Book trailer for FEAR by Michael Grant & Egmont UK.
The trailer started life in August 2011 when had a concept meeting with Egmont at their office in West London. Lots of reading, emails, storyboards, pre-vis videos (will put that online soon) later we had our trailer. 4 out of 5 cast members returned, we searched for someone to play ‘Diana’ fortunately we found Emily who was perfect.
We filmed for a day back in October 2011 with the actors against green screen using Canon 7D using 17 – 55mm f.28, 70 – 200mm f2.8, shot by DoP Ed Beck.
We shot at a great studio (NDP Studio) in Leeds, Yorkshire with some very talented and professional young actors (Emily, Beth, Robbie, Matt and Henry). Main reason for green screen is that UK does not look like Southern California so it’s the only option to control the look/backgrounds. Also some fantastic hair & make-up by Anita Adams and as always some great work from our production assistant Dave ‘The Wolf’ Calub who also spent many hours on storyboards in pre-production.
A week after shooting in Leeds we were in Farnham / Frensham area of Surrey to shoot some background plates for the Forest, Desert and Cave. coincidentally ‘Snow White and The Huntsman’ was shooting about 200 yards from us so we had some great lighting for our Astrid woods scene!
December and January was spent tinkering with post production using a combo of After Effects, FCP and Magic Bullet Looks. As with the other Gone trailers we have done Ross Shepherd did an awesome end title/pack shot.
A good deal of time went on the Sound Design, sound is 50% of the film and should never be left to the last minute! We actually started the sound editing before the visual effects had began. We recorded a variety of sounds from all around and edited/mixed to what you hear in the final trailer. We used some sound fx’s from previous trailers; Caine had a particular sound/theme when he was on screen, that is repeated as with Drake and Sam.
We tried to make a exciting and cinematic trailer with a dark atmosphere that we feels represents the tone of the book series. We’ve had some great feedback from Michael on the previous trailers so hope he likes this one!
Enjoy!
David Mead, MB Films
We’ve had plenty feedback from various sources. “Diana’s” pregnant belly is not a ’balloon’ or ‘sack of potatoes’ but the inside of a pillow stuffed into a pair of tights, then molded into shape! Not high-tech but this is a low-budget book trailer not a Hollywood feature film!
Drake’s tentacle made from hoover parts & pink tights sprayed red/black, Astrid is wearing a cut up Bee-Gee’s wig, she has a plastic toy shot-gun sprayed black and a Indiana Jones plastic machete and everyone’s clothes are from Primark!
Directors/Producer – David Mead & Ed Beck, Editor/VFX – David Mead, DoP – Ed Beck, additional VFX – Ross Shepherd & Laurence Beck.
Official FEAR website http://www.egmont.co.uk/gone/fear.htm
More Egmont Trailers & Media visit http://www.electricmonkeybooks.co.uk/
