Malcolm St Pierre: How to make trailers for feature films, shorts and romantic movies.

We spoke with Malcolm St Pierre, editor for Hotel Limbo, Concealed Identity, My Wacko Parents and Harlem among a few. He has designed, cut and edited the trailers for these features, links included.

Malcolm’s newest feature documentary, Harlem Lost and Found, is about a bohemian activist, Michael Henry Adams, who struggles alone against New York’s trillion-dollar real estate industry to save Harlem’s historic buildings. Produced by Oscar Winning Malcolm Clarke in association with our very own Martina Adamcova, Harlem sheds a much needed light on the rich history and stories hidden behind the walls and architecture of Harlem's most iconic buildings.

Malcolm’s Advice:

How do I make a trailer for a short film?

You make a trailer for a short film the same way you make a trailer for a feature film. First, you need to review the film itself at least once or twice, to become really familiar with the footage and dialogue. You may want to take notes (with timecodes) of any particular lines or shots you think might be useful to you. Then, you need to make an outline of how to tell the story of the film in approximately two minutes, or less - it is usually good to start with a "hook" that will draw in viewers right away, and then to establish the premise (this is the protagonist, this is the protagonist's dilemma, etc). In the final third of the trailer, you want the pace to quicken to show that the action of the plot will escalate in an exciting way, and you want to hint at how the protagonist will resolve their dilemma.

Pro tip, it is really helpful to watch lots of other trailers for films of similar genres to the one you are cutting a trailer for to get a sense of what the conventions are. Depending on your style, you may want to pick out a couple of pieces of music (often from the film's score itself) to help you determine the tone of the trailer.

How do you make a voiceover on a trailer?

There are several different styles of trailers, and ones that employ a voiceover are increasingly rare. They often come across as old-fashioned or dated. Often, text is used instead to serve the same function that a voiceover used to - helping to establish the stakes, advance the "plot" of the trailer, etc.

Still, if you want to use a voiceover, it is best to get the audio professionally recorded. If you have your own professional microphones, great! Otherwise, you may want to hire someone to help you record it. For professional work, it is best to avoid recording things on your phone, as the audio quality likely won't sound as good as the audio in your film.”

How do I make a trailer for romantic movies?

As with all trailers, it's a great idea to watch several other trailers for films of the same genre to get a sense of what the conventions are. For romantic movies, in the first part of the trailer, you often want to establish who the two prospective lovers are, where they're at in their lives, and why they might be ready for romance. Once the two lovers meet, it is important to establish why they are interested in each other - but also, crucially, to establish some kind of "conflict" that might jeopardize their getting together by the end of the film. Will they make it? Will life's troubles get in the way and drive them apart? It's a difficult balance, but you want to both inspire the viewer with their romance, and also present obstacles that may get in their way. If you can accomplish both of these things, the viewer will be invested in the plot and rooting for our protagonists to wind up together - and, therefore, more likely to see the film.

What are some good tips on how to make a movie trailer?

First, watch lots of other movie trailers. You'll be surprised to find that they mostly follow very rigid and similar structures. If you want your trailer to look professional, you don't need to reinvent the wheel - just look at what has worked for others, and follow suit!

Second, your choice of music is very important. Music can be used to create powerful moods (fun! scary! sad! romantic!) - and, for trailers in particular, music can be an important component of the rhythm or pacing of the trailer. If you watch other trailers, many have two or three pieces of music (although there are exceptions), and the shift between songs often helps underline a shift in the tone or the sense that the plot is moving forward.

Third, variety is very important - remember that you want the movie to look big, expensive, and exciting. You want to show off a range of different locations, some of the nicest or most striking visuals, and the different actors who are in the film. Even if the film is small or low-budget, you want the viewer of the trailer to come away with the impression that this is a film that is going to leave an impression on them.

Finally - rhythm is very important. You don't want to stay on any one shot for too long. Movement is very important in trailers, you either want the camera itself or something in the frame to be moving at all times. People have short attention spans, and by keeping the trailer moving, you can give the impression that this is a fast-paced film that will be enjoyable to watch.

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For more information on Harlem and our other films visit our website here.