A movie trailer is a standalone work of art, separate from a promotional advertisement for a film. A good movie trailer gives a "peek" of the full film without revealing too much, building a sense of excitement for the film and giving viewers an interest in the final product that leaves viewers wanting more. Creating the perfect movie trailer is no small undertaking - completing this task will require planning, persistence, and a somewhat different set of skills than what is required to make a full-length film.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Crafting a Basic Trailer
Step 1. Start with a short screen to display the production company information
Try to remember the movie trailer you last saw - unless it's an independent film trailer for very little money, it's possible that the first thing you see in the trailer isn't footage of the film itself, but some brief screen displaying the logo of the filmmaker's studio, production company or distributors, and so on. These images, while brief, are important - the people involved in the film want to be recognized for their time and money - so don't forget them.
- But remember, you don't have to wait until these images have finished displaying your logo to start introducing your film to the audience. In fact, most trailers use precious seconds to show the logos by starting to play music that builds the mood of the trailer (explained below) and/or playing dialogue from the film.
- Also keep in mind that, on rare occasions, the standard logo of the studio and/or production company can be creatively modified to match the mood of the trailer. For example, the first trailer for Office Space (1999) showed the 20th Century Fox logo in the form of spotlights and gold text making it look like it was printed from a Xerox office machine.
Step 2. Define the mood, genre and main character of your film
Don't waste time introducing the audience to basic facts from your film. Within the first ten to thirty seconds of your trailer, viewers should have a rough idea of what kind of film the trailer is showing, who the main characters are, what kind of atmosphere the film has (al, gloomy, cheerful, ironic, etc.) there's one "right" way of doing this, but most of the time, trailers do it by showing a quick snippet of the main character saying or doing something that clearly sets out the general mood and content of the film.
- For example, let's take a look at the first 20 seconds or so of the trailer for the 2014 film Whiplash featuring J. K. Simmons and Miles Teller.
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- In just twenty seconds, the Whiplash trailer tells a lot about the film: Andrew is the focus of the film, Andrew is a young musical genius, the film has a romantic component, and Fletcher has a teacher/mentor relationship with Andrew.
We open with a picture of the streets of New York at night. We see Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller), a young college-aged man, talking to Nicole (Melissa Benoist), a woman his age, at a food stall.
NICOLE
This place is comfortable.
ANDREW
I really like the music they play - Bob Ellis on drums.
Nicole laughs, we see the couple's feet touching under the table.
ANDREW (Voice)
I'm part of Shaffer's best jazz orchestra – the best music school in the country
As Andrew speaks, we see footage of him standing in front of his school, then watching him practice drums. As he continues, we see footage of Terence Fletcher (J. K. Simmons), an older man, walking into a room and hanging up his coat and hat. We turn to Fletcher talking to Andrew leaning against the wall.
FLETCHER
The key is to relax. Don't worry about the music, don't worry about what other people think. You're here for a reason. Have fun.
We switch scenes to Fletcher gesturing for the band to start playing.
FLETCHER
Ah-five, six, and…
Step 3. Introduce your film's main conflict
Once you've established the "status quo" of your film, introduce the main conflicts - the people, things, feelings and events that will form the basis of the story. In other words, show the audience why they should care about the characters and themes you just introduced. Try answering questions like, "What dramatic thing happened to put the plot in motion?", "How did the character feel about this?", and "How did the main character try to resolve the conflict?" In the words of Jerry Flattum of Scriptmag.com, "Storytelling is based on conflict. Without conflict, there is no drama. Drama is conflict."
- Let's go back to the Whiplash trailer to continue the example. Once the trailer establishes the film's foundation, it immediately reveals its main conflict.
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- The Whiplash trailer sets the film's main conflict to surprising effect. Fletcher, who initially appears to be an ordinary teacher, is revealed to be a ruthless, merciless and violent torturer. The conflict is clear without the need for a film to reveal it straightforwardly: will Andrew, who wants to be a great musician, be able to withstand the tremendous pressure of being under Fletcher's tutelage?
We see Andrew confidently playing the drums in a jazz band, while Fletcher takes the lead. Cheerful jazz music plays in the background.
FLETCHER
(Compliments Andrew) There's Buddy Rich here!
The band continued playing. Suddenly, Fletcher motioned for the band to stop.
FLETCHER
(To Andrew) There's a bit of a problem. You're in a hurry. Let's start! (Fletcher signals the band to start playing) Five, six, and…
Andrew and the rest of the band continued the song. Without warning, Fletcher tossed a chair at Andrew, who hunched over at the last second.
FLETCHER
(Angry) Are you playing too fast, or too slow?
