A old friend of mine once said “Not because you could, just because you can.”  It’s impossible to explain how funny that comment was but it’s strangely perfect for this post.   You don’t always have to make a trailer for a short film.  But isn’t it fun to edit one together anyways?

The time has come to start thinking about the trailer for The Climb. I’ve been having so much fun editing lately that I started pulling out shots that I know/hope will make the trailer.

What I don’t know is how I will structure the piece.  I don’t know what tone it will have and how I will pace things out.  These are fundamental decisions you have to make when deciding how to sell your film to audiences.

XTRA: Does this poster sell my independent short film?

When I set out to create a trailer for our last short film Playing Through, I struggled with it.  The film balances humor with an extremely emotional situation and I had wanted to find a way to convey both.  There was a very fine line I had to be sure not to cross.  Too far in one direction would have led people to believe it’s a comedy.  Too far in the other direction and people would have given people the impression that the whole film is depressing.

I tried a number of approaches and in the end, I decided to somewhat separate both elements.  This way, I could introduce the two main characters and then gradually integrate the emotional story line.

What do you think?

I think I succeeded but some people still found it hard to determine what tone the movie actually has.  Is it a comedy or isn’t it?  These are all lessons I hope to apply to my new project.  Whether they are right or not it’s still something every editor should think about.  Especially when you’ve written and directed the film.

How do I show people what my movie is about?  How do I engage an audience and generate interest?

The trailer for Playing Through is nearly 2 minutes long.  That’s pretty long for a twenty minute movie.  Perhaps I should have made the trailer shorter?  These are the thoughts I constantly struggle with now as I plan my new project.

It’s important to be honest when creating a trailer.

You have to put your film out there.  How many times have you seen a trailer that was nothing like the finished movie?  You go in thinking it’s going to be an action movie and are shocked to find something different.  (Superman Returns?  Anyone?)

Having said that, I’m proud of the way I cut the Playing Through trailer but I’ll always question things.  It’s a part of my personality.  I’m a perfectionist and I’m extremely critical of my editing and writing.

So now, as I near the end of the editing phase of post production for The Climb, I find myself excited to take on a brand new trailer and introduce the film as best as I can.  I started writing notes and came up with a list of elements I want to include in the trailer that I felt would best represent the story I’m trying to tell.  Selecting these moments can be tough.  You have to leave room to try different things.  You have to be fearless and willing to start over from scratch if something isn’t working.  I’ve got a rough idea of what I want but only time will tell if the trailer will be effective.

Creating a trailer for your short film is not always necessary but as an editor it’s a blast.  I tend to find it intimidating and you may put the same pressure on yourself when you embark on such a creative journey.

But it’s vital that you get it right.  Right?

Especially when you can’t afford to hire a gigantic marketing firm with an army of researchers and creatives ready to tackle your project.

It’s all a part of the fun of making independent films.  It’s addictive.

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