Conventions of film trailers

Film tailers are usually created following a standard set of guidlines or 'conventions'. However, some film makers decide to break these conventions to make their trailer different from what is expected of it.

A trailer ususally starts with an image displaying the classification advice, and this usually depends on where the trailer is being shown, television, internet; if it is shown on daytime of prime time television it automatically means the film is suitable for all audiences. The most recognisable version of this image is the green screen, as shown below.

This is the Green Motion Picture Association of America Splash. It is at the beginning of most big budget American Film trailes trailers as it is the official classification advice of America.

Next, the fillm studio logo and the film logo's are usually shown. They are often shown at the very start of the trailer, but sometimes they are used to breakup  the trailer.

Films are structured using a narrative to tell the story to the audience. Film trailers often feature mini-narratives to tell the audience part of the narrative. It is crucial that the mini-narrative does not give away the entire narrative of the film, beut it must feature exciting clips of the film, that link together in some way, to entice the audience into watching the film when it is released. However, the clips do not have to be in the same order they are shown in the film as long as a narrative can be depicte to the audience through the trailer. The editing of the trailer is very important. Depending on how the trailer is edited helps decide how the genre film is portrayed to the audiece, for example: fast, jumpy editing may show it is a violent action film.

Film trailers used to usually feature a voice over, however, recently these have become almost non-existant. Either way, the trailer conveys a narrative to the audience, and connects with the audience. Music is also used to connect with the audience. The tone of the film is converyed through the music, and an atmosphere dependant on the genre is created. Conventionally, each film genre has it's own style of music; for example, an action film would be expected to have loud fast music, whereas an artistic, slow placed 'indie' film may have slow piano music.

Tag lines are often used in film trailers to reinfornce the narrative of the film. I feel taglines are a good feature of film trailers as they link the audience to a part of the film, before the film has actually been released.