Generic Conventions of Trailers

There are many conventions that appear throughout any type of trailer, no matter what the genre. For each convention, I will give a definition and then a trailer that gives a strong example of the convention.

Dialogue: This is any type of conversation between characters. This is used to give some indication to what happens within the film. Dialogue is often only one or two lines long, and therefore doesn't give away any main parts of the story.

Voiceover: Voiceovers are used to narrate the narrative, as well as giving hints to the storyline and introducing characters. It has become cliche to have a deep voiced male such as Peter Dixon, Morgan Freeman, Don LaFontaine or Hal Douglas narrating the trailer, as this was a convention used frequently in old-style trailers.

Spectacle: This is when the best or most exciting parts of a trailer are shown, with the intention of drawing the audience in and making them want to see the film. This will often include special effects.

Music: The choice of music in a trailer impacts on the mood. The music is also often synchronised with the camera movements and titles.

Credits and intertitles: Words that appear on screen and give information to the audience. Often includes taglines, production companies, release dates, information about the actors and the name of the film.

Unique Selling Point (USP): This is something that makes a particular film unique and unlike anything else out there.

Pace: The pace of a trailer gives the audience an insight to the film. If it is fast paced, the film is often full of tension and is more than likely in the thriller or action adventure genre. If it is slow paced, it is probably a comedy or romantic film.