What is the difference between a trailer and a teaser trailer?

A teaser trailer is a condensed version of a theatrical trailer intended to entice the audience about an upcoming movie and to begin hype on major films. They do not reveal any significant plot details and are meant only to give a minor glimpse as what is to come.

Theatrical trailers, or film trailers are film advertisements for films; they are commonly known as previews of coming attractions. A trailer is more detailed than a teaser trailer. It may provide plenty of detail as to what the plot is about.

Highlighting key points:

A teaser trailer, or just teaser, is a short trailer used to advertise an upcoming film, television program, video game or similar, usually released long in advance of the product, so as to "tease" the audience.


Teasers are also commonly used in advertising. The so-called teaser ad or teaser campaign typically consists of a series of small, cryptic, challenging advertisements which anticipate a large(r), full-blown campaign for a product launch or otherwise important event.

Movie teasers, unlike typical theatrical trailers, are usually very short in length (between 30–60 seconds) and usually contain little, if any, actual footage from the film. Sometimes, it is merely a truncated version of a theatrical trailer. Tester trailers are usually only made for big-budget and popularly themed movies. Their purpose is less to tell the audience about a movie's content than simply to let them know that the movie is coming up in the near future, and to add to the hype of the upcoming release. Teaser trailers are often made while the film is still in production or being edited and as a result they may feature scenes or alternate versions of scenes that are not in the finished film. Other ones (notably Pixar films) have scenes made for use in the trailer only. Teaser trailers today are increasingly focused on internet downloading and the convention circuit.

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Hot Fuzz- 41 seconds

The opening scene tracks out into a medium shot to introduce the location and brings the viewers to the first character. The organisation of the mise-en-scene helps shows that we are in a school environment by the use of a classroom board and the manner in which the man is posed represented as a teacher even though he is wearing police clothing, it seems as if he is coming in school for the day to teach about being a policeman shown through his diegetic dialogue. Cutting into the next shot we then see the children, which the viewers presumed there would be, sitting down represented in a classroom environment shown through the engagement of the children. As the man acting as the teacher asks the children ‘are there any questions?’ the camera tilts to the right where a police helper asks the question using an eye line match editing. This becomes humorous as he asks a childish question of blowing up heads as if he is a child sitting down with the kids even though he is a fully grown adult. This tells the viewer that this movie will be a comedy genre. In addition the actors Simon Peg and Nick Frost are well known English comedian actors which a wide range of audiences can relate to, especially the age group of 15- 35 year olds which is their target audience. Then there are a series of cuts shown quickly of scenes from the film where all of the clips have big explosions and gun shots. By using a heavy guitar soundtrack with the exploding scenes emphasizes the upbeat tempo and feeling for what the film will be like. This indicates to the viewers that the genre is also action and crime. Having more than one genre is a way in trying to appeal to a mass market.  

A text pops up saying ‘from the team that brought you Shaun of the Dead’, this teases the audience as ‘Shaun of the Dead’ was a successful film, and the fact that they are producing this film will make audiences feel that this will be a good film to go and watch. Also, by having the same two main characters as ‘Shaun of the Dead’ implies that the makers and the characters have a strong bond between one another as they are going to produce a new film of a slightly different genre.



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Amélie- 1 minute 5 seconds

The maker of the film is called Miramax Zoe which is shown at the start of the trailer. Because this is a small conglomerate, this implies that this film will be different and unique compared to a typical Hollywood movie, which will attract a different kind of audience.

The trailer opens with a series of cross cuttings between several characters using a medium close up shot tracking in to their faces to see clearly their expressions. This is used to emphasize the connection these characters all have with one another. There is a bell sound used as the background which creates this thinking feeling for the viewers. The music stops and eventually cuts to the main characters face (Amélie) in a big close up, represented that she is the main connection for all the other characters. In addition, the narrator is brought forward and introduces Amélie.

Then there are a series of shots shown quickly in different locations to get a feel of what setting it is. As the music soundtrack gets more upbeat, the clips shown with it increase in pace creating a rushed and busy feel, thus giving a sense that a lot happens in the film, teasing the audience.

This is a romantic comedy yet is different from the stereotypical genre. It is also a very traditional French film, helped shown through the French instruments being played in the background and it is set in Paris, we can see this by the mise-en-scene of the buildings and clothes worn by the characters. Being a romantic genre, this will appeal more to a female audience.

