Where To Start

[Dee, Group Creator]

When creating a book trailer:

Do you start with a script?

Do you primarily use static images and text, or do you use animation and live action?

Do you use passages from your book, or create new dialog that draws the viewer into the storyline?

Do you insert music and background images?

Do you feature the book throughout the trailer, or only at the opening and/or ending?

[Christie]

My trailers are simple ones that I made myself. I generally use music, clips of the book cover, the whole book cover, and short text that describes what the book's about.

I feature the book throughout the trailer, but give a lot more detail about it at the end of te trailer.

If you do it yourself, then it's all just trial and error... like everything in life. Just play around until you get what you like. :-)

[Dee, Group Creator]

Where did you get the idea for your book preview video? How did you go about picking the specific text?

What about the background music?

Dee Marie

[Christie]

For me, I just did a search for free spooky music. I even searched for Halloween music. LOL! I listened to music clips for three days before choosing one for my first trailer. I didn't think I'd ever find the "right" one.

As for the text, you want short and sweet. So I just sat there reading over my book blurbs, over and over,until I came up with short and sweet. I went too long for the first two attempts, but the third one came out good.

The trailers for my second and third books didn't take nearly as long because I already knew what I was doing.

It's all trial and error. You just gotta play around and see what you come up with. :-)

[Dee, Group Creator]

I agree with you, that the background music is vital in setting the mood for the story. Your "spooky music" is a perfect match for your vampire novels.

In preparation for my initial try at creating a book preview video, the first thing I also did was search for royalty-free music and SFX. Yikes, that looks like a typo, but SFX = Sound Special Effects.

As I want to gear my book preview video toward the mystic and mysterious, I opted for adventure and suspense music. I am also playing with the notion of contacting Loreena McKennitt and/or Jared Denhard, as they were both my musical muses.

Besides incorporating the book's cover, what is your advice in the way of supporting images?

Dee Marie

[Christie]

Hmmm, well, I liked just taking clips of my covers. For example, you'll notice that in certain portions of the trailers I'll be talking about one character. So, I will use an image of just that character.

You might also consider using royalty free images that might match with your book's theme. For me, that could be a full moon, blood droplets, a stormy night, etc.

[Dee, Group Creator]

On the topic of images...who did your covers?

[Christie]

I had an artist and a cover designer. I have links for them both on my website. They are fabulous! http://www.christiesilvers.com/books.htm Just scroll down a little and you'll see their banners.

They are both great!

[Gina, Mod-Squad]

I think it was easier for me to pick music for my trailer because, as the book is about a traditional Japanese artist, the music had to be traditional and Japanese. I wanted something that evoked the atmosphere of 18th century Japan. I did find some royalty free music but it was so dull... intended more for relaxation, and I didn't want my trailer to put people to sleep.

I opted for a track that I paid to use. It wasn't expensive. According to a good friend of mine, it makes even a boring and stuffy subject sound almost interesting. :-)

[Dee, Group Creator]

Hi Gina,

You did an excellent job; the music compliments the book beautifully. Who was the musical artist?

I agree with you about being picky about the background music. Great job with your music research and selection!

Dee Marie

[Linda]

Here's a link to an ezinearticle I wrote about book trailers that also includes Windows Movie Maker: http://tinyurl.com/6jejel

Linda

[Dee, Group Creator]

Hi Linda,

Wow, that is an outstanding article, thank you so much for sharing the link with us, and of course for sharing your expertise.

I am in negotiations at the moment with a record company to use a snippet of music. Of course they want to see the finished book preview video first before giving approval.

This is turning into a catch-22 situation. As, I want the book preview video to reflect the music and the music to reflect the book preview video...just another excuse to procrastinate, which I am very good at...procrastination that is.

Thanks again for the link to your very informative article and for the inspiration.

Dee Marie

[Gina, Mod-Squad]

Dee I'm so sorry, I must have missed your response to me.

I don't know who the musical artist is I'm afraid. I got the track from a music library collection where you buy the track, pay once, and can use it for anything after that. The collection is called "Oriental Moods", and the specific track is "Japanese Countryside". When I listen to it I have images in my head of Toshiro Mifune strutting along some dusty country road in an old Akira Kurosawa movie.

[Dee, Group Creator]

Hey Gina,

I like your imagery :]

Dee Marie