Film trailers, like posters and adverts, are designed to convince you to go and see the film at the cinema.

You are going to find out how trailers use the power of persuasion by exploring 3 trailers of the same type of film: The Secret Life of Pets 2, Spies in Disguise and The Queen’s Corgi. All of these films are animated and they all have similar themes: pets with secret powers or abilities. You are going to analyse each trailer and decide which one you think did the best job of persuading you to go and see it.

Film trailers use ‘film language’ to get the message of the story across. When we write stories, we use words, sentences, punctuation and grammar. Films use shots, sounds and they sequence them in such a way that helps the audience understand the story that’s being told.

We will analyse each trailer using this 'Trailer Trio' analysis tool.

Watch all three trailers and use this downloadable chart to help you put your ideas together.

Activity instructions

1. Watch the trailers.

2. With a partner, talk about why you think there three such similar films out at the same time.

3. In groups, use the Trailer Trio analysis tool to explore each trailer in detail, thinking how each trailer uses its shots, sounds and sequences to persuade you to see the film.

4. Does the trailer leave you with a set of questions which you would like answered?

5. Are there any memorable imagery and taglines?

6. Does the trailer use humour, puns or a play on words?

7. Do you identify with any particular character? Do you want to find out what happens to that character? Why?

Another feature of the film trailer is the voiceover.

Many trailers feature a voiceover artist who talks over the top of the images to give you clues about the film story, type and characters.

Choose your favourite trailer and write a persuasive voiceover script for it.
When you write your script, you should think about including these features of persuasion in your language:

• Questions - ask a question to peak the audience interest e.g. 'Does your pet have behavioural issues?'
• A tagline or quote - e.g. 'They'll do anything for us.'
• A play on words or pun - e.g. 'Scamper to the cinema this Summer.'
• Empathy (use words to help the audience understand one or more of the characters) - e.g. 'Our pets teach us and worry about us.'

Whilst writing the script, try to match the voiceover words to the appropriate images on the screen. When finished, perform your scripts to each other and evaluate each other's scripts. Which ones add to the overall persuasiveness of the trailer?