I have a question for all my fellow screenwriters. When you're outlining, or have an idea in your head for a story, do you ever create a trailer in your mind of that idea to see if you can imagine certain plot points or lines of dialog that would work in your script? I've done this before and it's helped a few times in coming up with plot points or interesting moments in dialog that I might have not thought about otherwise. Just curious in seeing if anyone has done this before, or if i'm the only one. Can't wait to read your thoughts.
Screenwriting : Thinking in Trailers by Jon Kohan
Thinking in Trailers
Other topics in Screenwriting:
Check out Trending Discussions
Register / Log In
Yes, the listening to music also is something that works. Usually when I write I'm listening to scores from Hans Zimmer.
2 people like this
Yes, I do both, imagine the trailer, and listen to relevant themed music. It brings the characters to life, in a different way. Writing stems from the soul, a typeface should not be our only tool. I went as far as to have a designer dress made for one of my characters, who will be in trailer at a much later date, and hang it up for inspiration!
2 people like this
Funny you should ask this... Normally, I wonder if A) the story's good and B) if it has a market... then, the other day, toying around with a concept for a big-budget sci-fi (I tend to steer away from big budget stories), I started to ponder on what would make an awesome advert that would make audiences eager to see the film. Let's just say that my notes suddenly included money-shots to write into the action (and by that, I don't mean the same kind of "money-shots" that get used in the adult entertainment industry).
1 person likes this
Actually I've never done this, interesting. Is it free-form, as in you just let the trailer take shape in your head and see what happens no matter how surprising or do you direct it in your head?
1 person likes this
C. D-Broughton could you imagine, though, a Michael Bay film with adult money shots. lol
Terri, I do a little of both. Start with something I already know that I want in the film, and then go from there. Nowadays, so many trailers are such alike you can sort of use one that you've seen as a template. I do this to possibly generate new ideas, get excited for a story, or to see if it's story worthy. But you might find your own uses for this fun little exercise.
2 people like this
LMAO! That's usually how I START writing!
1 person likes this
Jon, If Michael Bay used adult ent.-style money-shots, he'd have even more explosions! Wow, he may just consider it...
1 person likes this
Music is what does it for me. As far as trailer, I think of punch lines on my scenes, that can fit into a trailer without giving away the whole story, which is a complaint I read often on YouTube from movie fans.
1 person likes this
I often have a trailer in my head before I begin outlining. It can change, but it's a great way to get my creative juices flowing. Thanks for the post.
1 person likes this
Yes. I think this is a great tool to make sure you have enough "trailer moments" to have an amazing and exciting trailer... and still have enough amazing things left over for the rest of the film.