What is a film trailer?

                                               What is a film trailer?

'A trailer or preview is an advertisement or a commercial for a feature film that will be exhibited in the future at a cinema'   - Web definition. 

                                  The history behind them...

The name 'trailer' was derived from the fact that the sequence was usually shown after the film had been exhibited. This was problematic as the audience tended to leave the theatre as soon as the film was over because they had already seen the scenes that would be included in the trailer. Therefore, this did not last long. 

                                 Where trailers are seen...

Trailers became an extremely popular idea once marketers realised that it would create audience anticipation for the film and therefore give a build up to the release date. Essentially, the trailers are an extremely successful was to publicise a film. 

Trailers are also used for TV programmes of all different sorts and along with film trailers are aired on television at various times in the day. The time, the channel it is shown on  and the content of the trailer will depend on the genre and age rating of the film For example, a horror film trailer will not be shown on daytime television as younger audience are more likely to see it which is why they are shown later at night and make no appearance on children's television channels.

There are a variety of ways in which trailers are shown, the main one being on television although they are also shown at cinemas before a film is screened - this is a prime time and excellent opportunity to get an audience thinking about going to see that film after seeing the one they are about to watch.


Furthermore, they can be used on online websites such as YouTube where viewers can search the film and watch it or they may come across it as an advertisement before the video they have selected starts. They also make an appearance on regular websites that could have nothing to do with film at all.

                                      What is included within a trailer?...

Trailers contain scenes and short snippets from the film to give people a 'taster' of what the film is about. The aim of the trailer, apart from trying to attain publicity, is to attract their target audience by airing clips of the film that represent its genre to best without giving away the entire film.

Aside from the actual footage which is included in the film trailers, there is also a substantial amount of text. This text includes the title of the film, the name of actors if they are well known or are popular at that period of time, the date/month/season in which it is going to be released. Another set of text that tends to appear at the end of a trailer, usually in small writing below the title is the name of the production and distribution company. This small print usually contains information that is not important for the audience to see yet needs to be shown at some point for legal reasons.