Making A Movie Trailer
Time
11.8 hrs
Difficulty
Intermediate
Prerequisites
Trailer Mash
Departments
Human Technologies
Authors
Ross Parker
Groupings
Threes
Fours
Fives
Fours
Fives
Minimum Year Group
None
Blurb
Making movies takes a long time. But working with some friends, it is fun and relatively easy to create a trailer for a fictional movie. In this unit, that is exactly what you will do.
License
This work is shared under the following license: Creative Commons BY-SA-NC
Outline
| The Pitch Why should I bother learning this?
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| Resources What is needed to run this unit?
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Interdisciplinary Links Do not try and force this. What areas of other subjects might this reflect and/discuss language. For IB, links with ToK.
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| Teacher Reflection What was successful? What needs changing? Alternative Assessments and Lesson Ideas? What other Differentiation Ideas/Plans could be used?
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| Credits Any CC attribution, thanks, credit, etc.
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5 mins
Make A Movie...Trailer
The Pitch
- Want to learn the art of movie making?
- Don't have years to invest?
- Do it quick by making a movie trailer.
- Making a movie trailer is an great way to express your creativity, learn new skills, and work in a group.
5 mins
Basic Process & Roles
Theory
- There are many different ways to break down the process of making a film. The list below is the one you will use in this unit:
- Planning - creating a storyboard and script so you know what to film.
- Production - filming all the footage, taking as many shots as needed to get the level of quality you want.
- Post Production - editing the footage, adding music, titles, effects, etc.
- Pre-Release Screening - showing the trailer to a small group of people to get critical feedback.
- Final Editing - talking the feedback from pre-screening, and using it to make the trailer better.
- Release - finalising, hosting and sharing the trailer.
- During this process, you may take on some of the following roles:
- Director - calls the shots, tells everyone what to do, has the vision for the trailer.
- Camera - sets up and operates the camera
- Sound - sets up and operates the microphone (often using a boom)
- Editor - takes the footage and turns it into the final product
- Actors - appear in the trailer in main roles
- Extras - appear in the trailer is bit parts (use your friends)
130 mins
Storyboard & Script
Planning
- Before filming it is vital you know what you are going to film, where it fits into the bigger picture, and how things will feel in the final product. What is the plot? Who are the characters? What are the main events?
- The more time you spend on this, the more efficient your filming will be.
- Start by brainstorming ideas, and coming up with a rough idea of what your trailer is about.
- Next, use some storyboard software (such as StoryboardThat) to lay out the main elements of your story.
- Finally, script what will be said and what will happen using a Google Doc or some other text software.
- In the script, include details of any costumes or props you will require.
70 mins
Tools Of The Trade
Hands On
- Knowing your equipment will help you get the most out of your filming time.
- Spend this time learning about what you have and how it works.
- Tripod
- Used to hold your video camera still.
- Vital for good quality shots.
- Video camera
- Used to record your footage.
- Can be hand held for action shots
- Can be mounted on a tripod for stable, panning shots.
- Can be mounted on a dolly for moving shots.
- Zoom functionality can be used to create motion effects
- Focus can be used to create visual effects.
- Mic
- Used to capture sound
- Quality will be better than the camera's inbuilt mic.
- A boom let's you get the microphone closer to the action, for better quality.
- Needs to be connected to the camera.
- Dolly
- Gear for creating rolling shots
- A skate dolly can be used on a table top (we have one at ICHK).
- A rail dolly can be used for larger rolls (they are expensive, we do not have one).
- A delivery trolley or wheely chair can be used instead of a dolly, if the ground is smooth
- Crane
- Allows for aerial shots (generally expensive)
- You can use a tripod to get some shots, of a slightly lesser quality.
- Use your imagination to overcome a lack of equipment.
- Use this time to experiment!
210 mins
Production
Fliming
- Now that you have have your plan, and know how to use your equipment, get filming!
- Take as many shots as you want to get the equipment and acting right.
- Review your shots on the camera, and reshoot anything you are not happy with.
- Remember your props and costumes.
- Remember that you can edit things together later., combining good short clips into longer segments.
140 mins
Post Production
Editing
- Take your footage and import it into some video editing software (such as iMovie, WeVideo, Final Cut Pro, etc).
- Cut out the bits you do not want, using the split or blade tool.
- Combine and reorder the elements you do want.
- Remove audio from places you do not want it.
- Add music and sound effects (remember, Creative Commons only).
- Add transitions (not too many, avoid the cheesy ones)
- Add titles and credits.
- Add your CC attribution and license.
20 mins
Pre Release Screening
Gather Round
- Once you are reasonably happy with your post production work, gather some friends, teachers and parents, and have them view your trailer.
- Ask them what they liked, and what could be improved.
- Make some notes, and aim to come out with a list of things you can improve.
120 mins
Final Edits
Perfection
- Take your list of improvements, and work on building the ideas in.
- Perhaps you need to reshoot some scenes
- Perhaps your audio or transitions need work.
- Cycle through your work over and over until you are really happy with it.
10 mins
Oscar Time!
Evidence
- Export your finished work and submit it as evidence for this unit.
- And then sit back, and wait for your Oscar...
Links
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