Teaser Trailers

From research I have found online I have learnt that the basic conventions of teaser trailers are;

• usually between 30 and 60 seconds long.
• They tend to be released up to 18 months before the films cinematic release.
• They are stereotypically only made for big budget films
• Their purpose is to let audiences know that the film is coming out and to create a buzz from early on.
• They are usually released whilst the film is still in production and therefore some include shots that don't eventually make it into the film.
• The teaser trailers don't give away much of the story line but do tend to introduce the characters
• Often voice overs are used to convey important information
• If dialogue from the film is used it is normally one-liners

Structure.

There is usually a structure within a trailer;

Opening: establishes setting and introduces character
Build-up: relationships established; development of characters and their world
Problem: a dilemma or series of complications: characters faced with an obstacle (or several) to overcome. There may be more than one ‘problem’ in the narrative
Events: a series of events as characters try to overcome obstacles and solve problems. Further complications may arise in the process.

This is the main area where trailers and teaser trailers differ as the majority of teaser trailers have non-linear narratives and therefore don't show all these areas within the teaser

Distribution and Exhibition

Teaser trailers have always been an effective way for audiences to find out which new films will be coming out in the next year to two years.

One of the most controversial exhibitions of a teaser trailer was for Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace; this is due to the fact that the first previews of this trailer was before the film 'The Siege' and many Star Wars fans brought tickets to see the film in order to see the teaser and then walked out of the cinema once it had been shown. Also when this teaser was released there were not the facilities like YouTube to be able to see the trailers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6hOlI9cg4o

Another trailer with a lot of controversy is the first Spiderman trailer. The reason this was surrounded by controversy is because the mini story line within it focuses around a bank robbery at the World Trade Centre, Twin Towers. This teaser was then immediately taken out of cinematic release after the terrorist attack; and since hasn't featured on the DVD as an extra like most film trailers do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0Foz_QZW3w - Original Spiderman trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFtYmWb9FQA - Re-made trailer