WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL FILM

TRAILER?

SOUND

• Sound is something that is very important in all trailers. It represents the genre of the film and can be used to emphasise certain parts in the trailer. In particular action films use sound in a very clever way in trailers. Diegetic sound can be used in the form of explosions and gunshots representing the genre. Non-diegetic music is also often used to portray the genre also.

• The trailer for ‘The Avengers’:• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOrNdBpGMv8• This trailer strongly uses sound from dialogue and

diegetic explosions to non-diegetic music. The action genre of this film is represented in the song playing throughout which is ‘We’re in this together’ by Nine Inch Nails. This song is well known and the rock genre compliments the content of the action filled trailer.

CAMERA

• Different camera shots and angles are used in trailers for different reasons. A trailer that shows optimum use of camera is ‘The Host’.

• It begins with an extreme long shot of a view of earth from space. This has a large impact on the audience as it is so unusual to see this in a trailer because we are used to seeing them on earth. It also informs us that there will be a sci-fi element to the film.

• This is then contrasted by an extreme close up shot of the main characters eye. But it is unusual because of the colours in her eye and this is an important feature of the film. Though at this point the audience are unsure of what this means.

ACTORS AND ACTRESSES

• Trailers can become a lot more successful if famous actors and actresses in the film are named in the trailers. If an actor is well known for being in good movies and is shown to be in a trailer audiences will automatically think the film will be good.

• Also when fans of certain actors see they are in a film trailer it will make them want to go and watch the film. So it will have more viewers. Therefore stating names of famous and well known actors and actresses in film trailers is a good way to make them more successful.

• Examples of this are in the ‘We’re The Millers’ trailer and ‘Horrible Bosses’ trailer:

PLOT

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxwc-ARbLA0• The film trailer for ‘Inception’ is a very good

example of how the plot can be shown in a way to make the trailer more successful. This trailer has no dialogue in it which adds to the mystery created by the quick cuts between scenes. Creating a strong sense of mystery is a good way to show a film because it leaves the audience with multiple enigmas that only watching the film will solve.