Film trailer conventions

Film trailers tend to have recognisable conventions in which the audience would be able to recognise what genre of film is being advertised. Some of the more commonly used conventions are:

Conventions

• Voice overs  are used to tell the story, describe the plot and give credit information,
• The main characters and stars of the film are showcased,
• key pints in the plot are shown through text or titles,
• Conventions between characters are mainly one liners,
• Dramatic camera angles are used to show main events or characters,
• Action is interlinked with actor or director credits on screen,
• Music and sound effects create an important atmosphere,
• The title of the film may not been shown until the end of the trailer,
• The often builds to a climax before ending,
• Montage (a series of shorts from different points in the film , edited together) is often used to highlight the most dramatic, humorous or fast paced aspects of the film.

Structure

• Conventions are structured around the most appealing aspects of the film without taking narrative order into consideration,
• A selection of shots are shown to show a significant amount of the plot and to connect with a wider audience,
• They aim to provide a basic narrative to guide the audience through the plot of the film.

Opening : Establishes settings and introduced characters.
Build up : Relationships are established, development of characters personalities and lifestyles are showcased.
Problem: A dilemma or series of problems unfold upon the character that he or she will have to overcome.
Events: A series of events where by the character is overcoming problems, this usually leads to further complications. A lot of emotion is involved.