This is topic Secrets of Trailer-Making Revealed Via SIGNS Trailer in forum Film Handlers' Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.
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Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 07-29-2002, 10:56 AM:
"The 150-Second Sell, TAKE 34" by Marshall Sella in the July 28 '02 New York Times Magazine, reveals in detail the work of making the trailer for "Signs" as an example of the marketing and editing art of making trailers and teasers in Hollywood today.
"Think it's hard to put together a big-budget Hollywood thriller like M. Night Shyamalan's 'Signs'?
Well, try editing a trailer that has something for everyone." http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/28/magazine/28TRAILERS.html
[Four pages with still-frame photos; for a continuous version without photos click on the "Printer-friendly" button.]
Registering for nytimes.com is free.
Posted by John Hawkinson (Member # 1135) on 07-29-2002, 02:34 PM:
Wow; I had no idea the MPAA limitted trailers to 2.5 minutes. "Hmm."Interesting article, Gerard!
--jhawk
Posted by Manny Knowles (Member # 1171) on 07-29-2002, 03:27 PM:
By special arrangement, each studio is allowed one trailer in excess of that time limit per year.I learned that from a letter that came with the really long trailer for DINOSAUR.
Posted by Alex Grasic (Member # 1371) on 08-01-2002, 01:52 PM:
Now, this MPAA, is it an American based organization? Or does this 2.5 minute rule apply for trailers running in Canada as well?
Posted by Ken Lackner (Member # 1002) on 08-01-2002, 02:16 PM:
Motion Picture Association of America
Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 08-01-2002, 04:52 PM:
The 2:30 trailer limit is fine, but what gets me is NATO sending out letters stating that so-and-so studio has been "granted" an exception to the rule with a trailer running time of 2:36, or some other such piddly excess. Why don't they save their postage for exceptions that might make a scheduling difference, like a minute or so?