Trailers or previews are advertisements for movies. The term “trailer” comes from their having originally been shown at the end of a film. That practice did not last long, because patrons tended to leave the theater after the films ended, but the name has stuck. Trailers are now shown before the film begins. Besides in front of theatrical releases, movie trailers have now become extremely popular on the Internet.

Film trailers have structural arcs just as full length feature films and

documentaries do. Although documentaries are technically non-fiction, they usually abide by the same rules as fiction films. They tell a story. When you’re creating your trailer you should try to incorporate the following elements: 1: Establish what your documentary is about. Introduce your theme. 2: Introduce the conflict. Why is your story going to be interesting?

3: You need to provide your audience with a sense of your documentary’s cinematography (movement, lighting, composition) and listen to your music to see if the artistry of the film is something they would be interested in watching.4. Establish a rhythm. If you don’t have

an innate sense of it, then your trailer will not sing. A trailer, cut well, will have a flowing motion to it, a sense that everything plays off everything else, and will propel the viewer through the experience of the film. Trailers build up excitement and anticipation, and a keen sense of rhythm heightens those sensations.

5: You should change your trailers music 3 times. Trailers lend themselves to a three-act structure. Act One: Introduce the films’ characters and environment. Act Two: Complicate their world with obstacles to overcome. Act Three: Intensify the conflicts and ratchet up the tension/excitement/humor. (Montages invariably end up in Act 3.) 6: At the end of your trailer you will want to include your film or documentary’s title (Even if you’ve already used it at the beginning)

7. There are numerous fonts you can use to achieve this look but one of the most common is called “Steel Tong”. 8. The voiceover and text on screen will most likely feature the film’s USP, its unique selling point.  If lots of the chosen moments of the film feature character dialogue then these phrases may appear on screen to read instead.  Here is a selection of commonly used techniques: ‘This Season’… (creates a sense of anticipation) ‘From the people who brought you…’ (refers to established audience) ‘Based on the unbelievable true story…’9. Aside from these persuasive features however, the language on screen and in the voiceover can also establish the narrative.  Words chosen can suggest key themes and summarize the plot in a grand way to suggest the plot is timeless and universal.  Some clichéd examples are:

…They will find hope where they least expect itOne man’s destiny……She will face her biggest challenge...It will change their lives forever!...Experience a new kind of fear

Create a Film Documentary Trailer San Francisco’s Financial District

MAY 2, 2012 DAVEY ECONOMICS - MAP ISSUE ONE

Over the gaping wound in her stout oaken side, where a doorway was cut for a public entrance, was inscribed the hospitable legend, ‘Rest for the weary and storage for trunks.

It’s only two minutes long. But it’s the way a film greets the world.

Project PlanAssignment OverviewFor this assignment, you will be working in groups of five to create a two-minute movie trailer for a documentary on a topic of your choice in San Francisco’s financial district. The trailer will be shot on video and will include a voice over and music.Pre-production (Week One, Monday April 29– Thursday May 2) You must submit the following things before you can shoot your trailerPrior to our trip make sure you first watch this film clip on the area: http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/videø5843845-eye-on-the-bay-financial-district-pt-1-5911/ and research your topic.

Research (Outline of story)The story will not be fully 

developed because it is only a movie trailer, but there should be enough so that your audience will have a general idea of what the plot would be. 

StoryboardDetailing the types of shots you are using, the locations (settings) and the voice over.

Shot listThis is a list of what shots you will

be using based on your storyboard. You will not necessarily be shooting your shots in the same order that they will appear in your finished trailer. You will change the order that you shoot your shots in order to save time.

You will want to be prepared to wear costumes and bring necessary items to the city. Use Google Street View in advance to prepare your shot angles.

Visualize dynamic shots with geometric surroundings

Production (Week Two: Thursday, May 2 –, May 9)

1 Bring Props-It will be of great aid to your final

project to take this small step.2. Turn in a Copy of Your

Storyboard-Each Group must go over their

storyboard with Mr. Davey on the bus to San Francisco

3. Shoot your footage-Each person in your group will take

on a crew role (director, director of photography, art director and actors)

-follow equipment sign-out procedures

-Shoot very carefully so you don’t end up with a lot of footage. This will make more work in post-production and will take up a lot of hard drive storage on your computer.

-Capture the “happenings” of the area for stock footage.

4. Discuss your footage-Each group should sit together on

the way back and go over their initial storyboard and try and mesh the details with the shots with your original storyboard prior to Editing

Post Production (Week Two: Friday, May 3 –, Thursday May 12) 5. Edit your footage –-Each group member should be involved in the editing process. -We will have one class day to work on the editing-Save your work frequently 6. Submit your Trailer -Export your trailer in full quality

format by May 12th.

Don’t Forget These Key QuestionsThe “elements” of most film trailers? Who is the audience for the trailer? How do you know?What is the audience told or shown? not told or shown? why?What is the primary purpose of the trailer?

Does watching the trailer make you desire more information?

Possible Topics?These are completely of your choice but they must be historical or economic in nature. Examples:1. Niantic2. History of SF Financial

District3. Role of the FED4. Rich and the poor in SF

(inequality)For those of you missing the filming activity in SF, you will choose a historic or economic issue at Saratoga High to develop a trailer about.

Viewing and Grading?We will watch each other’s videos in class: You will grade each other’s videos, grade the peers in your group, and receive a grade from the teacher.