Storytelling Advice from a Renowned Movie Trailer Producer

Did you know movie trailers (in some countries known as movie previews) have their own Oscars? John Long is a master movie trailer producer, and he took time out from the Golden Trailer Awards to share some tips on storytelling.

http://www.fastcocreate.com/3031012/9-short-storytelling-tips-from-a-master-of-movie-trailers

Here are the tips and my interpretation on how they apply to copywriting.

–Start fast, end big. Delete the preamble. Put me in the action.
–The mini-movie needs its own heart. Stories in your letters can be short, but make them complete with a beginning and end.
–Think non-linear. Use open loops to move rapidly between story lines.
–Tweak the three-act structure. Like Joe Sugarman, experiment with different forms and approaches.
–Exercise brutal efficiency. Pare it down and make every word count.
–Seek the defining moment. You can swipe all day, but strive for a fresh voice.
–Picking a road. Find the big idea and create a consistent point of view.
–Making a bad movie look good. The art is knowing what to leave out.
–Sometimes version one is best. Trust your instincts and make the first version “what do I want to see.” Only then accept revisions from the studio, research, etc. Often they end up back at version one because it had the conviction of a single point of view.

http://www.fastcocreate.com/3031012/9-short-storytelling-tips-from-a-master-of-movie-trailers