ANDREW
(Resignedly) Mm, I don't know.
Moving on to the melee scene Fletcher leans over to Andrew. Fletcher slapped Andrew hard in the face.
FLETCHER
(furiously) If you sabotage my band on purpose, I'll cut you like a pig!
Andrew started to cry.
FLETCHER
Oh, my God. Are you among those who ask for pity because of tears? You useless sissy who is now crying and wetting my drum like a nine year old girl!
Step 4. Give a "peek" at the film's rising scene (without leaking the plot
) Once you've established the film's main characters and conflicts, you have a little more freedom in how you proceed with your trailer. Many modern trailers choose to hint at the progress of the plot by showing sharp, fast snippets of key phrases or events in the film in rough (though usually not precise) sequence. But remember, moviegoers will probably hate trailers that reveal too much of the film's plot, especially if there's a surprising twist to it, so don't be too revealing - don't give the film too many surprises!
- The Whiplash trailer explores the basic plot tempo of the film and reveals very little specifics. The short snippet below is taken from the trailer; In order to keep the article length adjustable, some image snippets have been omitted:
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- This short snippet gives a good guide on how the plot goes in Whiplash without leaking any big reveal to us. We now know the stresses of drumming under Fletcher will gradually creep into Andrew's life, we know Fletcher views his teaching philosophy as a way to propel talented young musicians to greatness, and we know that Andrew and Nicole will begin to experience tensions in their romance at school. while playing the drums took Andrew even more time. However, we noknow for sure how Andrew and Nicole's relationship and family members will be affected in the long run. Most importantly, we don't know if Andrew will actually be "great" at the end of the film.
Andrew and his father Jim (Paul Reiser) are seen talking in the dimly lit kitchen.
JIM
So what about your studio band?
ANDREW
(Slightly uncomfortable) Great! Yeah, I think he… likes me more now.
We turn to footage of Fletcher yelling at Andrew as he plays drums. No words are heard; only gloomy, racing music could be heard.
Short snippets are seen as Fletcher speaks in the narrative: Andrew walks down a dark concrete hallway; Andrew drummed furiously on stage, covered in sweat; Andrew ran through the parking lot with his gear bag; Andrew hits the snare drum in a furious tantrum while practicing.
FLETCHER (Voice)
I push people more than they expect. I believe it is… an absolute must.
Andrew and Nicole sat in the restaurant.
ANDREW
I want to be one of the greatest. And, because I do, it will take up more of my time… and because of this I feel like we shouldn't be together.
Nicole looked straight, surprised.
Step 5. Explain the main message of the film
As your trailer nears its end, leave viewers with a strong and lasting impression by stating the main theme of your film in an uplifting and engaging way. According to the Literature Handbook by William Flint Thrall et al, theme is the main or dominating idea in a literary work. In other words, you need to try to show your audience what your film is about - not in terms of plot, but common thread. questions that your film is trying to relate to the audience How can you boil down the main conflict of your film into one memorable picture or sentence?
- Key moments of the Whiplash trailer nearing the end:
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- Here, the trailer hints at a thematic question at the heart of the film Whiplash: Is Fletcher's cruel ways justified if he can produce truly great musicians? If a young and promising musician doesn't have to go through the hell of this world, will he not be able to achieve the glory he longs for? The trailer wisely chooses not to answer these questions - we'll have to watch the film for ourselves to find out the answers!
Snippets emerge as Fletcher speaks quietly in the narration: Andrew is sitting in the hall of the dormitory alone; Andrew left the building late at night; Andrew stared with a worried expression in the band's waiting room. Finally, we join Fletcher and Andrew in the dark room - Fletcher's last line comes directly from him as the music gets louder.
FLETCHER (partial sound)
No two words in the English language are more dangerous than good job.
Step 6. End the trailer with a generally memorable sentence or image
The last few seconds of the trailer are your chance to give viewers an interesting farewell or lure image and make the desire to see your film irresistible. You don't have to be as vehement as before when revealing the film's main theme - here, it's often effective to end the trailer with just one witty sentence, a provocative image, or a few short exhilarating looks when shown in sequence but don't reveal too much. about the plot of the film.
Whiplash takes a unique approach here - instead of ending with a single shot, the trailer ends with multiple, fast-paced footage that gets faster and more tense. There's no dialogue - just the slow, steady beat of the snare drum that gets faster and faster as the bits become more frequent. The drumming reaches a loud, powerful peak, then stops abruptly - we are left with a close-up image of Andrew with his drum set, sweating, with a strained facial expression as a single piano note echoes in the background music. The slowly accelerating action is thrilling, exhilarating, and makes us want to see more, but the trailer doesn't reveal any details about the plot
Step 7. Add a list of legitimate names or information at the very end
Finally, almost all movie trailers end with a rosters page containing information about the film. Usually, this is limited to the studio and production company behind the film and the people who play a large role in this production, such as the director, executive producer, actors, and so on. Minor roles such as location officer, key grip, etc. are usually not listed.
