Trailer Testing with Synthetic Viewer Personas

The Challenge

A global entertainment studio was preparing the launch of two high-budget streaming originals and needed to test alternative versions of their teaser trailers. Traditional trailer testing methods — such as focus groups or full-scale quant surveys — were either too slow, too expensive, or difficult to execute during pre-release embargo periods. Moreover, the marketing team sought directional insights before final editing was complete — when there was no access yet to full audiences or promotional placement.

What they needed:

• Fast and private feedback on emotional impact, memorability, and appeal
• Credible viewer reactions from different audience segments (e.g., teens, millennials, Gen X, genre fans)
• Insights at a fraction of the cost of traditional testing

The DataDiggers Solution: Syntheo

To meet these challenges, DataDiggers deployed Syntheo, its AI-powered synthetic insights engine. Built on realistic digital personas modeled from deep behavioral and psychographic data, Syntheo enables fast, low-friction research in early concept phases — including trailer testing, even before real viewer exposure is feasible.

Using Syntheo, the client was able to:
✅ Simulate viewer reactions to two trailer edits across 5 core personas (e.g., “Young Thrill-Seeker,” “Busy Parent Escapist,” “Nostalgic 90s Viewer”)
✅ Measure anticipated emotional impact, engagement drivers, and genre resonance
✅ Generate insight within 48 hours, without needing any respondent recruitment or IRL testing
✅ Compare reactions to competing content (benchmarking)

Syntheo drew upon thousands of behavioral profiles and trained models to simulate responses, powered by Modeliq for scenario modeling and Correlix to reduce potential data bias.

Execution

We modeled synthetic viewers based on proprietary and external behavioral datasets, simulating their likely reactions using realistic prompt-response logic. The trailers were summarized using key visual, emotional, and narrative elements fed into the system.

The process included:

1. Persona selection & calibration: Five audience archetypes defined using internal viewer data and Syntheo's persona bank
2. Stimulus translation: Each trailer’s content distilled into a structured narrative-emotion timeline for machine simulation
3. Synthetic response modeling: Each persona generated responses to three key areas: attention hooks, emotional tone, and likelihood to watch
4. Comparative analytics: Data visualized with Modeliq for scenario comparison and optimization suggestions

Results

Within two days, the entertainment studio received a detailed report including:

• Persona-specific reactions to both trailer versions
• Visual heatmaps showing emotional spikes and drop-off moments
• Recommendations on which trailer version to lead with and how to edit for maximum impact by segment
• Audience segmentation strategy for campaign targeting

Key findings included:

• Trailer B had a stronger emotional climax for Gen Z viewers, while Trailer A had more sustained appeal among Gen X
• A specific visual metaphor (a spinning compass) resonated deeply with the “Escapist” persona but was missed entirely by the “Thrill-Seeker” group
• A last-minute narration line in Trailer B reduced overall “trust” ratings across all personas — later confirmed with real viewers

Why It Matters

By using synthetic viewer personas, the client was able to make smarter creative decisions before costly real-world testing. This allowed them to:

• Save over 70% in research costs
• Shorten feedback cycles from 2 weeks to 48 hours
• Preserve content confidentiality in early-stage exploration
• Optimize trailer versions per audience segment — leading to better targeting and increased engagement upon release

“Syntheo gave us exactly what we needed: speed, privacy, and actionable insight — without the usual overhead. It’s become an indispensable tool in our pre-launch toolkit.”
— Head of Global Insights, Streaming Entertainment Studio

Why Choose DataDiggers for Entertainment Research

Whether you're testing trailers, storyboards, posters, or character concepts, DataDiggers delivers precise, scalable insights at speed. Through Syntheo, Modeliq, and Correlix, we empower entertainment brands to explore possibilities early and make creative decisions confidently.

Our synthetic insight solutions are:

• Cost-effective for early-stage or high-volume testing
• Privacy-friendly — no human exposure to embargoed content
• Customizable by persona, region, or genre

Explore how synthetic research can amplify your content strategy. Contact us today or try Syntheo now through the Brainactive DIY platform.