Filmed a movie trailer!

Some friends and I filmed a trailer for a short film that we are going to make. Just thought I'd share it with you guys here! I did all the shooting, and another friend did the editing. After having watched it several times now, there are a couple places that I cringe because of sloppy editing, but overall I think it's pretty good considering it's the first video I've ever shot!

Used the 5D3, standard 1080 24fps (not raw video) and FCPX was used for the editing.


http://vimeo.com/93443​624

So far it's good - music is compelling, voiceover is ominous, filming is excellent!

Before going on with the rest of my post, please bear in mind that I am a person who couldn't film anything remotely that good nor has ever tried. What you did was light years beyond what I could do and looks great already. However, everything can always be improved, of course. If you're up for a bit of constructive criticism from a moviegoer, I would suggest a few edits to the first half of the trailer.

The beginning, where he is running through the woods, felt too long and drawn out. This could be because there was too much of it to start, or because there was too much all at once. You split the trailer up well with a couple fades to black, but overall it felt like there was a bit too much running.

So, in an effort to hopefully help a little bit, this is how I'd do that part based on seeing too many trailers in my time...

• Use credits to split up the running. At the first "What has happened is wrong...", that's good black.
  
  • At 0:07, rather than cut to more running, I'd fade it and leave it black and list a credit there. "Something or other films", or "in association with blah..."; basically something different that's not more running.
    
  • At 0:11, when the first drum beats, cut back to more running.
    
  • at 0:15 at the drum beat and around 'there are no other roads', either cut to black and do another credit, or cut to something different...maybe a map or a shot of the outside of the cabin he's running to, with a road leading up to it...perhaps a little literal to the text, but it could work.
    
  • At 0:19.5 when the violins get louder, cut back more running.
    
  • At 0:28, he needs to start his turn as soon as the high pitched whining sound goes off, then his torch needs to be finished with its arc right when the music gets louder. You're close, but missed it by juuuust a hair. If you nail that part it will be very effective.
  
  
• After that, going to the door feels like it takes a little too long, but what you did works with the music. Still, it feels just a bit too long. Not sure what to suggest there, sorry.
  

I think you have some great constructive criticism. Thanks for taking the time to watch and critique!

I love the idea of the credits and fading to black during the beginning. I think if more time was spent on the editing he would have corrected some of the things that bother ME about it, but he really wanted to get it published and the rest of us were pushing him to show it to us! Haha. He was sick of us hounding him and tired of working on it. The music and voiceover he nailed, which in my opinion carries it through much of the editing shortfalls.

But yeah, I'm proud for our first video of any kind. It was good enough to (I think... fingers crossed) get some funding from sponsors to actually film the short!

BTW, just shared your critique with the editor and this was his response:

"Holy $h@t. Whoever wrote that has got to be an editor. He/she nailed timing and flow. That's pretty much the critique, loved it and it was well written!!! Who wrote it?? Wow. Great stuff and it's motivating to hear he loved the rest!"

It got him motivated to make some changes that I wanted and to try to incorporate some of yours! I'll repost the new version once it's done. He said he wasn't going to put a timeline on it though so we wouldn't bother him again. Hahaha

Hah, that's awesome. I'm glad he liked it. Definitely not an editor, just a guy that likes movies. I do enjoy editing though.

Hey hokiealumnus, we incorporated some of your suggestions! Go check it out now. Same link.

That is what I'm talking about. Very well done, pat yourselves on the back.

I also see that you're close to me; nice to see fellow North Carolinians around!

Oh yeah? Where are you at. I assumed VA

Also... GREAT NEWS! We got funding to produce the full short. Getting great reviews on the trailer! Besides our main funding source, we are also trying to get crowd funding for some additional equipment we'd like to have to film the short.

https://www.indiegogo.​com …amca-short-film/x/7432911

I'm in Raleigh.

That's wonderful news; congrats on getting funding!

Oh sweet. Let's get together and shoot sometime! We are going to do the Greensboro 48hr film fest coming up in June as well...