Lights, Camera, Preview: How To Showcase Your Movie Like A Pro

The hardest part is already over. You've worked tirelessly on your masterpiece, and you're ready to unveil it to the world. But, in this case, the end is actually just the beginning of post-production, that is.

When creating a trailer, you're tasked with introducing the stories of the main characters, defining the central conflict, and capturing the essence of the entire movie in just two or three minutes.

Even though it can feel like condensing a novel into a tweet, it's an equally important part of the filmmaking process. Your trailer is how the audience will gauge its interest in your feature-length work based on what's shown in just a short snippet. Luckily, we've gathered a few tips for getting started, plus some of our most popular cinematic trailer templates for inspiration.

Where to Start?

The introduction of your trailer or sizzle is where you'll establish the initial interest and reel in the audience. A lot of the audience's interest in the preview will depend on its visual appeal. A great way to do this is by having a strong opening title sequence.

For a little inspiration, explore our collection of Game of Thrones-inspired After Effects templates, sinister title sequences that will set the scene for a zombie take-over, and out of this world closing credits that will be launch-ready as soon as you're ready to say cut.

Purchase this template here.

Purchase this template here.

Purchase this template here.

Purchase this template here.

Purchase this template here.

Explore the Blockbuster After Effects Collection

Transitions and Second Acts

Did you know that trailers and previews function on a three act structure, just like feature length films? Make sure you leverage each act by separating the different sections with transition templates, you can get all the necessary points across without overwhelming the audience. You also get the chance to divide it up into distinct categories to give the audience an idea of the structure of the film.

Purchase this template here.

Purchase this template here.

Purchase this template here.

Purchase this template here.

Purchase this template here.

End on a Cliffhanger

Viewers ultimately decide whether they want to see the feature film based on their final impressions of the trailer. Ending on a cliffhanger, whether that's a key line in the film between two characters or a literal scenic journey to the ends of the earth, should leave the audience on the edge of its wait for it seat.

Ready to get reeling? Check out our collection of After Effects templates to make your next project a blockbuster.

Explore The After Effects Collection

LINK:	https://content.videoblocks.com/tipstricks/tutorials/showcase-your-mov...
	See more stories from videoblocks

Most recent headlines