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June 2, 2023

Spotlighting Our Contest Participants: Aaron Dean D’souza

Blog, Competitions

Sara Gerbereux

Sara Gerbereux

June 2, 2023
Spotlighting Our Contest Participants:

Aaron Dean D’souza

We recently wrapped up The Great Movie Trailer Challenge. Five participants won an interview with The Refinery for their paid training program. Two runner-up winners were selected and could choose to win either a 3-month AMC Stubs A-List subscription or a $75 B&H certificate. Participants could choose to cut a trailer for one of three films: Ford vs. Ferrari, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Super Troopers 2. 

Aaron Dean D’Souza, a video editor, submitted a trailer for Ford v Ferrari

As a runner-up winner for the contest, here’s what team at The Refinery had to say about Aaron’s cut: 

Overall this trailer is a bit slow given the scope and action of the film. The backend music is good and cut well, but could probably be beat. The story is clear and builds. The characters are introduced well in the middle. The end is anticlimactic.

The Refinery

In summary, these are the areas suggested to Aaron to focus on and improve his trailer-cutting skills:

    • The open is slow, long, and we’re missing our two stars. It’s a bit of a gotcha with this movie. If the trailer started where Matt Damon is introduced, it would probably be stronger. Then move onto exposition about Ferrari.

    • The music at the top (from the movie) doesn’t work well for a trailer. It’s slow. The music in the backend is okay, but could probably be more interesting – something that isn’t just big and exciting, but also driving and dynamic. A song that can start and stop so it lends itself to big impactful moments that will linger with the viewer later.

    • Try out some copy – at the very least a date card and ID’s for the two stars. Copy can help to position the story exactly how you want it, adding context shots and moments. It also breaks up the cut so you can move around the movie and get more interesting scenes in.

    • The way you introduce the stars, specifically Christian Bale’s character, is great. It’s visual storytelling and a moment of levity. Nice.

    • The edits are solid throughout. Good pacing of bites. Good coverage. Everything is on beat.

    • The end is building and driving, and then the music just fades out and you go out on a B character delivering a line that would be better suited at the top or in the middle to kick things off. The Main Title graphic should come on at the absolute peak of your music.

     

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