August 20, 2002
8/20/02 Making movie trailers is
Making movie trailers is about three steps laterally from being a snake oil salesman waltzing through Topeka in the late 1870s. Everywhere else in American corporate society there are pretty strict rules about false advertising, but movie previews remain the one place where lying your ass off is not only recommended, but required. I worked for several of the big movie trailer houses in Los Angeles, and while there was enough money surrounding them to make each place its own hushed enclave of secrecy, the people working there would usually whisper that their advertisements are frequently hilariously off-base.
Most of the time it's just because the movie sucked. Turd-polishing accounts for most of the misrepresentation, as studios will do just about anything to make a few bait-and-switch bucks back on opening weekend. I worked on one Ephron-esque vehicle that shall remain nameless - a lifeless, confusing, roadkill of a film that had the bloated sheen of the recently dead and they told us to come up with a trailer that was as fuckin' happy-go-lucky as a juggling clown on crystal meth. And if I were an ordinary Josephine who paid money to see that movie because of the trailer, I would have been very, very upset.
As for the "giving away all the endings" thing, do what we did: blame the studio. They're the ones that always ask for 19 great ideas and 1 stupid one and always go with the stupid one. They demand that trailer makers give away the endings to movies because they have no faith that your average McNugget-passing schlub has the ability to comprehend a movie unless the murderer is revealed thirteen seconds into the trailer. And thanks in part to the movies the studios make, they're probably right.
I got into trailers almost by accident, if calling every day for five months seems like an accident. My friend Amy Hill said she wrote trailer copy one summer and the money was good, so I banged on doors until they brought me in. At the meeting, the president of Universal called and said that the trailers for Mystery Men "weren't tracking worth a damn" and to get someone else on it. They looked at me, and I was thrown to the wolves. Two hours later I returned with twenty ideas, and the head of the department said, "we're going to make you very, very rich."
Of course, that didn't happen, but I did manage to stay afloat in Los Angeles for a long time by writing everything that guy says you know, the "In a world where love means nothing..." kind of thing. And I did have three or four campaigns that went through the roof, the biggest of which was Sleepy Hollow, whereby three words paid for my 33rd year: "Heads Will Roll."
Los Angeles being what it is, and me being deep-dipped in shit as I was, I lost most of my contacts in the business and moved to New York in mid-2000 and didn't think about trailers again (unless a particularly awful one was screening). Until today, that is, when I suddenly had to make a trailer for my own movie, and another film I hadn't seen until Monday. This was more intense than just copywriting, however, this is the whole shebang: I had to pick all of the scenes, marry them to the words, and still make people feel like filing in the door from thither and yon.
Writing for trailer copy is basically the marriage of haiku and commerce with a nice "parallel construction" thrown in. By that I mean:
HE TAUGHT HER HOW TO LIVE
SHE TAUGHT HIM HOW TO LOVE
BLAH BLAH BLAH FUCKING BLAH
One of my faves (never used, of course) from the Stuart Little campaign was this:
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, CHRISTMAS WILL BE BIG...
SANTA WILL BE HUGE...
AND STUART... WILL BE "LITTLE."
THE STORY OF A LITTLE MOUSE
IN THE BIG APPLE.
You get the idea. Looks easy, but you try it. And it's a lot harder to do on your own movie, because you're not used to looking at the forest for the trees. Our project seems to be going swimmingly, however our editor Jessie has lots of good ideas and never fails to admit her bad ones. I, too, am finding it a lot easier to say how bad certain things I make can suck. We're back in the editing bay tomorrow for round two, so I leave you with the trailer for this blog:
IN AN ONLINE WORLD...
ONE YOUNG MAN WILL POST HIS INNERMOST FEARS...
AND SOMEONE DEEP IN HIS PAST
WILL BRIGHTEN HIS FUTURE
THREE FRIENDS ON THE BRINK OF ADULTHOOD
ONE HAS A SECRET
HE TAUGHT HER HOW TO LOVE
BLAH BLAH FUCKING BLAH
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our editor Jessie and me on her birthday in February; my hair has been shorn since, as a public service
hey i am working on a trailer for an upcoming movie and it is my first one ever could you give me any more tips on how its done how long is the perfect trailor?
