How to Make a Good Movie Trailer: For Your Short Film (Part 2)

Okay, so last week we went over the organization of creating your trailer. However, this week is when the fun begins, actually creating a timeline to bring that idea of your trailer into reality. But, if you’re just joining us, make sure
you check out my previous post so that this blog post makes sense. Don’t worry, I’ll wait… Awesome! You’re back!!

                                    

Now, let’s get into it!!!

4.) Create the trailer timeline in your NLE of choice.

Make this timeline as long as you wish.

But how long is too long?

Well, in short, that’s up to you. But, here are some things to keep in mind. A full-length trailer (for a feature length film) usually clocks in around two minutes and thirty seconds. However, when creating a trailer for a short film, you may (or may not) have enough footage to create a full length trailer.

When creating the BloodGuilt trailer I opted for a one minute trailer for that reason. Plus, much of the film takes place in a loop; which means a lot of the footage could seem redundant when taken out of context.

At any rate, the length of the timeline is entirely up to you. Because, whether you think you need more than two minutes and thirty seconds, or can get the job done is less than a minute, your primary goal is to choose a time that will most effectively tell your trailer story – without giving away the plot of the short film.

But, if deciding on the length of your trailer (so early in the process) is adding undo pressure to your work flow, skip this step entirely.

This step is only meant to focus your story down to the boundaries of what an audience expects from a trailer. So, if you surpass the two minute and thirty-second-time frame, you’re better equipped to look at your edit more objectively so that you cut away material that isn’t absolutely essential to your story.

The process is similar to how a screenwriter will start to make cuts from their script if it surpasses 120 pages. That is, unless you’re Tarantino!

Okay, so now that you’ve finally created and determined the length of your timeline-

5.) Place your opening and ending graphics within your timeline.

Then, add some sound design to make those graphics pop: impacts, wooshes, reverses, what have you ;-)

6.) Add your music.

Yes, that same music you found last week which was perfect for your trailer. Que it up to begin at the end of you opening graphic, while also ending at the beginning of your end graphic.

Next, is the fun part!

7.) Start adding the visuals!!!

Arrange the clips according to your trailer’s story. While doing so, you’ll start to witness how those visuals will line up naturally with the sounds of the music. That’s because of all the extra time spent in searching for that perfect piece of music.

So, make sure you are not cutting any corners when searching for the music.  Otherwise, your visuals will seem unnatural to your music, and push your audience out of the experience.

Now, this is where your trailer comes to life!

8.) Cut your clips according to the flow of the music.

Think of the emotional highs and lows of the music, and synch them according to the emotions of your story. Again, if you’ve done a good job in music selection, this should flow very seamlessly.

Finally we’re done! Well, not exactly…

9.) Make the trailer even punchier!!!

Look and listen to your trailer. Search for places to add transitional elements, to make it clear that the story is transitioning from one part to another. Use VFX (Glitch Effects, Flash Effects, Speed Ramping, etc.) and sound elements (impacts, wooshes [I love wooshes], and reverses) to perform these transitions seamlessly; but making sure that they are supporting the story – and not distracting from it. 

Tip: The last Act of the trailer should lead into the most exciting and climactic sequence of the story; leaving your audience desperate for more.

10.) Polish, and you’re done! For real this time!!!

Make sure you’ve crossfaded all of your audio to eliminate pops; and color correct (and/or) grade everything to make sure the entire piece looks cohesive.

So, there you have it. This post was a whole lot longer than I anticipated. But, hopefully you got some value out of it. Let me know if you have any other questions about this, or any other short film topic. Post your questions (and/or thoughts) in the comments below, on my email, or anywhere else you can find me online: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, wherever. [salute]