Conventions

In order to communicate key messages to an audience, producers of film trailers use certain conventions and devices.

This chart shows the beginnings and endings of jumbled-up sentences. Using your mouse, move around the endings in the right-hand column so that each sentence describes a different trailer convention.

Start of sentence

Voiceovers are used to...
The stars of the film...
Key points...
Conversations between characters often...
Dramatic camera angles may...
Action...
Music...
The film’s title may...
The trailer...
Montage (a series of shots edited together)...

Ends of sentences

...are showcased.
...is interspersed with actor or director credits on screen.
...not appear until the end.
...plays an important role in creating atmosphere.
...is often used to highlight the most dramatic, humorous or fast-paced aspects of the film.
...tell the story and give credit information.
....builds to a climax, where it ends.
...consist of one-liners.
...be chosen to show events or characters.
...are sometimes conveyed through titles (words on screen).

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Extension

Using this worksheet, watch another trailer here and explore how these conventions help to communicate ideas about the film.