The Art of the Trailer: Hooking Audiences Into a Bigger World
Join Ed Lin, Alex Price, and Nate Ahearn for a live discussion on some of the most iconic video game trailers ever made and why, over time, they've become every bit as influential as blockbuster movie trailers. Drawing from decades of experience launching some of the industry's biggest franchises, they'll break down what separates a forgettable trailer from one that defines an entire entertainment property.
From structure, pacing, and emotional sequencing to showcasing core gameplay mechanics and the promise of the experience, the panel will explore how the best trailers capture the soul of a game in 90 seconds or less. They'll examine how great marketing distills an entire world into a single compelling message—one that leaves audiences wanting more and turns curiosity into fandom.
Whether you're a marketer, developer, filmmaker, or gaming enthusiast, this session offers a behind-the-scenes look at the art and science of building anticipation through the most powerful storytelling tool in entertainment marketing: the trailer.
This session is part of the Future Vision XPRIZE — a $3.5M+ global competition challenging filmmakers to create 3-minute sci-fi trailers envisioning an optimistic future for humanity. Grand prize: $2.5M toward producing your film (up to $15M total budget via Range Media + Republic Film), plus $100K cash. Submissions close August 15, 2026.
Register to compete: https://futurevisionxprizes.com
If you're cutting a trailer for FVXP and want it to do more than get watched — you want it to build a following — this is the session that shows you how.