What You Can Learn from TV Show Trailers - Part Two
Streamlining the Overarching Narrative
Have you ever experienced someone telling you about a story they’re writing and ten minutes into it you still aren’t quite sure what it’s about? If it takes too many words to explain an idea it may be a red flag that the concept is not fully formed. Think of Jenji Kohan’s iconic one-liner for Weeds — “Pot-selling soccer mom” or Amy Sherman-Palladino’s Gilmore Girls — “…a mother and daughter who are more friends than mother and daughter.” While very few details are mentioned with either of these examples, there’s just enough information to grasp the general concept. The big takeaway here — when writing, keep it simple.
Given that TV trailers are under 3 minutes they convey the overarching narrative of a season and/or series (without revealing major spoilers), very concisely. They also tightly introduce and tease important plot points, major conflicts and can help you develop an eye for what constitutes a strong hook, as they set-up what’s most intriguing and unique about a show at its core.
In this trailer for The Good Place, notice how quickly we grasp the main character’s new situation and the major conflict of the series. You can read the pilot script here.
This trailer for Grace and Frankie quickly introduces the inciting incident that sets off the main problem (turning the two main characters’ worlds upside down), their struggle to cope with their new realities and the decision they make together that establishes the series. You can read the pilot script here.
TV Show trailers might also ask dramatic questions that the series will attempt to answer. Watch this trailer for Silo (Apple TV+) and notice how the questions the characters are asking throughout tease what the show is going to explore over the course of the series. You can read the pilot script here.
Observing how trailers quickly convey a show’s premise and leave the audience excited and curious to come back to learn more is an invaluable way to sharpen your own ideas. Now, take some time to watch trailers that might be comps for your own work and consider how you would quickly introduce the premise, inciting incident and dramatic questions for your series trailer.
Next up: What You Can Learn from TV Show Trailers Part 3 - Memorable Characters. Stay tuned!