This trailer gives a sense of fantasy shown through the special effects of Amélie turning into a puddle. Furthermore, in the last clip, the pig figure turned into life by switching the light off creating this surreal feeling throughout the trailer. This was emphasized by the high pitch piano sound giving a magical feel which is often used in fairy tale films.



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Kung Fu Panda 2- 1 minute 

The makers of this film are shown at the start and at the end of the trailer. DreamWorks Animation and Paramount are huge conglomerates, with a good reputation when it comes to animations therefore this will appeal to the audience.

The opening scene lasting 20 seconds begins with an establishing long shot of the view of the mountains, where the mood seems very warm and happy due to the bright lighting coming from the sky. The camera tracks in quickly through to the Panda; this is helped shown by the ‘swoosh’ sound effect, which feels as if the viewers are going through the wind rapidly creating a strong visual animation effect. This effect is how we get introduced to the narrative, using a match on action editing giving the trailer a sense of continuity.

A non diegetic soundtrack is used where the song has a lyric saying ‘everybody wants kung fu fighting’ which is clearly linked to the film of the title ‘Kung Fu Panda 2’. The Panda is represented in a large size making it seem he is a ‘big friendly giant’ figure. He makes these humorous gestures of cracking his back and showing off his karate moves in a close up shot, where the sound effects to go with his moves seem humorous and cartoon like, which will appeal to their target audience of children. In addition, it cuts to the panda acting funny again trying to show off but failing which is a common technique that always works to make the audience laugh, especially kids. We then see an extreme close up of the Pandas eye as he is getting the viewers involved by challenging him into a ‘Kung Fu staring contest’. The music stops for 10 seconds for the staring contest which further engages the viewers. This good effect further teases the audience; also the Panda addresses the audience in a polite manner as he tells the viewers ‘you look amazing by the way’ extending his strong bond between him and his viewers.  

This trailer will appeal to viewers who have previously watched the first movie. In addition, at the end of the trailer it shows that this film is shown in 3D to attract mainly a younger audience who want to watch the movie in a different dimension.

This animation is an adventure comedy genre for all the family, especially targeted to a younger audience of children. By using the voice over for the Panda as Jack Black, who is a well known actor, this will attract many more audiences than if it was an unknown voice over as kids are familiar with his voice. Furthermore, the presence of Jack Blacks voice over helps show that this is a comedy movie as he has played in many other roles which viewers will recognize in the comedy genre.  

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The Dark Night Rises- 1 minute 35 seconds
This film was produced by Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures which is shown at the beginning of the trailer. Their logos popped up on the screen to make the audience understand who the company is for the film. In addition, as Warner Brothers is a large conglomerate, this will attract more audiences to come and watch the movie.

The opening scene begins with a medium shot of a ripped apart building, where the camera moves up along with the building. This upward movement is helped shown through the swift and fast sound effect. The building is shown with a dark dim lighting creating a mysterious uncomfortable atmosphere. This unusual scene is then understood to viewers as a written dialogue pops up saying: ‘Every Hero has a journey’, implying that the upward movement of the building was taking the viewer to this journey, which is then bringing the viewer into the next scene introducing the narrative. Also a man’s voice is talking in the background but is not seen in the trailer. This brings the viewer feel more involved as his voice acts as if he is actually speaking to you and giving clues to what this trailer is signifying.

The first part of the scene which lasts for 36 seconds uses cutaways using long shots to show individual characters in isolated places. The use of a non diegetic soundtrack helps this sense of tension and isolation as the music gives this suspense feeling to the characters location helped also through the use of dark lighting.

Cutting into the second part of the trailer, the tense music stops for the character to say his first line of dialogue. The technique of suddenly having no background sound gives a sense to the viewer that he has something important to say. The music starts again, but this time with a gentle rhythm implying that he is a good character in the film. Shown in a close up shot, he is represented in an un-well manner through the mise-en-scene of the hospital bed he is lying in and the slow heavy breathing when he talks. This is stereotypical in an action type genre, as the good guys always get put down into hard consequences.

