Thoughts behind cutting the trailer (2)

Despite all my best efforts however, whatever I think rarely hits the target. Hence the trailer that I successfully cut on Wednesday, was re-cut again on Thhursday.

Damned second opinions!

Thoughts behind cutting the trailer

All right, so I cut a trailer for 'Jay and Kay Save the World', finally, after racking my brains out for what seemed an eternity. SO what was going through my mind.

1) The right sound.

Believe it or not, sound is crucial during a trailer. Do I have music and a deep bass like voiceover or insert witty snippets from the film? In one minute, sound can have a crucial impact on the style of a trailer.


2) How much of the story do I give away?

Without revealing the 'plot' of 'Jay and Kay Save the World', I had to calculate, what could go in and what could not.


3) The iconic shots.

Without revealing the context in which they were shot, what 'beauty' shots do I put into the trailer. They have to be alluring, without revealing exactly what they are.


4) Graphics.

Finally, what graphics do I use to represent the titles of the film. Each font, each effect used gives a difference appearance to the trailer and must be carefully chosen.


5) The length.

Considering the film is ten minutes long, the trailer itself should not be too long. SOmething just over a minute should be fine.




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The biggest constriction is actually the time. Both of the short film (ten minutes) and of the trailer itself. A 90 second trailer is not a long time and with only ten minutes of actual film to gleam footage from, there is a lot of scope for repetition in the trailer - something that must be avoided. But I managed to do it, and so...well, let us see...

That damn trailer

For some reason, my mind is going through a real block. I have been cutting the trailer for the past week, yet I cannot get my head around it. I cannot seem to visualise it clearly in my head. The trailer is a mish-mash of images and emotions, but nothing seems right. I have already cut through two trailers only to delete them, just simply because they do not have the right feel to them.

Oe of the big problems is that it is a ten minute short film. So how to I convey that in a one minute trailer, without giving away too much of the plot?

Mmmm, will take a cycle ride to think about it...

Trailer Cutting (2)

And so, what do I look for in a trailer? While I am cutting it? Well, first of all, I want to give an impression of the movie, show the great shots without giving too much of the plot away. Some funky music in the background also helps. Next I want to convey the feeling of the picture. In 'Jay and Kay Save the World', the film flips after the first quarter of the movie. I want the trailer to do the same. And finally, I want people to be impressed with the latest installment of 'Caution Wet Paint'. After all, there are a lot of good short films out there, and I have to make mine stand out from the crowd!

Trailer Cutting

I cut the first trailer in a hurry, and later on a put in a quick Hi Def teaser but I have yet to commence on a proper 'theatrical trailer'. An all important marketing tool for 'Jay and Kay Save the World'...

The Trailer

Usually, when I, El Director edits, I cut a trailer first, then get down to the cutting of the main portion of the film. However, with 'Jay and Kay Save the World' I got straight down to the business of editing as soon as the film was finished in March. After three months, the film was completed, and suddenly I realised that I had to cut a trailer for the short...so I duly oblige ;)

Click to see the trailer for 'Jay and Kay Save the World'