Keep in mind that, in the United States, the Writer's Guild of America (WGA) has a comprehensive system of rules for crediting films that fall under its jurisdiction. Trade unions or other associations related to film, such as the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), have their own, similar rules. Major movie releases have to conform to these rules - it's not enough to simply display as much information as the trailer makers believe is sufficient. Films and trailers that violate these rules may find it difficult to release due to the lack of support from these organizations
Method 2 of 3: Making Your Trailer More Effective
Step 1. Use the best available equipment
When all other factors are in balance, it can be difficult to undermine the quality of a trailer by getting rid of low quality equipment with the best hardware. Trailers shot with high-quality, clean cameras and microphones combined with international-standard editing software are much easier to look and sound amazing than trailers shot with low budget and low-quality equipment. While it is entirely possible to create an effective and beautiful trailer while doing this with limited equipment and funds, it does require more planning and effort.
Keep in mind that trailers are usually (but not always) combined from footage of the film, not shot alone. Frankly, though, it's often better to shoot the film yourself with high-tech equipment, than to keep this equipment just for the trailer
Step 2. Create your storyboard or trailer image
Planning is very important to create a compelling trailer. Even if you're making an entire trailer out of footage you've already shot for your film, it's still very wise to have a picture-by-picture plan before you enter the editing room in your mind. If you don't have a plan, you may find yourself wasting your time: with footage from feature-length films at your disposal and no maps to follow, it can be very difficult to even begin with.
- However, it's important not to put too much effort into your storyboard. In the world of movies, plans are made to be sometimes adjusted during filming. You could, for example, find that certain trailers that you thought would look perfect turn out to not work as trailers - in that case, be prepared to adjust your plans to correct these errors and make your trailer the best it can be.
- You've never made a storyboard before? Check out our storyboarding article to get started.
Step 3. Keep your edits tidy (or find someone who can do it for you
) A good trailer has a natural "rhythm" that's almost impossible to describe properly. the pictures and sound in the trailer seem to "flow" with each other in an effortless but logical impression. Each snippet is just the right length - not so short that it's hard to tell what's going on, but not so long that it becomes boring or distracting. This requires careful editing and good "gut feeling" for the visual language of the film, so if you're not an experienced editor, work with someone with experience when you combine footage for your trailer.
Because of the time and effort required to carefully co-edit a movie trailer, many studios now hire third-party companies to do some or all of the trailer work. If you have the money, consider contacting one of these firms (or experienced freelancers) to help you with your trailer. You may find yourself saving more money in the long run by reducing your own trailer development time
Step 4. Choose the music and sound that fits the mood of the trailer
Sound (and especially music) can be a big part of what makes a trailer effective. Some of the best trailers use sound and music to amplify the effects of the on-screen scene and define the mood of the trailer (thus giving a hint of the mood of the film itself.) On the other hand, a bad trailer might use sound and music in a way that doesn't match the scene or perhaps the music. becomes the focus of the trailer, and not the scene itself, thus taking the attention away from the trailer's message.
An example of the great use of sound and music in film trailers is the third official trailer for the crime drama by Nicolas Winding Refn in 2013, Only God Forgives. While the film received moderate to negative reviews, the trailer was quite impressive. The trailer starts with a confrontation scene between criminals, complete with implied violence. These images are complemented by an '80s-hunting synth arpeggios tone that fits perfectly with the retro and neon-filled aesthetic and at the same time conveys a downright gruesome feel. Then, the sound stops during a slow-motion trailer featuring gang shootings and is only accompanied by a childish, pop-and-sink ballad keyboard melody by Thai indie band P. R. O. U. D. to very gruesome effect
Step 5. Consider adding narration or writing
Not all trailers rely on film trailers to provide the basics of plot, backstory, characters, and so on - some take a more direct approach by including voiceover or captioned narration to help give context to the on-screen footage. However, this option should be considered carefully - if overused, the voiceover and writing can take the attention away from the snippet itself and give it a cheesy or mundane feel. When in doubt, follow the general rule which, in art, is usually better to show than to tell.
