Comments on: Trailer Competition: The Winners

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 02:12:57 +0000

OMG, the City of Untamed Lust trailer is the only one that would actually get me into the theater!

By: Kiki

Kiki — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 19:47:58 +0000

Yes, thanks, John — and great job everyone. I enjoyed watching the winning and honorably mentioned clips this morning. (Loved that sitcom laughtrack!)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:13:42 +0000

Thanks Lollipop and John for taking the time. Much appreciated.

By: John August

John August — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:38:03 +0000

Directors and producers don't always have the best sense of what the trailer should be. After all, they know the movie. Trailers are designed to attract people who have no idea what the movie is.

I thought Mojo did a good job. I didn't really interact with them until the end, but they were smart, fast, and seemed to genuninely dig the movie. When I would give a pretty broad note through a third party ("Maybe a lot of quick cuts after he crosses the line") they would implement it extremely well.

On big blockbuster movies, it's not uncommon for several vendors to be working on trailers/posters/artwork at once. The marketing department at the studio will pick their favorites and show them to the filmmakers.

By: Lollipop

Lollipop — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 05:31:18 +0000

Hi #21 As someone who commissions the MOJO’s of the world to make trailers/posters, I must say at the end of the day, it’s all in the contract as to who gets to make the trailer. The movies at our studio all have a budget. How much that budget is depends on what type of film we are marketing. Most of the time it’s us marketing folks who hire an agency. Sometimes we get it right and other times well, sometimes no matter what you do you can’t make a film look good. And yes, there are time when we f*** it up because there’s no firm decision on how to market the thing (hey, we are all human). We do have to run each trailer/poster, by the studio, filmmakers and major talent (exactly who you show it to for each film varies but sometimes you also rely on relationships too). It’s usually when you have a hopeful blockbuster that a director/editor will be involved. Sometimes it’s a pleasure, sometimes not. You would think that a director/editor would be the best person to make the trailer but really that is naive. Unless you are one of two directors who personally deliver final cuts of their trailer to your doorstep, most studios want to be involved in making the trailer or rather “selling the movie” cuz, at the end of the day they are the one’s paying salaries and they are the one’s beholden to the stockholders. Sometimes we start out with a good idea and then countless opinions and revisions due to testing ruin the darn thing. But every once in a while when the stars align a true creative piece of work gets approved and that’s when its really fun.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 01:43:27 +0000

Wow, Ed Jones' one was AWESOME! I'm really desperate to see the film now. I can't believe you hadn't seen it when you made the trailer, Ed!

Congrats.

By: Dominic

Dominic — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 22:56:56 +0000

Congratulations to the winners. Really impressive.

By: DanTWB

DanTWB — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:13:29 +0000

"The Lovers who Loved that Love!" hilarious Michael, nice job. Great music choice, too.

Congrats to all! I'd love to see a 30 second version of the Holiday mash-up if CMikes is up for it?

JOHN, a question: what was your procedure for shooting the "love scene" with your actors? Did they have enough time with each other to get in a comfort zone where they can simulate that kind of intimacy, or do pro actors like them just flip a switch and suddenly they're making love to the greatest love of their life? I always wonder about that, especially if they don't know each other before the movie, which I'm sure happens all the time. Thanks, Dan.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 20:11:15 +0000

Hey John,

I'm sure at least a few readers would have interest in this query:

Does the studio REQUIRE an ad company like Mojo create the trailer? You would think the best team of people to make a trailer would be the editor and director of the film, but is the problem that you and doug would only end up making an intriguing and smart trailer that beautifully compliments the film? I.E. Is the studio (or whoever is in financial control of the film) more reassured by an ad company that can guarantee mass appeal and provide projections on hitting target demo's, etc. etc.

Is it as simple as the idea "a trailer is a commercial, hence you go to an ad company to get your trailer"?

By: John August

John August — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:26:50 +0000

Joe (#10):

The "official" trailer was done by Mojo, a production house who does a lot of trailers. We (the producers and I) saw a pretty early cut, and offered them some stuff that our editor, Doug Crise and I had done for a temp trailer. So the result is kind of a combination. I like it a lot, but there are certainly other ways we could have gone.

There's a version that uses better music, but we couldn't afford to license those songs. One challenge of a little indie movie is that there's only X dollars to do everything, so priorities have to be made.

By: Klaudio

Klaudio — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:43:43 +0000

Great job guys and congrats to Michael Bell, Ed Jones, and cmikes! Excellent!

Woo hoo, I got Best Music Video! Dances

Can't wait to see the movie John, it looks amazing! :)