CineBUZZ Weekly Report - 25 June 2013

Trailers, Teasers, Tweets, & Tweasers

On June 8, 2013, I published a post which spoke to the changes taking place regarding movie previews (see 'It's All In The Timing' - 'Movie Trailers - Time For A Change?').
This notion interested me so I did further research and found, to my surprise, that there is a world-wide fan base devoted exclusively to movie trailers - it is a genre unto itself.

This year, fans will watch over one billion trailers on YouTube alone!  As soon as a teaser (web speak for trailer) goes live, all hell breaks loose.  Web sites like IGN and Vulture post shot-by-shot deconstructions and Slate has dedicated trailer critics - movie trailers have become an industry.

Over the past decade, movie previews have evolved from one note ads to mini-movies.
Morphing from a single trailer and TV spot to the current situation where there are trailers, teasers, separate international vs. domestic trailers, and even made-up parodies of trailers.  For example,  a company called, Skip Film pioneered the "six-second" movie teaser video - termed a 'tweaser', it is a tweet plus a teaser merged.

Following are several definitions to help you navigate the 'new' world of movie previews:

- Trailers: A 2-3 minute 'view' of a movie, exhibited pre-feature at cinemas or on the internet.
- International Trailer: A similar trailer, but not identical to the U.S. version.  These trailers tend to focus more on character and emotion vs. events and action.
- Fan Trailer: A trailer 'made-up' by a movie fan.  There are literally millions on the 'net'.
- Teaser: About half the length of a trailer, a teaser is just what the name implies.
- Tweaser: Only 6-10 seconds, but still tells a story. A hybred of a tweet and a teaser, the tweaser gets just one idea across.

So, when you're at the movies or on-line give the trailer the appreciation it deserves. A lot of work goes into making a good trailer/teaser/tweaser.

ESPN Turns Off 3D

It's not only the silver screen where audiences are losing interest in the 3D format but the TV screen as well.  Last week, ESPN (the premier sports broadcaster) announced it was shuttering its ESPN3D network by year end.

Launched in 2010, with the coverage of the World Cup that year, ESPN cited a lack of consumer interest in the 3D format which prompted the decision.  Available to 75 million households, only a very small number subscribed to the enhanced 3D format.
High production costs, slow sales of 3D TVs, and the need to wear special glasses contributed to the consumer's 3D malaise.

With ESPN's exit, only the Discovery Channel, Sony, Imax 3D, and Comcast's Xfinity 3D are the only remaining 3D TV content providers.

Best & Happy Movie Going!
Jim Lavorato