–Off Topic–
The Writer has permitted free online access to their subscriber-only section! For this weekend only!
–Off Topic–
I love movie trailers. I’m the type of girl who comes twenty minutes early, watches the “Behind the Scenes Look” for upcoming films, and then bounces on her seat and claps her hands when the previews appear. The music, the movements, the need to choose the right parts that will reflect the story and hook the viewer at the same time—it’s exciting. Ridiculously so.
So when I discovered book trailers, I bounced and I clapped. This, I thought, has to be good. Right?
Not always. Some trailers use slow music, faded letters, and zooming pictures; combine it with a narrator talking for the two whole minutes and the perfect lullaby is created. Others like Joseph Finder’s Power Play bring their scenes to life—the exact thing us readers do in our minds. So that was pretty cool. (Personally, I think the acting could be better.) A couple trailers like Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl: Time Paradox uses a combination of both movement and stills. The video also includes Eoin himself, sound effects, and more complex editing; all of which conveyed the book’s atmosphere well.
But authors are not only using trailers for their books: Eoin Colfer uses a video to promote his tour. Now, I’ve seen interviews and videos promoting causes, events, and even stage productions. But I’ve never seen an author promote a tour. I have to say, I’m glad my first sighting was Eoin’s video. I found it surprisingly entertaining. (Then again, I’m easily amused.)
I wonder who else will be using trailers? Non-profit organizations and movies and musicians do. Companies has commercials to promote their products (no matter how off-topic the commercial is). What else will we see?
Well, whatever comes up I hope they make the videos well. I hope they edit it well.
If anyone is interested in making films well, check out World Film Community. Using both words and video, the new and growing site informs you about—you guessed it!–the film world. It has articles on Camera Framing, guides on film-making, and even an interview with a screenwriter. The knowledge they offer might help if you want to promote something of your own. And everyone has something they want to promote.
I know I did:
(It’s a trailer I made last year for the drama I wrote and directed. Not great, but I’m okay with it.)
[Listening to: Hyper Crush]
