Movie Trailer Assignment
A trailer or preview is an advertisement or a commercial for a feature film that will be exhibited in the future at a cinema. The term "trailer" comes from their having originally been shown at the end of a feature film screening.[1] That practice did not last long, because patrons tended to leave the theater after the films ended, but the name has stuck. Trailers are now shown before the film (or the A movie in a double feature) begins.
Movie trailers have now become popular on DVDs and Blu-ray Discs, as well as on the Internet. Of some 10-billion videos watched online annually, film trailers rank #3, after news and user-created video.
Activity 1 (thanks to Mr. Powell of Tamanawis Secondary)
1. Please read The Top 10 Elements of a Good Movie Trailer2. Using Apple Trailers or another movie trailer website, watch three trailers for movies that you want to see. They must be different genres (ex. action, sci-fi, comedy, romance, drama, horror)
3. Open text Edit. Analyze the three trailers that you have watched using the Top 10 Elements article as your lens. You may have to watch each trailer several times. List how many of the elements each trailer includes (or doesn’t include). Please list ANY special effects shots.
4. On the same Text Edit document, write down whether the trailer makes you want to see the movie and why. Be specific.
5. Turn in the Text Edit Document named "Trailer Analysis" to the Classes Period 2 Folder on the Vidstore
Activity 2: The Movie Trailer Treatment
This activity is done with up to two other partners (three total) should you choose to work win a group.
1. Open Text Edit
2. Describe the movie that you are going to make a trailer for. What genre is it? What is the title? Describe the whole story from beginning to end. Who are the two or three main characters? What is the conflict? In other words, what is the problem the characters are trying to overcome?
3. What are the three or four big scenes you will create? These can be action, drama, comedy, or a combination of all of the above.
4. What type of music will you use? Using two or three types of songs or "movie scores" is perfectly fine. What type of sound effects will you need to add?
5. List the different After Effects special effects shots you will create. Note: please DO NOT change angles during the middle of an After Effects shot. Doing so will make your After Effects very difficult.
6. What is the tagline for the movie? For example, In Jaws 2 the tagline was "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water..."
6. Turn in the document named "Trailer Treatment" to Classes Period 2 Folder on the Vidstore Server
Activity 3:The Storyboard
You will storyboard 32 shots in your trailer. Below each storyboard you will list the exact shot and action taking place in that shot. If the shot contains After Effects work you will describe the special effects.
You will not be allowed to turn in raw footage until the storyboards are complete.
- Tuesday May 28 and May30 are in-class shooting days. You CAN start shooting during Memorial Day weekend. In fact, if it were me that is what I would do.
- For this assignment students are required to shoot during this time. You can, with written permission, shoot off campus as needed. As usual, you can check out a camera after school to work at home.
- Raw footage is due end of the period Thursday May 30th.
- Create a rough edit during class on May 4th. Create your After effects shots on June 6 and June 10. You may need to render After Effects shots after school. Add After effects shots on June 10 and 11.
- Seniors will turn in their projects on June 11. Everyone else will turn in their projects on June 13.
Original Star Wars Trailer
Forrest Gump Original Trailer
Original Halloween Trailer
Pulp Fiction Trailer
Shawshank Redemption Trailer
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
A Christmas Story
Goonies
Fargo
The Usual Suspects
Social Network
The Golden Trailer Awards are awards for the best trailers. Winners and nominees are listed here.
