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WHAT ARE FILM TRAILERS?

A film trailer is a brief introduction to an upcoming release which usually lasts only a few minutes in length. They try to give the watching audience a brief idea about what the film is going to be about by using genre features to suggest the story structure and creating drama. They often include key character introductions and uses of music.

WHY ARE THEY MADE? WHAT IS THEIR PURPOSE?

Film trailers are made to advertise an upcoming release to a target audience and to attract interest from other viewers of the trailer. Film trailers also aim to circulate a buzz around the film so that it is shared to other people. All of this is achieved so that by the time of the film release, people will be wanting to go and watch it, producing a revenue for the film.

HOW DO THEY WORK? HOW DO THEY TRY TO ACHIEVE THEIR PURPOSE?

The film trailers are made using key features which are typical to the genre the target audience are interested in. This achieves the purpose of attracting interest from the target audience. The film trailers will also often include some of the most interesting parts of the film so that other viewers can start to grow an interest in the film so that in the end more people go and watch the film.

WHO ARE THEY FOR

Trailers are made for target audiences of the film genre and include features which are typical to the genre to create interest. Costumes and locations can achieve this, for example, a spacesuit on a moon would suggest the film is going to be a sci-fi. Additionally, actors who are typical to roles in certain genres can suggest film genres such as Jonah Hill being used in comedy films.

WHERE DO WE SEE FILM TRAILERS?

Film trailers are shown before other films at the cinemas which is where typical target audiences may be found. Trailers will also be shown on TV. Certain genres will be shown at different times, for example, a trailer for a horror film would be shown after the water shed. Film trailers are also put onto YouTube as advertising where they can be shared and speculated about to create further interest.

WHEN ARE THEY RELEASED?

Film trailers are often released between 2-12 months before the film is scheduled to release. This usually depends upon the size of the film. The first teaser trailer for the upcoming Star Wars movie was released one year before the schedule of film release as it will create a hype which will continue to circulate and grow as the year progresses and as more teasers are released.