The camera then tilts up to the sky surrounded with buildings and starts moving upwards towards the light. This suggests that there is still hope, even though there is darkness everywhere else. The camera moves slowly upwards, yet there is a feeling that this movement will increase in speed through the increasing non diegetic beat. This shows the batman symbol which fans of this hero can relate to. Eventually the camera is then moved right up to the light from the sky where we can see the title of the film ‘The Dark Night Rises’ which clearly links to the previous clip. The sound changes its rhythm as the title pops up to give off a strong effect for the title of the film.

The last clip which lasts 3 seconds finally shows a fight scene with Batman in it. We can tell this is a fight scene by the posture and expressions of their hands getting ready to fight. Throughout this trailer, there was this sense that Batman was in danger or not existing anymore, shown by the absence of him, and the dialogue of characters questioning if he exists or not. This clip has deliberately shown Batman at the end of the trailer to tease the audience that he still exists and is ready for a fight which is what the viewers want to see the main character, the hero of the film.

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The Hangover Part II - 1 minute 26 seconds

The scene begins with a long shot using the view point technique of the inside of a hotel showing the audience where the location is. This hotel has dim lighting with brown as the main colour along with the use of air fans suggests that this place is hot somewhere in the third world country. We then see a room we presume inside the hotel and straight away there is this sense that it is messy and not looked after well by a lot of blankets on the floor and all of the doors wide open creates this untidy feel helped shown by the camera tracking in. The untidiness continues where bottles are fallen. In addition, a cockroach is walking on top of a clock again to suggest it is in a foreign hot country. Then a close up shot of a sink full of dirt and the cockroach again implies filthiness. In the next clip the slow motion effect of the camera tilting upwards exaggerates their stupidity of their look as they are looking around wondering where they are in shown in a group shot, which seems they are walking in a market. We can tell it is a market by the shops and customers holding bags. The sense of warmth is implied again as the lighting is very bright and the characters are using hats and sunglasses to protect him from the bright sun, also they seem to be sweaty shown on their slightly wet face and their expressions seem quite lazy as the warmth does make you feel like this. The scene ends with the characters walking away in a close up shot with a title flashing up of when it is coming out.

 

Throughout the whole teaser trailer the same music song is played. The non diegetic sound is of a hip hop rap genre with an upbeat tune along with a man rapping to the rhythm giving the impression of this being a ‘cool’ movie to watch which relates to their target audience as the music portrays what they tend to listen to. The constant use and beats of the high pitch piano sounds gives a sense that the characters are moving along steadily to the song in a foreign place which they appear lost in.  The song repeats the words ‘Reminder’ which relates well to the movie as it is about their hangover and they are trying to remember what happened the previous night.

In addition, this will appeal to their target audience of youth as having a ‘Hangover’ tends to be stereotypical of what the ages of 17-29 do.

This film was produced by Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures which is shown at the beginning of the trailer. Their logos popped up on the screen to make the audience understand who the company is for the film. In addition, as Warner Brothers is a large conglomerate, this will attract more audiences to come and watch the movie. Furthermore, quotations from newspapers and magazines about their positive opinion on the film pop up at the start of the clip. Having established magazines such as Rolling Stone saying how good this film is, will appeal to the audience used to make them come and see it.

 

Genre specific research into teaser trailers

The Social Network Teaser Trailer:

·        First scene introduces the location at night at college using a long shot tracking in.

·        A lot of variety of clips edited together so it doesn’t feel we are watching a scene from the film. Gives the sense that these are clips that could be from any part of the film which makes it more appealing to watch.

·        Kanye West hip hop Track (upbeat tempo) played throughout the whole trailer to give this sense of coolness and a good feeling to the film.

·        Text in between scenes to help the viewers understand and keep them engaged with the trailer.

·        Sense of youth brought through the location of places (eg College, bedroom, party) and age of characters.

·        You can easily tell it is a Biography and Drama genre as it is about the story of one guy creating facebook.

·        Appealing to a teenage audience mainly to boys as the theme is about technology and money which boys are more interested about.

This is the only specific genre teaser trailer which is a modern biography drama genre in which I feel has inspired me to make a trailer from this type of genre. I feel interested by this particular one and wish to base mine inspired by this trailer. I really enjoyed this trailer because of it’s up to date message it brings with technology. The trailer was edited very well by picking correct scenes to go together and in order. Also the soundtrack worked well throughout it.