What is the purpose of a trailer?

There are two obvious purposes to a trailer. Number one is to advertise a new film, video game or television show. Number two is to grab the viewer’s attention and make them eager to see the film, buy the video game or watch the television show.  To do this they need a hook in their trailer to grab the audience’s attention as well as appealing to their target audience usually using verisimilitude or genre usage (e.g. action films appear to younger male audiences.)

Film Trailer

Video game Trailer

Television Trailer - Soap Opera

Each trailer for the following three categories clearly tells the audience a date of realise.
One thing that makes the soap opera trailer stand solo from the other two was the fact it had no warning or viewing guidance at the start of it. This is linked to why the soap opera trailers feature before the water shed; they cannot be inappropriate as young audiences may be watching and therefore, need no warning.

Also, soap opera trailers can be simpler than their cousins. This may be due to budget reasons, but most likely to do with not needing to attract the viewer in the same way. By this I mean soaps have several chances to attract their audiences using individual episodes. Films and video games only have one shot.

Also, video games and films often will show reviews from critics, if they are good. Soaps aren’t viewed until their premier on television; therefore the audience can be its on critic making fairer judgement.

Sound wise, the film trailer is breath-taking but plays different roles from that of a soap opera. The film has moments of silence which is battled against huge, dramatic, stunning orchestrial moments. It tells you the basic plot of the film using dialogue quotes from the film, an often occurrence from film trailers.

Camera angels are varied and change often thanks to the fast pace editing which coincides perfectly with the powerful roar of the music. When the music softens, almost lying to the viewer suggesting equilibrium, the editing becomes much slower and shots that introduce you to key characters faces take host of the framework.  

Video games are more like interactive movies now days than an actual virtual world. That’s why this trailer follows the same traits as that of a film. It has speech from dialogue games; false equilibrium during silent pieces and a quick tempo, diegetic soundtrack.  

It’s almost degrading how simple trailers for soaps are. However, I must remind myself that I only have paid special attention to old soap trailers rather than modern. This is why I question, if being complex and revolutionary with our soap trailer, would it be a rejoiced replacement or a discarded misfit? Should we stick with trends or move aside technology?


Videos posted from youtube