Conventions of A Film TrailerThere are many different codes and conventions of a film trailer. Most

trailers stick to theses set of rules because they provide the effect needed when it comes to disrupting and selling the film. Of course theses are not rules set in stone but they tend to be often used. Some film trailers have sometimes changed and altered theses familiar elements in unique ways

which challenges the typical, well known codes and conventions.

These are the main elements I researched and will need to include when creating my trailer:

-Film production logo -Sound-Name captions -BBFC age certification-Time length -Character introduction-Release date -Social media-Film title

Film Production Logo-Typically in a trailer, somewhere around the beginning, a film

production logo will be introduced. This is an important feature to have in a trailer because it helps sell the film through their fans.

For example if a fan of another film created by this company sees they’ve created another film, they are more likely to pay and see it

rather than ignore this aspect. -The production company logo is also an important feature to add

into the trailer because it can have good expectations from the audience. For example if I were to see a new trailer with the

DreamWorks production logo, I would assume the film was for families and have a high budget, giving me an overall idea of the

content that is typically created by their company.

Film Title-The film title always comes last in a trailer to match up with the entire context the audience just watched. They’ll have a better

chance in remembering the name if it’s at the end and also a better way in remembering it to connect with the film poster through the

colour scheme and typography used.-The synergy between all the ancillary products allows the film to

stand out from others and even become recognisable alone.- E.g. The Great Gatsby synergy

Poster Trailer Magazine

BBFC Age Certification -All films in the UK are given an age certification by the British Board of Film Classification which is seen at the end of the film trailer. This gives the audience an idea who the target audience is, for example if a film is under the U certificate, the audience

will know it’s acceptable for children. If a film has an 18 certificate, it tells the audience there maybe violence, sexual

scenes and bad language therefore meaning they will be capable to chose an appropriate film of their choice.

Social Media-Website URLs and links to social media are shared in the trailer

to encourage the audience to engage and interact on these popular social networking sites.

-Twitter is a fast way to spread the word around about a new release of a film because of the large amount of people using the

site. ‘Hashtags’ (#) are used to help share things across to millions of people who come across it.

-Facebook can be used for the audience to ‘like’ the fan page of the upcoming film. News, updates and behind the scenes footage

can be posted from this straight onto their page. This can be shared with their friends, helping to promote and share the film

through social media.

Character Introduction-The trailer of a film is where the character and audience can relate

and connect with each other through similarities. Famous actors and or actress’ in the film are an advantage when

promoting the film because there is already a strong community of fans based around actors and actresses. Their popularity benefits the

film. Here is some information I collected about the connection between

audiences and the characters:“Hunger games, I have connected with the character Katnis Everden

from the hunger games because I see my strength and bravery in her.”

“The Wolverine, I would say the character Wolverine reminds me of my older cousin and makes me automatically really like the character.”

Sound, Music and Voice Over-Music can make a big difference in the trailer. With no sound or

music, a clip could not bring any attention but with it, it can make a big difference. Depending on the kind of effect that wants to be sent

to the audience, different sounds can make create different atmospheres.

n atmosphere