Jang Choe <yinyang@altered.com> wrote:

A trailor. Like a movie trailor. I need to write one for a friend of
mine, and I have no idea no how to do it. I want to make it like a
real movie trailor, not rewriting the first few paragraphs of the
story. Thanks.

Er, um, a trailer?  Like a general procedure with which to write one?

Well, I guess you should start by putting it in screenplay format (not
just script, as you'll really need to sweat the details).  You'll want
to use a voice-over to describe the most key elements of the plot.  Cut
frequently between different scenes of the story, providing brief
descriptions of the elements and characters in the foreground of the
scene, along with any spoken dialogue and screen actions there may be.
Make extra sure that all the scenes included in the trailer represent a
"high point" of the story/movie.

I guess it'd look something like:

**********************

[Scene description, music accompaniment]

Voice-over:...

Dialogue: ... (character actions) ...

(screen actions, background noise)

Dialogue: ...

###### <Cut scene> #######

[Scene description, music accompaniment]

V-O:... (if any)

Dialogue: ... etc.

***********************

I think you get the idea.

It may not look very pretty, but it will get the job done.  If you think
I'm forgetting any aspect of a trailer, or if you feel that a certain
aspect should be ignored, by all means, include/disregard that aspect.

Trailers for movies are always made after the movie has completed a
large percentage of filming (I think.  Can anyone correct me on this?).
Naturally, you'll have to actually see at least some of the finished
product before you can know which scenes will be most appropriate for
inclusion.

I have no idea if this is what you're looking for, so if not, thank you
for giving me the space in which to rant.  Otherwise, I sincerely hope
this helps.

--
Edward Liu -- mahamoti@uclink4.berkeley.edu
"Hubris among the simpler races is refreshing.  It often indicates
courage in impossible odds." -Precursor, Star Control III