Shannon
email: pennilane0o0@hotmail.com
Sassysugar101@hotmail.com
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Hi there, my name is Jade Orsmond and I want to make a career out of making movie trailers. I'm currently studing media and radio at University and am trained in audio edit packages such as Cool Edit Pro (Adobe Audition) and Sony Vegas. I also know how to use Final Cut Pro but I have not got a clue on who I would need to speak to in order to get into this field. Any advice would be grately appriciated! Thanks,
Jade in London, England
hey im making a trailer for my coursework and this is my first time ever and i have no idea of im doing pls help me
the genre of the film is romance/crime
pls help me
Hey! I want a career of making movie trailers...what classes do you recommend and how do you go about succeeding in this field?
thanks!
I have always enjoyed taking movies and pretty much editing them into a smaller, 3-4 minute version... I'm thinking that i might be good at making movie trailers but I guess im not entirely sure what all goes into it. why did you want to get into this field and how much personal creativity do you get to put into a project?
Hey,
I am thinking of getting into a career, because I too want to make movie trailers. Do you have any advice about good schools, and what class would be good? If you could email me some information, it would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Erin
Psychoticmufin@aol.com
How do you know you should get into movie trailer editing, where does a lost puppy start and basicly is there any more you can tell me with out me writing all my questions. I'll be here all night if that happens. Please advice . Thanks..
P.S. Will you make money ?
P.S.S -Thank you
I'm sure you are tired of hearing this, but I am very interested in getting into the business of film trailers. I've always felt that I have the skills to do it. Could you tell me how to get started, get my foot in the door? Is University Education required, and do you know of any good but free video editing programs. Also, do you just write the trailers, or do you edit the movie footage for it as well?
I'm doing a school project for advertising art where we have to come up with a movie and make a trailer for it...my movie is about a nerd in school who is a spy basically on the weekends but no one knows her spy self...and i need more like i don't jazz to the story something that is going to make people want to see the movie and i need an idea for the words like something as elenor was no ordinary girl..i'm not sure if you get a chance tell me what you think i should do it would a great help..thanks for your time. have a good one.
IN A WORLD WHERE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE NO LONGER GUARANTEES THE DREAM JOB...
WHERE BRIGHT, EAGER GRADUATES ARE DEEMED "COFFEE FETCHERS"...
AND WHERE DOING WHAT YOU WANT TO, GIVES WAY TO DOING WHAT YOU HAVE TO...
ONE WOMAN FIGHTS
TO SCORE A JOB
SHE ACTUALLY LIKES
Hardy harr harr....I couldn't help myself.
Anyways, I'm Eli. I'm a college senior, and I'm considering a career in this field. I know you're bombarded with people seeking advice, contacts, yadda yadda yadda, so I won't waste your time. Could I just have the E! True Hollywood Story of this whole deal? What's the good, the bad, and the low-down nitty gritty? It would be greatly appreciated...seriously. Hope you're enjoying the Big Apple- I go to school there :)
Have a great day, thanks in advance!
I was just wondering how to get started in movie trailer writing? where do i start? how much is the pay? can you live in another city besides LA to become successful in this business?
hey i am in yr 8 and i really wanna get into movie trailer makin what should i do at skool to get where i wanna be?
greendaygirl_punkchick@hotmail.com
I want t0 make m0vie trailers, and need help finding a scho0l and a career path... any0ne that can help me, please feel free 2 c0ntact me at my email...
again
Thank Y0u,
MerSia
hey so i'm a manager at a local theatre, and I love making trailers for the movies I make, in a few weeks i will be showing some of my employees one of my trailers on the big screen!!! anyways i believe that i have the right skills to become a, well is there a specific title that you use for this career??? and obviously you know i'm gonna ask it but, what classes should i lean towards???
thanks!!!
danny
Hey! I'm Jack, and I'm doin AS level Media Studies. We have to make a trailer for a Horror Movie by Christmas, got any idea how I can go abotu devising ideas? Thanks!
