Higher Calling Trailer - ID# 344
Lyons Township
Movie Trailer
Entry Description
This is a trailer for the comedy short film "Higher Calling."
Copyright Info
Recent Teacher Comments
- 4/24 12:27 pm - This felt like a trailer that would be in social media, it was quick and to the point, but still done very well! Everything came together in a way that was balanced and effective! It made me laugh out loud at the very beginning and kept me hooked. It would be cool to see longer versions of it (like a 30 or 60 second spot.) Shot variety and selection was good, the actors are very believable, and you've got some great production value happening on all fronts. Nicely done!
- 4/24 11:39 am - Really strong work on this trailer! The acting was excellent—very natural and engaging. The location was used effectively, adding to the overall atmosphere, and the audio and music were both clear and well balanced, which really helped support the mood. Honestly, I just wish it were a bit longer! It left me wanting more in a good way, but an extra moment or two could’ve helped deepen the setup or tease what’s coming next. Great job overall—this shows a lot of promise!
Judge 1
Positives: Great job! Very impressive and refreshing to see a piece using adult actors – it shows commitment and maturity in your work, and helps sell the concept (ie; a high school student is unlikely to be the pastor of a church). Stylistically, you have done an excellent job. Great Zombies needle drop! I'd love to watch the full film...
Improvements: I docked points mostly because of how little the trailer provides in terms of narrative. This plays more as a "teaser" that would appear on YouTube that plays at the beginning of a longer-form trailer. Which is not necessarily an issue for some use cases, but seems a bit "incomplete" in the case of the MMEA Trailers category. Excellent job on your entry this year – there was clearly a lot of skill and talent put into this piece.
Judge 2
Positives: Cleanly shot and edited without being to fancy, serving the story. Good story premise.
Improvements: Short and to the point. Does it's job, though I would have liked to see more. Not sure I could improve upon this, but I would advise the filmmaker to stay on course and focus on the foundations of good storytelling and professional filmmaking. Good job! Please message me to keep in touch as I am also a screener/judge for The Midwest Film Festival and other film fests and organizations. Cheers! - Theophilus Jamal ojamal@depaul.edu
Judge 3
Positives: The adult actors were excellent—seriously, they nailed it. The lighting, cuts between shots, and audio were all super clean and professional. Everything flowed really smoothly, and it was clear a lot of care went into the production.
Improvements: What Could Be Improved: It felt a little short overall—more like a teaser than a full trailer. What we did get was great, though, and definitely made me want to see more! One idea might be to open with a couple wide shots to set the scene before jumping into the actors. That could help ease us in and give a bit more context.
Judge 4
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Judge 5
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