Research into Radio Trailers

What is a radio trailer ?

A radio trailer is an advertisement revolving around audio which aims to give the listener a brief overview of the media product being advertised. 

Conventions of a radio trailer ?

Radio trailers tend to involve these specific characteristics in order to gain the attention of the audience and influence them to watch the film :

1. Narrative Voiceover
This is whereby a person narrates and guides the listener through what is being portrayed. A voiceover explains the story, informs the listener as to what the radio trailer regards, and sets a professional tone in which draws in the listener.  

2. Music
Music is often taken directly from the film in order to be able to reflect the genre of the film and give the listener a preview of the type of atmosphere the film gives off. The music should be loud enough to be heard but not to loud so that is doesn't drown out the voice of the narrator/voiceover and lose impact. 

3. Dialogue from the film
Snippets of dialogue are also taken directly from the film, often memorable quotes or keywords, that gives a sneak peak into the overall story. Furthermore, dialogue essentially introduces the characters involved without giving anything away. This further sets a feel for what the film represents. 

4. Length
Radio trailers should be around 30 - 40 seconds to create impact. This is enough time to keep the listener engaged and keep the information minimal so the listener will want to find out more. 

Planning/ Preparation for our radio trailer 
In order to stay organised we created a script/outline of our radio trailer which could be easily followed an ensure a smooth process. 

Examples of Radio Trailers

Radio Trailer (Spot) Examples