My First Book Trailer Video (Maggie)

Today's focus is my brand new book trailer video, for the novel DEMON'S KISS which goes on sale November 20th. The trailer is really very very good, and it was a new experience for me. You can see it at www.maggieshayne.com (unless Tara has managed to find a way to put it here as well, in which case, check it out!)

It was quite an experience. I worked with my publicist, Shannon Aviles and through her, with one of the teams at Circle of Seven Productions. I wrote the script, and sent it out to them. Shannon and I went back and forth with it a few times, and then we sent it on. It was re-written for us a couple of times, but after a bit of back and forth, we got the message across that we didn't want it re-written. We liked what we had. Greg Burkart, however, had some invaluable input as he suggested moving a few things around, which gave them greater impact.

After going round and round with the script a few times, we moved on to choosing the actors. Now this was really fun, because we were sent photos and bios of a number of actors who fit the descriptions we've given of the characters, and it was amazing how well those sent to us matched up with my own vision. I was able to go through the photos, and watch video snips of the actors, and to choose my favorites. As I was looking through them, I saw one actor who didn't fit my idea of Seth at all. But Jon Woodward was the PERFECT Reaper. I knew it from one look and one photo. (Reaper is kind of the leader of this ragtag gang of vampires you'll be meeting in DEMON'S KISS. But his book is book three, ANGEL'S PAIN.) Still, he had a role in this story and in the video, so I chose him right away.

I also knew the other two actors as soon as I saw them. And while I chose several for the casting call, I knew who would be in the roles of Vixen and Seth at first glance.

After all the actors, some I had chosen and others who just showed up or were called in by the producer, I was sent the audition footage, so I could see them in action. For the auditions, the producer had the actors read a scene from the pilot episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It was a scene between Buffy and Giles, her mentor. Odd choice, I thought, since this was a father/daughter type relationship and I was looking for a totally different type of chemistry. None the less, it showed me the actors in action, and confirmed that my instincts were on target. My first choices were the ones I went with.

I can't tell you how excited I was to get the rough cut footage of my video. It had all the scenes, but none of the special effects, no music, no sound effects, no animation in those animated sun/moon/cloudy sky bits. And even then, without all that, I could see that this was going to work for me.

I watched it six ways to Sunday, asked for a few changes, but very few. There was a line that needed more volume. There was a back shot when I wanted a front shot (it was of Jon, so you all probably would agree with me.) Tiny things like that. We tweaked, and picked, and got it just right.

And then, finally, I got the final cut. And I love, love, love it. I think I love the shorter version better than the full length one, so I'm glad it's the one being most widely distributed. But honestly, I love them both.

This was an adventure. There's something so cool about seeing your characters come to life on the screen, even if it's only in a trailer.

Jon has agreed to continue his role as Reaper in future book trailers for me. And I'm already preparing to write the script for the next one, LOVER'S BITE, which goes on sale in May, followed by one for ANGEL'S PAIN, on sale next October.

Life in general has been difficult to the point of painful these past couple of weeks. So having this fun project come to fruition right now was just the thing to distract me and give me something to feel good about.

I'm dying to know what you think. Do you like the video? Do you think it would make you more apt to buy the book? Do you think it makes any difference in how you think of the author of the piece when you see a book trailer on their site? In what way?

Let's talk about this. It's not cheap, so I'm dying for feedback. Is it worth it?

Hugs,
Maggie