Slate
Slate’s popular ‘Explainer’ column describes the process by which movie theaters choose which trailers to show before each particular film. Theaters employ a system which identifies demographic groups and caters to their perceived interests. Though theoretically studios and theaters could attach any trailer to any movie, they usually decide which releases to promote by using the “quadrant” system, which divides potential audiences into four different categories: men under 25, women under 25, men over 25, and women over 25. Mitigating factors such as 3-D and distributor interests can complicate the process. To read the full article, follow the above link.