If you’ve been following this series, you know that the stage has been set for a season finale of epic proportions. When The Walking Dead premiered back in 2010, I don’t think anyone anticipated what was coming. Here was a show that dealt with a dystopian world, overrun by zombies–a familiar plot line seen in countless and unabashedly cheesy movies.
What set this show apart, though, was the treatment from film director, Frank Darabont [Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile]. The show has a very cinematic quality, never feeling at all like a TV show. The show also succeeds where ‘zombie movies’ typically fail–the characters are actually developed so that you care about them.
Earlier this year, at the start of the show’s second season, AMC held a contest to create a trailer for the show. The winning trailer would air during the mid-season finale. I decided to enter on a whim.
Cutting this trailer together was no easy feat. For starters, I had to choose from 118 clips, 6 different song tracks, 4 title cards, and use the editing software they provided–not having the freedom of Final Cut or Premiere was a really big setback.
The biggest challenge though, wasn’t the tools. The biggest challenge was setting myself apart from the rest of the entries. I had to create something that would do justice to the cinematic feel of the show. Instead of going the super obvious route–choosing some creepy music, or featuring a load of zombies and violence–I thought to create some mystery.
I chose a slower song, focused on the protagonist of the show, chose key moments of dialogue, hinted at the threat, and ended the trailer without a character even firing a single shot.
I was pretty proud of what I produced and thought it had a fair shot. Here is the final product. I called it, The Sound of God Laughing.
Out of over 10,000 entires, my trailer steadily climbed from no place to the Top 10 in the popular vote. I was pretty stoked to see it climb the charts. But what mattered in the end was the opinion of AMC’s Judges Panel.
In November, I got a phone call from New York…from an AMC representative. “Congratulations, Mr. Sotelo. I’m calling to let you know that you won the trailer contest for AMC’s The Walking Dead”.
Silence. Then shock. Then contained excitement while I jumped up and down as she explained what would go on from there. A few weeks later, the trailer made its debut on national TV.
Here is the extra special EPIC version with our reaction to its live premiere . Between you and me, this one is a lot more fun :)
It was loads of fun participating in this contest and honestly, it was an amazing feeling being recognized for my editing work. Having been editing since 9 years old, it was a very meaningful moment for me. A huge thanks to everyone who voted and watched the trailer. A big thank you to the Judges Panel for choosing my trailer to be the big winner. And lastly, thank you, Mr. Famous AMC announcer, for saying my name correctly on television. You made entering this contest totally worth it.
Cheers,
Chris
Disclaimer: *We DO NOT own the rights to this trailer*
ALL Rights belong to AMC and The Walking Dead*
amctv.com
amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead
AMC’s blog post:
blogs.amctv.com/the-walking-dead/2012/01/video-the-walking-dead-mashup-trailer-winner.php
