The document outlines the typical conventions used in movie trailers. It discusses including the production company logo first, followed by genre signifiers to set the scene. Famous actor names are included near the beginning to generate publicity. The music is chosen to set the appropriate mood. The title of the film is usually shown towards the end to leave a lasting impression. Trailers also introduce protagonists and antagonists, provide a brief narrative without revealing the entire plot, and include an attention-grabbing tagline.

1. Trailer Conventions
Music
Production
Company
Genre signifier
Title of the
film
Name of famous
actors
TaglinesNarrative
Genre signifier means in the trailer it
shows what type of movie it will be
for example in as scene if it shows a
house which is haunted it clearly
shows the film is a horror.
Production company
comes first in a trailer
showing who made the
film. The music in a trailer sets the
mood for the viewer. The music
can build tension or suspense
depending on the genre of the
film.
Title of the film would
come towards the end
because then it would
remain in the viewers
memory.
The names of famous actors
would come at the beginning of
the trailer to gain it more
publicity.
The tagline sticks in the
viewers mind and helps
sums up the narrative.
A trailer will give a brief plot to
the viewer but it doesn’t give the
entire story but enough to make
the viewer think ‘what will
happen?’.
Characters
A trailer will introduce
the characters being the
antagonist and
protagonist.

2. Homework
• Vocational scenario
• Trailer conventions mind map
• Definition of thriller film and thriller conventions
• Thriller trailer convention mind map
• What are the genre signifiers ?
• How do they show the setting and characters?
• What sort of music/sound do they use?
• How do they show the narrative?
• What is the editing like?
• What sort of characters do they have?