Titles and credits in film trailers serve important purposes. Titles give audiences information about the storyline or characters and are usually shown at the beginning or end of trailers. Credits at the end of trailers acknowledge those involved in making the film, like producers, actors, and directors. Placement of titles and credits depends on genre and editing pace, but production companies are often featured at the beginning while the film title is usually at the end to be remembered. Titles and credits fit genres through style elements - thriller titles are plain with mystery, while horror uses colors like red and bold titles to create fear.

1. Title/Credit Convention Research
Courtney Buabeng

2. Titles/Credits
• Titles are used to give the audience an idea about the
storyline or they are either used to introduce us to a
character.
• Titles are usually shown at the beginning of the film trailer
with information like the title of the film, or the
production/distribution company.
• Other titles shown are for more information to the
audience throughout the course of the trailer.
• Credits ware shown at the very end of the film trailer with
all the other important information, such as the cast
names, social media etc.
• They acknowledge the people who aided making the film,
like the producers, actors/actresses. and the director is
shown to be the significant one.
• It often involves ratings and critics which aides selling the
movie.

3. What They Say/Are About
• Reviews: Show not their own opinion of their film, but shows reviews from other
directors, film critics and audience etc. Allowing the audience to not only make
their own minds up about the film, but to take on board what others thought.
• Quotes: Instead of voiceovers or the actual characters speaking, some trailers use
quotes/titles to give more information about the film. E.g. The meaning of the
films title and they are also used from the film or book.
• Credits: Gives credit to people who acted or helped the production of the film.
‘Based on a true phenomenon’ intrigues the audience and gives them more of an
insight as to what they will be watching and push them to find out more
information about the story behind it.
• Release date: Informs the audience when the film will be released. But ‘coming
soon’ allows the audience to keep an eye out for the actual release date.
• Social networking: This is used so the audience can interact with the film. E.g.,
“#HOLDYOURBREATH” on twitter is a way of promoting the film and creating buzz
by using more media platforms as a way of promoting the film.

4. Who?
• Influential actors/actresses will always be acknowledged
because it attracts their fans to the role of that
actor/actress within the trailer/film.
• The name of the distribution/production company are
shown as they are the ones who funded the film and due to
a certain quality or style from them, audiences may be
more likely to want to watch the film.
• The cast are the ones who helped produce the film and
perhaps the audience may enjoy the certain way a Director
does his work and will be more excited to watch his film.

5. Why?
• Titles purpose: To make the viewers identify the name of the
film.
• Some explain or hint the meaning of the film or what will
happen.
• To sometimes also briefly mention some people involved in
the film.
• Credit purpose: To give the people involved in the film
thanks and acknowledgment for their work.

6. When?
• Titles: They usually appear 10 seconds in from the
beginning of the trailer.
• There is about 5 seconds between each title which
appears, this however is not always the case as the pace
of the editing can change this.
• The duration of the titles depends on the genre and
editing pace of the trailer. But is enough time for the
audience to read them.
• The production/distribution company would usually be
featured in the beginning, however is often seen to be
toward the end of the trailer.
• Often times, the title of the film is shown toward the end
of film as well, so it can be remembered by viewers.
• Credits: They usually appear in the middle or toward the
end of trailer.

7. Where?
• The title is usually placed toward the end of the
trailer, so the audience are focused more on the
storyline of the trailer and are able to remember
the name of the film at the end of it.
• As the funders of the film, the
production/distribution companies are generally
placed at the beginning of the trailer.
• The placement of the actors/actresses can vary
throughout the course of trailers.

8. Narrative Structure/Enigmas
• The titles give hints to the audience and make
the non-linear narrative more clear to them if
it is confusing.
• It also creates enigmas and mainly raises
questions of “Who? Why? What? When?
Where? How?”
• Depending on the genre, the basis of the
enigmas created will differ.

9. How They Fit In With Genre/Subgenre
• The name of certain titles create a certain
emotion for the audience.
• For example, the titles in the horror genre are
to create immense fear.
• Some the titles represent or hint the actions
of what will occur in the actual film.

10. How?
• The titles in thriller trailer are generally quite plain but
in bold and mysterious with black & white/grey colours
and tend to fade in/out.
• Which fits with the genre as it not distracting and
doesn’t give too much and creates a mystery.
• The titles in a horror trailer have colours such as red
and black which are conventions of the horror genre.
• This helps the audience identify the genre of the film.
• They also are usually bold, capital letters. They are also
sometimes flashing or animations in the background
and sudden popping to the screen to create tension or
fear.