Where are film trailers shown?

Trailers are shown at the cinema, on TV and online with poster campaigns and radio campaigns also giving wide coverage for new film releases. Dedicated trailer sites and official film websites often carry trailers that have been cut for a general audience and are suitable for viewers of any age, whereas trailers shown in the cinema usually correspond to the classification of the film being screened.

Task - Respond to the following;

• Where do you see film trailers? Discuss with a partner the most recent trailers you have seen. Where were they? Did you watch the whole trailer? What do you remember about it? Does the place you see a trailer affect how you respond to it?
• What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of the different platforms used to show film trailers?
• Use the following statements to help in your discussion/write up on where trailers are shown.

A.     When people watch TV they do not usually concentrate during the adverts.

B.      This format allows viewers to comment in writing on trailers and join in discussions about the prospective film.

C.      More people watch TV than go to the cinema.

D.     A trailer for an 18 Certificate film that is cut for a general viewing audience could be dissatisfying for older audiences.

E.      DVDs are watched over and over again.

F.       Unofficial uploads of trailers to user-generated websites (e.g. YouTube) break copyright.

G.     People often fast-forward DVDs to the start of the film.

H.     Posting links to trailers significantly boosts viewing figures.