Trailer Editing

I've been doing some trailer work the last few months on various projects. Some I can talk about, some I can't... but either way I am continually struck by the construction of the trailer... the process of making one can be completely different every time you set out.

For me my approach remains the same, but the film truly dictates the direction you should go. And sometimes its your instinct that leads you down that path; for better or worse. I say this since I have begun work on a trailer recently and so far its completely different then the one I did before it. My intial problems on the first one was really just finding what I wanted to say. Specifically with an intro... even now I am not sure I fully encapsulate much for the audience. My take on it eventually became more of making it a brief show of events that would come back fully in the next part of the trailer. In other words, trying to wet ones appetite for more.

This latest trailer however has given me an intro right of the bat and I am more or less trying to figure out the middle. Its quite a journey thats for sure... Now where that will lead me I am not sure. I tend to play with clips and music and search for structure in the two and out of that give birth to what will become my trailer.

By no means am I a full blown trailer editor, and I still desire to cut features, but I feel my art as an editor is growing in ways I didn't know existed. Specifically with "fooling" the audience. In features you do its over larger scenes and make cheats here and there. But with a trailer you are constantly mashing scenes together, creating lines that aren't in the movie and really trying to sell someone on wanting to see the movie. To achieve this viewing requires some fine editing and knowledgeable peers (or Producers) who can help guide the vision to the end zone.

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So if my blog posts have been fewer -- this would be part of the reason... even on this Saturday I am cutting away.

And I am really focused on One Day in its festival circuit run!

Next screening is at the Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City, NV! Feb 11 -13! 2010 DSFF


One Day screens on Friday Feb 12th at 10:30AM! And on Saturday 13th at 12pm I will be part of a filmmaker's panel discussing filmmaking and our films. I am very excited about that!

Busy times ahead, let me know if you can make any of the upcoming screenings!

2010 SCVFF Wrap Up

Well, this is long over due - but two weeks ago I attended the Santa Clarita Valley Film Festival for a screening of One Day. After the screening my producer and I gave a ten or so minute Q&A about the film. I have to apologize for these... every time I stand up to give one of these I feel like I just vomit from the mouth... anyway, I round that off by saying that there was a great audience from the film - an older one, which is great because of its diverse perspective.

I was only able to attend the last day of the festival, but I still saw a good slew of films and meet some cool filmmakers... I am awaiting some pictures from the festival to upload!

The next screening for One Day is Friday, February 12th, 11 AM at the Dam Short Film Festival in Boulder City, NV. I will be in attendance for the weekend!

Dear to the One featured on http://carsondaly.tv/

Got a message from Clairmont notifying me that "Dear to the One" is being feature on Carson Daly's site!! Got to say I am pretty pumped that this video keeps chugging along! Lets keep it up!

You can see various posts on the site below:

Dear to the One video player

Original Post

2010 Dam Short FF

The new year began immediately with another official selection for One Day! The Dam Short Film Festival takes place in Boulder City, NV, just south of Vegas. If you remember, Violet was also invited to play last year and I was actually able to attend. Currently I am planning to travel to the festival in support my film.

One Day is scheduled to play in the Criminal Inclinations section at 10:30 AM on Friday, February 12th.

For more on the festival, please visit DSFF.

2010 Amelia Island FF

Right on the heels of all the festival announcements, I received yet another acceptance for One Day! This time from the Amelia Island Film Festival in Florida! The festival is taking place Feb 25th- March 1st, 2010 in Downtown Fernandina Beach! As of this posting, there is not an official schedule of films.

I've done the festival submissions before, but this has been absurd! In the last 4 weeks, I've received 4 selections!! And not just in one state, but from 4 different states! I have to say, that all the hard work, both on the production end and the researching of festivals on the other end has really paid off. I feel that last year was a true learning experience with Violet. I entered the film into about 40 festivals and was apart of 5 or so?? Maybe 6... But already One Day has surpassed that and currently is just under 50/50 in festival acceptance. Which is not bad! I think the big reason I am having more success is because of the research and submissions from Violet. I learned what festivals liked my work, but more importantly identified where my current film fits at the festival level. From the size to the audience and even a festival's theme. I truly think that the knowledge I've gained alone over this time is the real factor to the recent success!

Now I couldn't have done all of this without an amazing team and crew. But thats stating the obvious! I will continue to keep posting the latest news from the festivals!

2009 Maverick Movie Awards

I received word two weeks ago that One Day had been nominated for a Best Editing award at the 2009 Maverick Movie Awards. The MMA goal is to help talented moviemakers achieve the recognition they deserve by awarding independent/underground movies that have a sense of style, a foundation in craft, and the power to communicate.


The official list of winners have been released, and while One Day did not win Best Editing, the nomination was still a pleasant surprise. Considering my film lost to a Brazilian film and was amongst a group of films from various other nations, I really can't complain! So to think that a group of judges found the editing in my film worth noting as a strength just gets me excited! Its a nice reassurance to the dedication I enjoy putting in each of my films.

You can see the entire list here: 2009 Winners and Nominees

2010 George Lindsay UNA Film Festival

I got a phone call today from the UNA letting me know that One Day has been accepted to play at their festival in March! And so, just like that One Day already has two screenings lined up!

So far this is the 6th official acceptance (and there may be another soon...) for the film as well as the 5th state for the film to play in. I have to say that I am quite excited thus far and hope for many other opportunites to screen this film for an audience!

As of now I do not have official dates outside of the festival's dates of March 4th-7th. When I do know more I will post information here!

You can find out more at festival's website - George Lindsey UNA Film Festival