DJ, play the edit

[thebitterguy]

normanrafferty linked to a trailer Remix for Sleepless in Seattle that recast it as a stalker /horror movie.

It was pretty interesting, but after watching it I was uncertain if how much it had been edited. For one thing, all the scenes were darker than I remember them; the material between shots was definitely from another source.

It’s not as strong as the Shining one from several months back. That did its magic with only optimistic narration, out of context shots, and Peter Gabriel. And a lack of axe-sanity.

I think doing that, remixing a trailer to be for a completely different film, is an interesting media trick. I like having my perceptions played with on occasion (on occasion; I still having watched Jacob’s Ladder all the way to the end). The best ones we’ve seen so far are the ones like The Shining and the Titanic one, changing as little as possible to change as much as possible. The Sleepless in Seattle or West Side Story ones, that have to change something visually, seem somewhat lazier. The effort is there, but it smacks of cheating.

I know, I know, petty complaint at best. I wonder how easy it would be to mix two different movies, maybe with the same actor, from different genres (Sin City and The Whole Nine Yards?) into one trailer? Interesting thought, in any case.

Comments

[viktor-haag.livejournal.com]

That did its magic with only optimistic narration ... [a]nd a lack of axe-sanity.

See, this is like the odd sort of "brinksmanship" I was talking about the other week with regard to the "things I have that you don't" meme. It's no good saying "I have a copy of the 1953 Dell Portuguese translation of 'Everything You Can Do With Turkey For Thanksgiving'" when someone asks you to name a book that none of your friends have. The whole point is to name a book that's as close as possible to the kind of books your friends might own, but in fact, one that they don't.

In this case, I think the true success of the re-mix trailer lies in changing as little as possible in your use of materials to still get the greatest effect.

Which brings to mind an interesting thought-experiment exercise about the 'The Shining' re-edit. Can you think of any way the editor could have kept bits of the "here's Johnny!" scene in the trailer and still kept the 180 degree theme effect? Hmmmm....

[thebitterguy]

Which brings to mind an interesting thought-experiment exercise about the 'The Shining' re-edit. Can you think of any way the editor could have kept bits of the "here's Johnny!" scene in the trailer and still kept the 180 degree theme effect? Hmmmm....

I really don't think that would be possible. It would be hard to imagine reimagining someone hacking his way through a door with good intent in his heart, especially such an iconic image as that.

[viktor-haag.livejournal.com]

But that's the challenge, see? How to make it a heartwarming-chopping-through-of-door! 8)