Not to be all Seinfeldesque, but a co-worker and I were discussing the Episode III trailer when he asked me that question. He’s got a point. It’s not “trailing” anything, it’s coming first.
Anyone happen know the etymology of this one?
I’ve always wonderd this too.
I have no cite to back me up, but I’ve heard that it originates from when they used to show suff before the movie.
Like a Flash Gordon serial, a cartoon, the newsreel, etc. The ads for new movies trailed all this, so that is how it got its name.
agin, I’m not certain of this.
Brian
I don’t really know this to be true, but here’s what I always thought.
The trailer is made after the film has been shot, so it trails.
This is my understanding also - movies used to have a lot more short subjects before the main feature, including newsreels and cartoons. The previews of coming attractions came at the end of the other short subjects.
Strangely enough, this is not always entirely true. Often, trailers are created, yes, after the film (or most of it) has been shot, but before post-production (editing, etc.) has been completed. That’s why you have the common phenomenon of trailers appearing with music and scenes that are not in the eventually completed movie.
Originally, the trailers were shown after the movie.
This is the correct answer. Remember, this was a time before the lengthy credit crawl to which we’ve become accustomed. In those days, the story would wrap up, the camera would crane away or dolly back to its closing shot, you’d see “The End,” and that would be it. You might see a cast recap, but not much more. So it’s not like the movie would end and you’d have to wait around for fifteen minutes to see the coming attractions; it would be a matter of moments before the previews started.
Indeed, the trailer for Return of the King was shown at the end of The Two Towers. So the phenomenon has not yet disappeared.
Also back in those days you should know that the single screen theatre basically showed stuff continually.
They did not ‘build up’ the prints. In an older theatre you might look back at the projection booth and notice that there are two sets of windows for projector. There would be two projectors and the first reel would be on projector A and second reel on projector B and the operater would do ‘change overs’ during the movie and with a competent operater you would not notice it. Today all the reels are spliced together onto one big reel or more likely a platter. (a horizontal reel with no top)
So yes the movie ends, there is a bit that says “The End” and then trailers would play so they could raise the lights and peole would walk out. Then they might throw on a cartoon and a serial and go back to the feature. The classy joint might stop the show and close the curtains before the main feature.
And of course the Movie business is actually very traditional and some things don’t change so they will probably be called trailers for ever.
That’s personal, Hal. I’ll thank you to stay out of my business.
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