What Makes An Effective Teaser Trailer? - Symbolism

Exactly, what DOES make an effective teaser? A good trailer - regardless of genre or media type has to be remembered. Teasers do exactly what they say, the tease the audience in an attempt to get them to find out more, and to get them to watch the film. Unlike a theatrical trailer, teaser trailers do not give much away about the film in an obvious way, you have to really dig deep to find meanings. Looking at the video game trailer of 'Hitman Absolution' we see symbolism used greatly, as this 5th feature in the series, fans (the people likely to see the trailer) will be able to distinguish the meanings.  Firstly, we see a shadowed man , putting a silencer on his gun. In the next scene we see a handgun, know by fans to be 'ballers' with the agency logo displayed. The gun is surrounded by a snake, which represents danger, but also stealth and silence, the qualities of an assassin. Finally we are shown the most effective symbol, and also the most recognisable, the trademark barcode, ending in 47 (shown red), this instantly tells the audience that the trailer is about Agent 47. Although only three clips have been shown, the audience is engaged, and left wanting more. The audience will then go to the web address displayed.

The Dark Knight Rises teaser trailer is also a good example of symbolism in teasers. After the idents are show, we hear and see memorable extracts from the first film, along with 'Every journey has a beginning', shortly followed by 'Every journey has an end'. This immediately has the audience engaged, and they then hit us with 'From director Chistopher Nolan', which tells the audience that this film will be just as spectacular as the last two. The loud motorbike is then contrasted with new footage of commisioner Gordon, in hospital murmuring. You then see the camera ascend, followed with Gordon mutter the word 'rises' and a man climbing out of a hole. this is a symbol of what is to come in the film; batman rising over evil to inevitably defeat it. Images are then flashed periodically of Bane, the villain of the film, followed by the camera rising upwards toward the Batman logo, which could be perceived as Bane rising to face batman, as a clip of a large shadowed figure (Bane) facing batman is shown, which ends the trailer with the title 'The Dark Knight Rises'.