A film trailer is a short advertisement for an upcoming movie. It aims to build hype and interest in the film's release. Effective trailers are typically 1-2 minutes long and utilize dramatic music, camera angles, and voiceovers to tease the plot and characters without revealing too much. Text is often included at the end to display the film title, release date, and starring actors. The goal is to attract audiences to the full film through a compelling preview of the action, emotions, and personalities they will experience.

1. Conventions of a
film trailer
Task 6

2. What is a film trailer?
• A film trailer is also known as a preview or
coming attraction.
• It is a form of advertisement and happens at
the distribution stage of a films production.
• It is centered around a feature of the film that
will be exhibited in the future at the cinema
• Originally they were seen at the end of a film
but now it’s more likely for them to occur at
the beginning.

3. Music
• Should build up to a climax
• Volume should change throughout an action
film
• Music can be used effectively by changing the
pace
• Using soundtracks by well known artists can
also help attract a wider audience to watch
the trailer eventually the actual film.

4. Film titles/text
• Should be used with a font that relates to the
genre if the film being advertised.
• Should be used with colors that stand out which
also gives a clue to the genre of the film.
• Generally towards the end of a trailer.
• Text that can e included are text such as the
release date of a film, which will help to create
hype, as it gives the audience something to get
excited and to look forward to.

5. Time length
• Usually films have more than one trailer
made.
• Trailers tend to be quite short (normally round
1.30-2 minutes)
• The time of a trailer can also depend on what
type of genre the film is e.g thriller films tend
to have quite short trailers (even 10 second
trailers!) as short clips help to build suspense.

6. Camera Angels
• Should be dramatic camera angles.
• Close ups normally help in a trailer to establish
a characters personality and emotions.
• Establishing shots normally are used to give
the location of the main action away and also
to show extreme action.
• They help to explain what is happening
within the film without giving too much away.

7. Voice overs
• Used to tell the story.
• To add extra information.
• Voice overs help to guide the audience through
the film plot and characters.
• The voice over can either be an external voice
which is dded on top of the footage or can be
sections of dialogue from the actual film.
• Voice overs are created once the film has already
been filmed but comes out before the film does
to create a hype.

8. The stars of the film
• The way the main characters are introduced into
the film are very important in the audience
gaining insight to the characters attributes.
• This also allows the audience to relate to the
charatcers (this can be shown through the way
the characters are presented).
• Adding well known actors names as text in the
the film helps to add to the films reputation
which will also attract a larger audience.