Trailer Pre-Production: Elements of Effective Trailers

View Sample Movie Trailers:

On the Macs you may wish to use Front Row, which has sample trailers of the latest cinematic releases. Otherwise view online trailers at the home websites for individual movies or theatre websites. Consider carefully the appropriate choice of sample trailer, in terms of content and genre. For example, you may wish to show a trailer for 127 Hours as an example action adventure, survival story that is appropriate for viewing by Intermediate students and as a match to a literature study of Safe as Houses. This particular trailer incorporates a number of obvious yet effective techniques.

Look for criteria:

Audio – dialogue, music, fade ins, fade outs, mood

Visuals – camera shots (long shots, midshots, close-ups), camera angles  (bird’s eye, ant’s eye,
                                straight), use of text and font choice, mood

Directorial & Marketing choices – mood, choice of scenes, promotional statements, quotes

The students need to be able to identify and briefly explain each of these elements. An explanation of how these elements are used to create mood and an effective ‘pitch’ or promotion of the movie would indicate a thorough understanding of the medium. An assessment of learning about the elements of effective trailers is an important instructional step to take before group work for video production.

Below are a few good reference sites to review for lesson preparation.
mediaknowall: re: camera shots, angles and movement

http://www.mediaknowall.com/camangles.html

mediaknowall:  re: sound, recording, dialogue, voice overs, sound effects and music
http://www.mediaknowall.com/sound.html

Movie Trailers As Persuasive Texts
by Frank Baker  copyright 2008
http://www.frankwbaker.com/movie_trailers_as_persuasion.htm