Teaser trailer for my thriller short film

RedSpectrumPictures

Well-known member

I am planning to make a thriller film with a friend. We shot this test footage last weekend, and decided to make a teaser trailer out of it. What do you think of it?
 

I am planning to make a thriller film with a friend. We shot this test footage last weekend, and decided to make a teaser trailer out of it. What do you think of it?

Uh??? Some one walking... for the most part does not inspire anyone to watch further.

As test footage, and getting exposures right and all that it was pretty good...

If you want to make a 'trailer', make the target length 30 seconds, and you need a few more shots such as 'feet running' you got some 'feet walking'...

Cut up the walking down the tree lined path to jump cuts 1 second with figure at full frame, 1 second at with figure half-frame, then 1 second figure in distance on path.

You can also do some 'slow fades to black' as well.

Then 'something happens', the character turns... cut up with 'running feet', POV of character running through shrubbery, etc.
 
Very cool location you've got there. It could look really spooky in lower light. Mainly, the teaser was too long by at least half ... establish him walking, then things start to look weird, then he's running back frightened. Ending it with another long walking shot dissipates most of the tension I was feeling for a few seconds there toward the middle.

- Greg
 
You had me for the first 2 shots (suitable shots, sound, location), but if it just going to be more of the same from that point, then you've lost me. Early on, at the point where we're learning nothing new (he's walking into a mysterious forest which may contain a threat), I'd introduce something, perhaps just a hint or another question, which gives the trailer more depth.

Remember in Breaking Bad Season 2 Ep 1...the intro...we were given 3 or 4 establishing shots of a suburban backyard (with mildy unsettling diegetic sound), then the eyeball floats through the shot, to the sound of a siren in the background. That moment was the next step in grabbing you. Then the eyeball gets sucked into the filter and the camera heads underwater, where we meet teddy. Ok, new piece of information. As we move around ted, we see that he's burnt and that he's missing his eye. I can't remember being better teased.

Side note...your Snorricam shot gives a drug/mentally unstable vibe...if you're going to use it and it relates make sure that it serves a strong purpose in the teaser. It seems random at the moment.

Edit - the forest is a character, you might want to give it a couple of shots first.
 
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It could be cool to have him unable to get off the trail, like if he walks to one end, then he automatically starts over again, then he starts to notice things watching him, he freaks out, then runs, but he goes nowhere but back to the begining of the trail:) By the way, how much was Justin Beibers day rate:)
 
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