02. Book trailer (final)

Rough Cut

Initial Creative Brief
Research 1 2 3
Inspirations 1 2 3
Schedule
Soundscape (with credits)
Planned Approach

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Creative Brief

Title: The Screwtape Letters, book trailer

Project Background: This project is for David Gelb’s Timebased Communication 2 class of 2009. It’s an open project wherein we are given the option of making an Infomotion piece, DVD Menu for Project 1, Book trailer, Film Festival trailer, etc. I will be creating a book trailer for C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters. The goal for this project is to promote (not retell) the book.

Overview: -

The Screwtape Letters is a book written by C.S. Lewis that is basically comprised of 31 letters of a senior devil to a junior devil on the practice of temptation. The book takes you on a psychological tour of life from a devil’s viewpoint. The book touches upon the following themes: good vs. evil, conscience, truth/perspective, morality, the deity of God, love, beliefs, human nature, sin, pride, and war. One can say that the book is morally reversed (i.e. good is bad, and bad is good).

My video revolves around the human (referred to as the “patient” in the book), whose life is presented in a very minimalistic and almost abstract approach. The character of the devil(s) is implied, in a way that their presence is felt rather than seen. The stool is an object that carries multiple meanings. It is a signifier of absence (0:03 to 0:07), responsibilities (0:15), beliefs (0:21) and decisions (0:40). The ink is a literal interpretation of letters/one’s handwriting, but is also a metaphor for darkness that taints the pure (i.e. also, for devil’s black tears (0:52) when the patient prays).

Audience: Intended audience is 24 to 35-year-olds. A bit more mature than I normally target compared to my previous projects. But I figured it’s time to stretch my limits and see what else I can do.

Key Message: There won’t necessarily be a key message, just because I don’t want to give too much away. The goal is to promote the piece and not to retell parts/the whole story, so I plan to just give enough to keep the viewers salivating.

Content Planning: I will be combining footage + moving typography this time.

Bibliography: The actual book: Lewis, C.S. The Screwtape Letters (1942). The envelope is a close-up shot of Arnaud Magg’s work.

Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Marcelo Hong for modeling for me. Music credit: A Moment Alone by Mark Rownd

Visual/Conceptual References:

Title sequence for Taking Chance by Shine Studio (LA)
→ I was inspired by the tight cropping of the frames of this piece. Extreme close-up on the writing, which brings emphasis on the gestures and the texture details.

Rainy Day Recess by Impactist
→ I really like the minimalist approach of this video. It is also very abstract, as my book is, and I enjoy the occasional appearance of the basic shapes imposed on top of the footage. Very “visual language-y.”

Technologies: After Effects, Final Cut