Lucy-Anne Richardson

Development Diary – Trailer

I started off my trailer by uploading all the necessary and acceptable shots onto Final Cut Pro. I went through the process of using the edit decision list to help me do this. I then uploaded the audio I wanted to use within the trailer either as background music or sound effects – however there are sound effects I can use that are already on Soundtrack Pro, which I can then convert to Final Cut Pro. I wanted to put in a white screen behind my production company logo so that the black would stand out. I also want to add another company logo such as Lionsgate before the trailer begins as this keeps to traditional conventions of film trailers; it also promotes my company by using the logo I created. I did this by going onto the left hand side screen, going into the options to click controls, which is where I can enter text and change the background, colours etc. I then split it into two by using the blade tool and going back into controls to add a different text/logo. I imported the logos into the left hand side screen and simply dragged them down into the appropriate point on the sequence. Before putting the first clip I shot into the sequence, I need to check which one I want to use as there are some different takes. I put it into the sequence by dragging it down. I then watched the clip all the way through again and decided that it was too long, especially for the first scene. By using the shortcuts ‘I’ and ‘O’ (in and out), it was easy to select the section I wanted to cut. Thus using the blade tool, I then deleted the appropriate section. I watched it from the beginning, which showed how quick the black screen went into the first clip. I used the selection tool by double clicking in between the two clips and went to effects, video transitions which brought me a list of different ways one clip can go into another, I used the additive dissolve first to see what it looked like, as well as using other ones to see which one worked best. For now I am going to keep with the additive dissolve as it went to the next clip at the right speed; but it made it look slower and softer. I also realized as I was watching it back that I hadn’t inserted the background audio. As I had already uploaded it into Final Cut Pro, I could drag it down, but instead of dragging it to where I placed the clips, it goes into the bottom sequence marked with “A2” “A3” or “A4” standing for ‘Audio’. The song then ran along until it finished, without interfering with the video section. However I didn’t want the music to start straight away (whilst the logos were being shown) so I used one of the sound effects I had previously converted from Soundtrack Pro and dragged that before the ‘She’s got you high’ clip so that a dreary sound would play, mirroring the logos. By using the shortcut (P) on the keyboard, the pen automatically appears (which you can

Lucy-Anne Richardson

also get from the right hand side selection list) and clicked on the line in the centre of the clip. By doing two clicks, I can drag one down which fades it in and out. I can use this for audio and video which I will do all the way through as I don’t always want to use the video and audio transitions. The first two clips did not need the audio that came with them so I locked the V1 and V2 so that the video wouldn’t delete. However, I have kept in the audio when the actors are speaking or certain background noises are being shown such as the creaking going up the stairs. From looking at other trailers, I found that the audio was not always linked to the video. Such as someone speaking whilst another action is happening – this could be considered a narration to the storyline, which I thought was really effective. I had a clip where Amy was answering her phone call from Megan, which was a main part I wanted to include so that Megan wouldn’t randomly show up and the audience be confused. I deleted the video of Amy standing talking on the phone and dragged the audio underneath the clips of the car driving in and Amy and her mum walking to the cottage. This not only kept with conventions but also made the trailer quicker; otherwise it would drag on and become a short story. I used the ‘She’s got you high” track at the beginning as the story is at a balance. Using Todorovs Narrative Structure, the beginning of the trailer shows equilibrium, which then moves onto a disruption. This track is happy yet not too over the top and can show a clear contrast once the darker music comes in. I decided to input the scary music (again which I got from Soundtrack Pro) once Amy put the ring on her finger to show the audience that the ring caused the sudden change and would be the main reason the strange events are happening. In order for the first track to fade out as the second track is fading in, I again used the (P) pen tool, rather than one track stopping whist the other starts.

Another common feature in film trailers, especially horror and supernatural films, is text in between shots. I have taken inspiration from The Possession trailer and Mama, which are both similar in genre and storyline and used a series of text in between to create suspense and to tell the audience more information. I have decided to use the main line that has been included throughout all the media products such as the poster and magazine front cover “Sometimes a new beginning, could be your end”. I used red for the text colour and a black background and Trajan Pro for the font so it is in keeping with the current house style I have been using (again on the poster and magazine) due to its connotations. I did this by going into the multimedia selection (see picture) and clicking text, which then brought up the left screen and allowed me to change the text, colour, font etc. through ‘controls’. Once I had done this, I could drag the box down into the sequence and then fade it in and out.

Lucy-Anne Richardson

Many trailers used text at the end of the trailer with the director or producers name on it such as “Sam Raimi presents The Possession”. Instead of having them on separate texts, as it would take too long, I decided to do three different texts and place them on top of each other (as I wanted some of the text to be a different size). Making sure they were the right length of time and faded out in the same way.

I used the ‘title safe’ option which allows me to follow the lines shown in order to place the text in the centre and make sure its in the right place. I also did this for when the logo was put in place so that it was centre. Clicking onto the small square above the main video (final piece) allows you to click the title safe and other options.

Throughout the entire trailer, I had to make sure the audio including songs was not above a certain point on the volume scale (located to the right of Final Cut Pro) so that it was not too loud once it was finished. Also I didn’t want one section to play normally, whilst another is too loud or too quiet, thus making it look amateur and unprofessional and making the audience feel uncomfortable. I could do this by hovering over the line shown on the audio clips and dragging it up or down (also double clicking on the clip, bringing up the screen above with a level option).

As I was watching through the trailer, the middle section seemed too slow when the aim was to create suspense so I decided to insert a clip (which is also shown at the end) of the old newspaper article of the girls death in the cottage fire. However, I used the blade tool to cut the clip and used two small sections with a gap in between (to play above the original clip of the fireplace. I did not use any fade in or out or any transitions, as I wanted the clips to create a flashing effect such as a premonition into the ending of the film without giving too much away. I like how the same clip is used again nearer the end of the trailer, as it would entice the audience into seeing the film.

I used some different effects with the colour corrector but decided it made it look too amateur, as I was happy with the lighting and colours already there. The main purpose of this trailer was to draw an audience into wanting to see the rest of the film from just watching the trailer and to create suspense and angst so video effects such as transitions, as well as different sound effects and transitions were the main focus as I think they are more effective in this case.

Lucy-Anne Richardson

Once all of the editing was completed and I was happy with everything, it was converted into ‘QuickTime’ so that it can be uploaded and played on YouTube for example.