One trailer that uses narrative in a controlled way that complements the trailer is the trailer for Paul Thomas Anderson's 2014 film adaptation of Inherent Vice Thomas Anderson. In this trailer, a mysterious female voice conveys the basic plot of the film in a tacky and humorous style, in keeping with the California setting in the early 70s and the comedic feel of the film. The narration only appears at the beginning and end of the trailer and never interrupts the scene. The narrator delivers sarcastic lines in a sleepy tone such as "Doc [main character, lazy detective] may not be a philanthropist, but he has done a good job…good luck, Doc!" and ends the trailer with the words "Just in time for Christmas."
Step 6. Distill your trailer into footage of two and a half minutes or less
As a general rule, trailers should not be longer than a minute or two. Typically, full-length trailers are about two and a half minutes long, although this isn't a "strict rule." In fact, the National Association of Theater Owners recently made an effort to limit trailers to two minutes. Regardless of the content of your film, try to condense all of the essentials above into a short, neat package. Remember - the longer your trailer, the more likely your audience will be bored with it.
Trailers longer than three minutes are extremely rare and rare. A rather recent example of this type of feature-length trailer is the nearly six-minute "long" trailer for the 2012 film adaptation of David Mitchell's novel Cloud Atlas by the Wachowski brothers. While the longer format benefits from the film's complex narrative, which is strung between six different settings and time periods, the trailer makers wisely chose to release a standard-length version
Method 3 of 3: Expanding Your Perspective
Step 1. Be willing to play (and ignore) the "rules" of making trailers
The steps in the section above will let you create engaging and effective trailers for most movies. However, truly great trailers - those that will be remembered in refining or giving new meaning to the art form - are often regarded as legends because their creators were brave enough to ignore the established trends in trailer making. If you're making trailers for glory, stick to your artistic vision - even if it takes you away from the usual trailering techniques.
A great example of a trailer that crossed the boundaries of the art form when it was released decades ago and has earned the status of one of the best (if not the best) trailers of all time is Ridley Scott's Alien movie trailer. The trailers are more like a separate array of uncomfortable movie images than the usual trailers, but the impression they give off is unforgettable. The only small clue the trailer gives viewers is the now-legendary tagline, which emerges in the disturbing silence at the end of the trailer: "In outer space, no one can hear you scream." The connection between the pictures and the film (skillfully) makes the audience imagine
Step 2. Participate in a dialogue regarding trailer creation
Film trailers as an art form have often been written, dissected, analyzed. - especially with the advent of technology that makes such discussions comfortable for the layman to follow (such as internet forums, blogs, podcasts and so on.) If you want to set yourself apart as a great trailer maker, it's a good idea to get involved in the discussion that are taking place all over the world. Below are some key points to help you get started - it's up to you to study them as deeply as you like.
- One good piece to read at the start is 9 (Short) Storytelling Tips From A Master Of Movie Trailers by John Long, an article written for fastcocreate.com. In the article, Long, who is co-founder of the trailer production house, discusses the techniques his company uses to make trailers.
- Several free podcasts discuss the filmmaking aspects of modern and classic trailers. These include The Trailer Home Podcast, an up-to-date podcast based in Iowa, and Trailerclash, a podcast available through iTunes. Many more can be found easily by asking a search engine.
- Finally, sites like Reddit are usually the home of lively discussions, as soon as a movie trailer is released - Consider joining one of these communities and share your opinion!
Step 3. Learn from the best
Having trouble finding a concept for your trailer? Look for inspiration for the borderline and noteworthy trailers that have been created. As Isaac Newton wrote, greatness is achieved by "standing on the shoulders of giant men." In other words, don't be afraid to repeat the interpretation of the ideas of the trailer makers through the lens of your own unique direction. Below is a short list of movies that are considered to have awesome trailers - there are more than I could list here. Keep in mind that not all films from the trailer below are well received by audiences.
- Alien (1979) - discussed above.
- Watchmen (2009) - great use of music and atmosphere.
- The Social Network (2010) - subtle suspense, chilling atmosphere.
- Cloverfield (2008) - develops a non-traditional filmmaking style, creating a mysterious feel.
- The Minus Man (1999) - uses concept play to spark interest in film. This trailer is not about the film itself, but about a fictional couple who just saw the film and couldn't stop talking about it.
- Sleeper (1973) - noteworthy for its quirky qualities: director Woody Allen talks about his new film in an intellectual and objective manner. This discussion is coupled with the film's goofy and exaggerated slapstick comedy.
Tips
- In general, it's a bad idea to start working on a trailer before you've finished shooting your film. If you still have scenes to shoot, you essentially have an incomplete set of scenes to choose from for your trailer, and that's limiting the possibilities.
- Modern movie trailers are very, very different from the types of trailers that were typically screened decades before. Consider looking up trailers from the past to better understand the developments in trailering (and thus a broader body of knowledge for you as you shoot your trailers today.)
