On September 22nd 2017 I made a post on Facebook that went a little something like this -
"Ok, as a person who enjoys movies I'am a bit worried about this trend that has been going on in the movie industry for quite some time. That is the idea of having scenes within the trailer that don't appear in the final product. This part of "trailer culture" is in many ways egregious and anti - consumer in the worst possible way. Not only is it misleading to the average consumer. It's also to the point where the trailer does not represent the film correctly. Which leads to incorrect or unreasonable expectations. Not to mention trust issues among consumers and the product. However, this is made worst by the action of promoting pre-orders and day one ticket sales off the back of it. That is a awful business practice."
Which got me to thinking, why does this happen? I do think it is still anti - consumer in the worst possible way. If for the simply fact that these scenes are inherently misleading and as a direct result a dishonest representation of the movie. Some trailers are so untrustworthy they include scenes that have been cut from the film itself. Or even worse, filmed just for the trailer. Most trailers are put together by companies that have no idea what is or is not going to get cut from the film, but this doesn't really help the poor bastard that only came to see the scene that didn't make it in. This may, however, be justified by the fact that the movie is still being edited as the trailers are released. Since the editing process may take months and sometimes only finish mere weeks before the theatrical release, it is rather common for the trailer scenes to either become a deleted Scene or be replaced by an alternate take in the final cut.
However, can't that be said for pretty much all trailers? Ultimately a trailer by definition is an excerpt or series of excerpts from a movie or program used to advertise it in advance. The thing about these excerpts, is that more often then not they are shown out of order. Not only that but, these excerpts are given very little context as to where they fall within the movie itself.
Since trailers are suppose to sell you on the movie in question. They are made as a piece of marketing material by the studio. As a result it is made to show you the best parts of the movie by design. While giving a vague or sometimes very direct idea as to what the story and plot is about. The trailer can also go so far and be so direct that in an attempt to sell you on the movie it will at times provide spoilers. With some people in the movie industry actually believing that spoiling these key plot points is good for business.
Matt Brubaker, president of one of Hollywood's top marketing agencies, Theatrical at Trailer Park Inc. Which is the agency that created the trailer for Southpaw. He has said that people have felt burned in the past. He went on to state that if people are going out on opening weekend to see this movie they went to know that their making a good investment. As much as people complain that trailers can give away to much. Nine times out of ten the more of the plot you give away, the more interest you garner from the audiences. Audiences respond to the trailer with more of the movie.
It is to be said the most people do stick to the safe. Things they are already familiar with and know it's good. Take for example the Michael Bay Transformers movies. People will watch them because they already know what they are gonna get going in. In conclusion i will say that yes, trailers can be misleading. Which can result in audience disappointment.They should be taken for what they are. Marketing material! Not an accurate representation of the movie.
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