Research: teasing it up: general tips

I found some useful tips on the Internet on how a good teaser should be made

You may not be ready to make a full-length feature movie, but you can still join the fun by making your own movie teaser, or trailer. A teaser is a short film that teases the audience with information about an upcoming film. Turn your great idea into a teaser and you can create great buzz about your movie.

1

Start with the basics: a main character in a predicament. Most teasers start with the existing flaw or handicap that hampers the character from addressing the main challenge of the film. In the case of Godzilla, show Tokyo vulnerable to potential monster attack or the chaos on the ship when the unexpected monster appears.

2

Show the tension leading up to the main conflict. In Godzilla, this would include lots of shots of people on the phone, getting into tanks, running for the door or looking up and screaming.

3

Include an authoritative voice-over to tie it all together. Pick whichever friend of yours sounds the most like that voice-over guy on tape. Write down all the lines and have them practice until it sounds professional.

1

Watch lots of movie trailers and take notes. The best trailers pull the viewer into the movie's plot and characters without giving away too much. Look at trailers for comedies like "Borat" or "The Simpsons' Movie" for how to use the best bits from a funny movie without revealing the plot. For dramas or indies, look at the classy and haunting images and music in the trailer for "Requiem for a Dream."

2

Master the use of popular editing software like iMovie or Ulead Video Studio. These software packages contain storyboard, trimming and title functions, and provide access to quick and easy frame transitions. They'll provide most of the visual and audio functions an independent filmmaker needs.

3
Sketch a storyboard for your trailer. You can use editing software or do it the old-fashioned way, with pen and paper. If you're clear with your concept at the outset, it'll save you time and frustration at the computer later.

4

Set a budget to make your movie trailer. Decide whether you can use existing footage and music. If you need original music or edited scenes for use in the movie trailer, figure the cost and stick to it.

5

Contact theaters and movie marketing firms. You'll need to place your trailer in appropriate theaters anywhere from a few months to a year before its release. You may also consider including it on DVD releases of similar films.