GKS1153 (K01) Editing

Film Trailer
Aliffazraie Jali
jaliffazraie@faca.unimas.my
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Film Trailer
Typically a (theatrical) trailer or preview is
an advertisement/commercial for a feature
film exhibited cinemas, television and online.
Trailer" derived from the fact that trailers were
shown at the end of a feature film screening.
Patrons eventually tend to leave the theater after
the films ended thus trailers are now shown before
the screening.
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 Film trailers became popular on DVDs and Blu-ray

Discs, as well as on the Internet and mobile devices.
Film trailers rank third, after news and user-created
video.
Film trailer are not to be confused with teaser.

What Does a Trailer Need?

To produce an engaging film trailer, some
components to consider are:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Structure
Theme
Rhythm
Technical Proficiency

1. Structure
It has to have
i.
ii.
iii.

a beginning
a middle
an end

It needs to draw the viewer in at the very beginning,

entertain them and then leave them with something
they would not forget.

 Each cut needs to make a connection between two

shots it cannot be just a collection of the best line, the
best jokes or the best flying kicks.
A trailer does not need to tell the plot of the movie but
it does need to tell the story of the movie. Make sure you
know that before you start cutting.
Ask yourself: Why do you like this movie?

2. Theme
Find something in the movie you can keep coming back
to something that symbolises it on a basic level.
This can be a line of dialogue, an action, an image and
even a colour or a sound.
It can also be the issue or essence that you want to sell
in your trailer like friendship, love, action, horror and
others

3. Rhythm
A feature film may be 51% emotion and 10% Rhythm
(Murch) but a trailer is much more reliant on the pace of the
cuts.
With limited time, your need is to establish a pace and stick to
it. Change of pace is risky but it is possible.
That does not mean you have to cut every three seconds,
either. You can vary the pacing. Think different form of music:
They might have rhythm like slow-slow-quick or quick-quickslow.

 Do not be afraid to break up a line of dialogue and put

another shot in the middle if it will help you maintain the
rhythm you want

4.

Technical Proficiency

Remember, once is a mistake, twice is a pattern, three times is a

masterpiece.

This is last but not least. One of the objectives of this assignment
is for you to start noticing things that you might not have noticed
before.

As the title technical proficiency so you should explain what sort

of editing technicality you are applying e.g: using red palette for
the frame to emphasis violence, or using black and white stock.

Also adding sound effects to certain frames (justify your reason).

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 Jump cuts, cuts in the middle of a camera moves,

sloppy music cuts, black frames and flash frames are
disturbing to the audience and they should be disturbing
to you too.
However, art is subjective. If breaking the rules somehow
was somewhat more appealing, than apply it.
Be sure to have sample audience (your friends) to view it
to make sure you are not all by yourself.

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Other Components
Distributors
o Paramount
o Big, respectable distributors/production companies
o Logo: easily recognizable

Names
o Focus on names of stars
o Mention the director
o Prior films recognisable film buff

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 Colour / Images
o Prominent colour tint/hint/hue to selected shots or subjects.
o Represent emotion danger/action/excitement
Script / Dialogue
o Inserting some scripts from the film but not in a way to
reveal the plot
o Link to something infamous about the film
Script Continued
o Link some infamous dialogues from the film to something
familiar for the audience
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 Voice Over / Narrator

o Select a proper voice to narrate the film. MEN VS WOMEN,
whats the difference and effect
o Pick whether the voice is formal or casual or maybe
comedic. Alternate between the quality of voices also has
its meaning
o Official, non-descriptive or with accent to setting up the
story
Music
o Use familiar music in film to suite the intended effect.
o Consider the editing rhythm in the music as well. Slow and
steady or fast paced. Gradually have change in the
pacing or all the way with one pacing
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 Shots / Images
o Images of the main actors and other side characters
o Interaction between all the character
o Hidden characters to show subtle plots
Penultimate Shots
o Settling the ending of the trailer
o What image or shot should stick to the audience?
Final Frame
o End of trailer
o Screening date, interesting info and other attractive trivias
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End of Slide

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