trailers and books

We all have a favorite book that we stumble on from time to time. For some reason, you really like this or that book.

It's like... you can really feel the character(s) and you almost mentally leave your present space and fold into the pages of the book. I can think of a few books that I've read in which I wanted to play the character. For whatever reason, you can just relate and that's what make's it one of your favorite books.

That's exactly what some teenagers are doing in Tucson, AZ with the help of the Pima County Public Libraries. The project is called That's My Take. Teenagers learn from professional filmmakers how to make short films. Fifty-three teens at five branch libraries and two partner locations worked with youth mentors to produce eleven trailers that dramatize their favorite books, including The Lightning Thief, Maximum Ride, Night, and World War Z.

View trailers http://www.library.pima.gov/teenzone/trailers/2009.php

Pretty awesome project I would say.

What would you do if you had the chance to do this?

Well, let's say you're not really digging the filmmaking thing. It is most definitely a lot of work if you don't have the help and support. However... what about making a trailer for you favorite book? A trailer, you know, not like the ones you camp in but the ones that are made to promote movies. A book trailer is the same thing; instead of promoting a movie you are promoting a book.
This is how it's done.

1) Think of a book you want to promote.

2) Write out a storyboard; what is going to happen in each clip. words, sounds, pictures...

3) Don't steal from the net

4) Look for images and sounds that you want to use. If you want to be really creative, take the pictures yourselves and upload them to your computer. Or download certain music from your personal collection into the computer. (I guess if they are personal they probably are already on your computer.)

If you want to get images from the Internet, you need to get creative due to copyright issues.

Yeah, unfortunately, you may not want to copy and paste that image if you are going to make a book trailer out of it and post the trailer to youtube or a social networking site. (I think we have all done the copy and paste but for this try not to.)

There are a number of sites where you can get pictures and sounds from and it's legal. They are:

shuttershock http://www.shutterstock.com/

neosounds http://www.neosounds.com/

fotolia http://us.fotolia.com/

dreamstime http://www.dreamstime.com/

5) Put it all together with a filmmaking software program that is usually already on the computer you are working on. If you have a Mac use iMovie and if you have a PC use Movie Maker.

I used windows movie maker before and it's pretty easy to use. The only advice I have to give is to be patient because a good product takes some time, you'll see.
If you are using a Mac and therefore, iMovie, make sure your Mac is working on Snow Leopard (a specific upgrade to the operating system.)

6) Take a look at what others have done.
Here are some websites that have book trailers on them
Digital Book Talk (This one is okay but you may find other sites better.)
http://digitalbooktalk.com/
WatchTheBook
(If you use this one, scroll down, look to the right of the page. Select a genre.)
http://www.watchthebook.com/
Youtube (I would use this one. In the search box, type in "YA book trailer" or "book trailer.")
http://www.youtube.com/

It's all just some thoughts to throw out. You know you want to try it out or just see for yourself.

And maybe, you'll hook a librarian into helping you.

-a highly wired lady