Hi!
I know I'm like the 30th person to ask you this, but could you please let me know what is all involved with the job of making movie trailers. I want to know what exactly goes into it, what classes you have to take, and stuff like that. I would really appreciate any information. Thank you!
Do you need any specific training to make movie trailers?What course can you take in college? Im really intrested...plz help!
I am interested to know how one would get into a career of making move trailers. That has always been something that has interested me! I am currently going to school for computer graphic design. Let me know....megazoogal_9@hotmail.com
Hi there!
Juts like many people, I am interested so much getting into a career of making move trailers.
I am currently studying advertising and working at an advertising agency, but I'd like to be very much at a movie advertising agency. If you can give me an advice, I'd be very happy!!thanks a lot........... imk25@hotmail.com
This will be my first year going to college, and I'm very positive that this is the career I would like to try and establish for myself one day. What classes are recommended to prepare for this?
thanks so much
Hello! So, I see everyone else is basically asking you the same questions. So, I do not want to bore you with the same ones. But, I am going to be graduating from a university in New York in about a month. I am going to be graduating with a Computer Art (like advertising and graphic design) and also mathematics. degree.
I have been extremely interested in getting into the field of making trailers. I like to think that I am really creative and I have high motivation and determination. However, I am not sure where to start exactly. Like everyone else, where should I start? Would you recommend specific courses I should take, or where I should go from here? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, VitaVa61@yahoo.com
Can you guess what this post it about? Sorry,I know this is really annoying getting asked these questions all of the time. Look at it this way - we all ENVY you and just want your advice. :-)Well, I'm just wondering about this field. E-mail me if you have any advice. Please. Thank you.
E-mail:Jessica.mltn@gmail.com
hi...
Sorry to bother you with same boring question, but im 16 and have to apply for university this year, I love movie trailers and enjoy trying to create them. What should I study to help me? Any advice would help. thanks
Iam also 16 years old and i would also like to know what i should study... but the thing is that i want to own a company that produces movie trailers and i want to make them too. So i was thinking.. should i go more into buisness or more into the overall study of creating movie trailers? (what classes should i take for college?) I dont know if you even answer theese things but PLEASE respond!! It's a huge passion of mine and It's something I've been into since i was atleast old enough to speak!!
my email: katoure84@yahoo.com
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Heyy,
I want to make m0vie trailers!!Do you have any advice about good schools, and what class would be good?
and again i want to ask, can you live in another city besides LA to become successful in this business?
I realy want to have some information. If you can e-mail me, I'd be very happy!!!!!
e-mail: irem@fikra.net
have a great day!
I was just wondering if you could tell me what kind of courses to get into to make a career out of making movie trailers and how to approach places like Universal or Disney. I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks!
Hi, My names Alex Phillips and i'm still in high school but i would really love to eventually make movie trailers, could you give me some advice on what schools, courses or experience i should go through to get into this feild?
thankyou so much
WOW.... didn't know so many people wanted to get into this field. Yes, I'm another one, and if you can please email me so we can chat about what the 100+ people have already stated above haha.
Thanks!
Hey there! Some very interesting stuff you have here. I've just finished school and am very interested in movie trailers, I was wondering if you could please tell me what to study for such a profession and where to study for it.
Thanx! B.
Hello, i am also very interested in making movie trailors as a proffesion. i have decided against studying media at Alevel due to the fact it would mean my other subject choices will be limited, will this hold me back? please get back to me. thank you very much!
Hi, along with everyone else I am highly interested in creating movie trailors as a career, however I have no idea what subjects to take, appropriate universities etc.
Im completely lost and would greatly appreciate your help.
Thank you!!
Hey,
I was wondering if you could fill me in on one or two things here? I was wondering if you could tell me what classes would be proper to take for a future in the profession? and also, the proper professional name for this job? Thank you very much!