Book trailers quandary

[anghara]

The long and the short of it - all the cool kids are doing it. (Or having it done for them. I don't know. Ye gods, it isn't cheap.)

So - what do you think, folks?

[Poll #1189015]

I have to start thinking about the logistics of this, if the feeling is positive towards having one. Do any of y'all know someone who is in the business of producing these whom you can recommend...?

Comments

[wild-patience.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I understand what you're referring to. Is this a video like a movie trailer advertising your book? If so, I'd kind of be against it.

Would it be shown in movie theaters as one of the ads before a film? While most people who read books do at least see the occasional film (I go out about once a year to the movies), I don't think the reverse is true. And people tend to ignore the stuff before the main feature.

I guess it depends on the content/style as well. If it features characters from your book, I would come down heavily with a no. I'm one of those people who, once they've seen the film of a book, am forever ruined by seeing the actors. I could never read THE WIZARD OF OZ as a child because I'd seen Judy Garland as Dorothy. I don't believe she was Baum's Dorothy. Elijah Wood is beautiful and very emo, but he's not what Frodo looks like. Fortunately, I had read the book enough times that it's not a spoiler for me that it would be if it were my first introduction. (Also, I think the actress who plays Eowyn is adorable, but this bright, sunny creature is not the ice maiden of Rohan that I picture when I read the book. The real Eowyn looks more like the woman who played Talia, the blonde telepath on Babylon 5.)

[woodrunner.livejournal.com]

I'm not generally keen on book trailers. The ones I've seen aren't well done, and when they are, I still don't have a clue what the book is about because the whole thing was a voice over, and I'm hearing impaired.

I'd rather read the back flap and see excerpts. It doesn't hurt to have people talking about the book too. I have bought books I would never have picked up because other people have talked about them, and enjoyed them.

[karenthology.livejournal.com]

It might be cheaper than you think. Back when I was a wedding videographer and actually had the right equipment, we did a few commercials and the like on the side for clients who needed something on a budget, and I would have jumped at the chance to do something "new" like a book trailer!

Look around in your area for wedding videographers. Watch their videos, especially their titles! If you find yourself liking what they do, drop them a line. Many of them have "side-work" and might be interested in taking an afternoon or two to film your book's artwork. Directing it yourself, hiring friends as "actors" -- it could be fun.

This tack works better in places where weddings are cheaper, obviously, not in major metros.

Good luck!

[green-knight.livejournal.com]

I've seen a couple, and one or two were worth a moment's chuckle - but I don't think the audiences are the same, and frankly I don't see how they will create sales.

Other than annafdd I can't think of anyone who has even produced a home-made movie.

And if you have to venture into video, my gut feeling is that a short film with great music that tells a story in itself would work better than just 'this is what the book is about' in moving pictures.

[black13.livejournal.com]

While this is a case of putting cart before horse, I'm seriously considering having one done for Coldest Blood if it finds a publisher.

[behindpyramids.livejournal.com]

what is a book trailer?

i love reading excerpts.

[criada.livejournal.com]

I've only seen a couple, and they were well done, but they didn't actually make me want to get the book, since it's a totally different medium and engages me in a totally different way. What they did that was good was make me like the people who made them (one was through Raw Dog Screaming Press which is known for being edgy and experimental. Book trailers just added to that overall vibe, but it's a vibe I was already aware of.)

I'd say, only do it if you're sure you can get one done really, really well, or if you have fun with it and put it on your website, not so much expecting it to be a promotional thing, but something to amuse your visitors.

[ph8.livejournal.com]

I'd like a ticky box there for - Yes, but ONLY if it's done well...

And it's the 'done well' that is the hard and expensive part! My advice would be to narrow the scope to one or two ideas - and make sure they're really good hooks, either for the book or the series - and spend heaps of time on the script. Max of 30 secs, keep the download small, and invest in a professional.

As for a recommendation of who to do? Nadine does all of the trailers for Random House and she's good: http://www.nadinegoss.com.au/. Have a look at the Ranger's Apprentice trailer or trawl around on http://www.randomhouse.com.au/Default.aspx?Page=General&Section=promotions - almsot all of the videos/animations on there are by Nadine (one or two are from our international companies).

The Joffre Street Productions guys are very very smart, and I have a lot of respect for them. Not as much industry experience - in terms of books - but they'd do a good job with the right script: http://www.joffrestreetproductions.com/

Good luck! Email me - fmclennan AT randomhouse DOT com DOT au - if you want more advice... I have some tips and tricks about book trailers from a presentation lying around somewhere that I could load to slideshare if that would be useful.

[dr-pretentious.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen any good book trailers yet, and I don't see who the audience is for them. Who thinks to herself, I can't decide what book to buy, so I'll just go to YouTube and see who's got a good book trailer? A person who's trying to decide what to read next phones up her friends, or reads an issue of Locus, or checks out a book-reviewing blogger whose sensibility is like her own. It seems really unlikely that there are enough people who go to YouTube for their book recommendations will buy books to justify the money you'd have to shell out to get a trailer made well.