Trailers

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Comment by Dick Ervasti on October 14, 2009 at 3:23pm

The thing I find most interesting is that the studios and houses never want to be viewed as using something that has become such a cliche. We'll probably see them back off of it for a while until the dust settles. 8]

Comment by Tansy Alexander on August 25, 2009 at 7:01pm

Hi Beau-
Thanks for moderating this group. I am still awaiting my chance to say "In a world...." :)

Comment by Randy Thomas on May 22, 2009 at 11:59am

Hi All-I just uploaded a new BLOG on the Voice For Hire book website abut Breaking Through. I would love your feedback on this!
www.voiceforhirebook.net

Comment by Martin Victor on March 28, 2009 at 3:19am

That's a great analogy,Beau, and I appreciate every word you said...I know it's a long shot and you've really got to be lucky just to get your foot in the door. But...when you KNOW you've got it, when you KNOW that you CAN be that guy if you had your shot...if THAT doesn't keep you from never giving up, then nothing will. And that's why I will never stop trying to get my foot in the door...I know how things are here in LA...hey, THAT'S THE WAY IT IS!! So live with it, but don't ever stop...because you WILL get your shot...if you don't give up...

Comment by S. Michael Leier on November 19, 2008 at 11:32am

Hi Beau,

I read you remarks dated Sept 29th as to why studios won't use anyone new for trailers, and I wanted to thank you for your continued frankness and no BS policy when it come to the industry as a whole.

That being said, it seems like a policy wrought with danger and pitfalls. It would be like the car companies saying that since Carroll Shelby was one of most (if not the most) successful car designer that he's the only one who can design cars. I'm not questioning your explaination on what IS happening, only the mindset of the trailer houses for doing it.

Anyway, since that is the world we're living in...What about the secondary releases in DVD or Blu-Ray formates? Are the studio and trailer house more likely to take a chance on a new talent for those trailer commercials, and could that lead to to the coveted theater trailers?

I guess my bottom line question is, if someone would like to make it into that elite group are there any baby steps that could put you on the right path.

Talk Soon,
mike

Comment by Eddie Eagle on November 4, 2008 at 2:25pm

Beau's explanation about why trailer producers are not open to new talent:

The truest and most accurate statement so well put.

Comment by David Marc on October 25, 2008 at 11:20pm

Dear Beau ...

I'm starting to "scratch" for a few trailer houses .... all I can say is .... watch out cause David Marc is a member of this fantastic group coached by Mr. Ojai himself, Beau Weaver .... watch out motion picture world because David Marc WILL hit his "Marc" in the world of trailers in 09 ! Especially for those romantic comedies, family oriented films as well as light dramas ...

David Marc

Comment by Rich Owen on October 6, 2008 at 2:44am

I'll chime in to respond to Greg's question about Rodney Saulsberry's promo/trailer class. I took it back in 2005 when it was offered through Susan Berkey. The class was quite good, but not nearly as good as in-person classes and coaching. But because of that teleclass, I was able to meet Rodney, take his one-day intensive commercial class and then some coaching from him, all of which resulted in my current commercial demo. So Greg, take the teleclass if you can't find something local just to see if that is what you might want to work into -- although Beau has repeated told us all that movie trailer work is a very closed room. Even if trailers is not where you end up, you will gain some tools that are helpful for a variety of reads. I have the luxury of being in the LA area so I can get the in-person coaching and classes that might open that door. And one day even get to meet Beau! ;-)

Greg, take care.

Rich

Comment by Beau Weaver on October 4, 2008 at 8:06pm

Jay,

Will a few films that don't open ruin the career of a VO talent? No, I don't think I have seen that. But every few years, one of the guys who are the narrators the trailer houses always seem to go to.....drops off the list......for no reason any of us can discern. I can think of several guys who used to be on every other film, who hardly work at all in trailers now. It's a mystery. But, if a trailer house did, for some reason, take a chance on using a non-standard narrator, and the film did not do well....he might not use that talent again. You have one chance to hit it out of the park.......if you ever get up to bat!

Comment by Beau Weaver on September 29, 2008 at 10:16pm

Guys, I don't know anything about telecourses. I would prefer in person with the actual carbon-based unit, but if you are too far away, it must surely be better than doing nothing. I don't know anything specific about what Rodney is doing, but he's a great cat, and a long time A-list talent.

As to why trailer producers are not open to new talent, here is the deal. As I have said elsewhere, feature films, unlike other consumer products have one weekend, actually ONE DAY (the Friday the film opens) to be successful. A consumer product might have a niine month introduction rollout. A film has one day to produce results, or in many cases fail to make back it's investment. The stakes are huge. The advertising campaign for a feature film is often times equal to the entire production budget of the film.

In Hollywood, there are bout five major film studios. There are about thirty trailer houses. Those trailer houses are made to compete for each film they do campaigns for, many times on spec, at their own expense. It is cut throat competition for the trailer houses. They might think, "gee, maybe a different narrator would work well here." but then, they imagine losing the campaign to their competition because the studio did not like the narrator. They cannot take that chance. So, they go with the guy they KNOW that studio always signs off on. Or, the guy who voice the campaign that was number one at the box office last week. Sometimes, they will get adventurous and use a dark horse narrator.....and get cold feet at the last minute and put Ashton Smith on the campaign for air, because they just can't take that chance. The only off brand narrators that occasionally squeek by and end up on the air on television campaigns are editors for a trailer house who cut a temp narr, and who are trying to make the transition to voice talent. They are occasionally approved for final campaigns. Those are the "new voices" that you will hear sometimes, and think to yourself. "there....you see....they ARE using some different guys." Well, yes, but those guys had an "in" that you don't have.

The studios use the same seven guys over and over again because they have produced results. Nobody wants to be the executive that lost all of Paramount's business for the next six months because he picked an off brand narrator.

While no one will credit the trailer or television campaign voice over if a film opens big, they will certainly blame the risky choice if it tanks. They just can't take that chance.

For the guys who have produced results for the studios, it's like being a made guy in the Mafia. But getting a seat at that table is the longest shot in show business.


Beau

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