List of Conventions Found in Trailers

Having looked at a number of different types of trailers, for films from different genres, I've noticed the following conventions occur frequently (regardless of genre).

Production Company Logos - for example WB or Warp Films (usually at the beginning of the trailer)

Images from the film

Title of the film

Release dates (for a teaser this is likely to be 'Coming Soon' or 'Summer 2021' rather than being date specific, whereas theatrical trailers often have date specific release dates such as 'In Cinemas October 29'. The release dates on TV Spots are often more specific, such as 'In Cinemas Friday')

Indication of genre - the intended audience should be clear (through music, voiceover, mise-en-scene)

Website and other social media such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (usually at the end)

Voiceover man

Editing transitions - often include flashes, quick fades and dissolves alongside more conventional cuts

Possibly references to other films (that this is similar to ) or other films that have been directed/produced by the same people

Images of stars/names of stars

References to awards that cast/crew /film may have won or been nominated for (these may refer to other films)

Music - that it reflects the genre, but also that works with the images

Tagline - a slogan for the film, often broken into two or three parts

Sound effects

Eye candy (attractive shots of men and women, explosions, car chases) - images that are visually thrilling

Reference to the source material the film is based on - for example, 'Based on the Bestselling Novel by..'

A variety of camera shots/movement