First Movie Trailers by Ethan Parker

First Movie Trailers explores the evolution of film trailers, revealing their transformation from simple film snippets to indispensable tools for movie marketing and box office success. The book highlights how trailers have mirrored broader shifts in marketing, technology, and audience engagement, becoming key components in shaping audience perception. For example, the integration of sound and color marked a pivotal moment in trailer evolution, enhancing their persuasive power.

The book begins by establishing the historical context, tracing the origins of trailers and their increasing sophistication before moving into a detailed discussion of how trailers became integral to marketing strategies. It connects to media studies, marketing and economics by showing how trailers contribute to constructing audience expectations and shaping cultural narratives.

What sets First Movie Trailers apart is its comprehensive look at the trailer's entire trajectory, from rudimentary beginnings to its current sophisticated form on digital platforms. The book adopts a professional and accessible approach, blending historical analysis with insights that will appeal to academic scholars and industry professionals. It culminates in an analysis of how contemporary trailers use digital platforms and social media to reach audiences globally, and the economic consequences thereof.