RM Brand Self Help Series

Book Trailers (Part 1)
Book trailers have become more pervasive than ever before. Where only NY Best Selling authors got this treatment, the average person can now create their very own book trailers using software like Microsoft Live Movie Maker or even Adobe After Effects. What you use will depend entirely on your proficiency with these resources, but before you open up your Windows Movie Maker and slap some photos together with whizbang transitions, put yourself in your audiences’ shoes and ask what you would want to see. If you’re the author of the book you’re turning into a trailer, then you’re already a natural storyteller. However, this medium is not the same as a novel. Movies engage all the senses except smell (And thank god for that, especially if the book is about refuse!), so you have to approach the story like a presenter. Not a screen writer or an author, but a presenter. The reason for that is presenters bring ideas in a succinct, to the point format that moves an audience into action.

There are fantastic resources out there to help people present stories in a meaningful way. One such resource comes from Nancy Duarte in Resonate. However, I will refrain from getting into the logistics. For the purpose of this blog post, what I want you to keep in mind is that your role as presenter isn’t what you might think. It’s easy to think that as presenters we’re the star telling the story. But that’s not true. The answer lies in the Force…well, maybe not that force, but in the story that redefined science fiction as we know it—Star Wars.

“…We’re not Luke Skywalker, in reality we’re Yoda.” --Nancy Duarte

That’s right. You’re not the star, but the mentor. See how Yoda shows Luke how to lift his fighter plane, tries to help him understand his own strength. Although you won't have to get your audience to lift air planes, you will need to help them resonate with the story by diving into their psyche until they get it. You’re there to help the audience see the challenge and entice them to be part of the journey, to see how the hero overcomes seeming insurmountable odds and cheer when he triumphs. You will need to use your entire arsenal of tools, including:

• Script 
• Storyboards 
• Images 
• Video 
• Music 
• Voice Overs* 

* This is optional


So put on your Yoda ears and start channeling the Force, or whatever you use to get the creative juices flowing. On next week’s post we’re going over scripts, what’s in them, how to create them, and how to build tension.

Some Homework 

Read Tips On Writing A Trailer Script here.

In The Meantime 
Check out this wonderful blog interview by Chris Brogan who sat down with Nancy Duarte to discuss her work. Trust me, its worth watching and she gives you a free sample of her work! Gotta love free stuff.