Trailer

An edited preview film that presents a title as a whole: several excerpts, often with the title, the names of the contributors, and a release notice. Unlike a single excerpt, a trailer is an independent promotional product that is generally created and distributed by the production itself.

Distinction from a teaser

In everyday usage, the two terms are often used interchangeably. For rights issues, however, the distinction is useful. A teaser is usually a short excerpt that creators use for their own channels. A trailer is an edited promotional asset of the production that promotes the finished title, often in several versions: one for the production’s own website, one for partner sites, and a heavily edited version for channels with strict content rules.

How a trailer is made

Trailers are created during post-production, after the main edit is complete. Sometimes additional shots are recorded specifically for this purpose on the day of the shoot, such as brief looks into the camera, introductory scenes, or footage of the location. If this is planned, it should be listed in the Call Sheet because it takes time.

For you, this means that your face and stage name may appear more prominently in the trailer than in the actual film. Anyone who values discretion in particular should be aware that the trailer is often the most-viewed piece of material from a production because it is distributed freely and publicly.

What the contract should regulate

Use in promotional material is legally a separate type of use. It must be provided for in the contract and is often covered by a flat-rate buyout. Check whether the contract expressly mentions trailers and preview images, which channels they may be shown on, and whether your stage name will be included. Whether you can object to the use of specific footage depends on this agreement. The article on rights to one’s own image explains the scope of your right to have a say.

May I share the trailer myself?

Often yes, and many productions explicitly want this because every redistribution by the contributors increases reach. Nevertheless, it is not automatic. A trailer remains material belonging to the production. Share it only in the version approved by the production and on channels whose rules it complies with. Your own edits, such as a new cut or a different ending, require separate permission.

For building your own reach, this is something you can negotiate: Ask the production before the shoot for an edited version for your channels and permission to share it with a reference to your own offering. This costs the production little and benefits both sides.

Keep dates and approvals in view

Ask whether separate footage is planned for the trailer and whether you can view a version before publication. You are only entitled to this if it has been agreed. Also make a note of when the trailer will be released. Publishing it too early on your channel may violate an embargo and strain your relationship with the production.