horror or thriller film.
14. Conclusion
In conclusion, throughout my research into the types and
conventions of the teaser trailer, I have managed to successfully
identify what it takes to be able to create a successful teaser trailer
in order for an audience to easily identify with that and understand
what it shows to an audience.
Looking at all the types of trailers out there to audiences, I have
identified from this research task, I have managed to pick out what
a teaser trailer actually is, and what is expected of me to actually
produce when it comes to planning my own.
