Insomniac - ID# 437
Glenbrook North
Movie Trailer
Entry Description
A boy, who lives with his grandmother, suffers from insomnia after the loss of his parents. In hopes of reconnecting with them and uncovering his true self through filmmaking, he explores the camera they left behind.
Copyright Info
Recent Teacher Comments
- 4/24 2:45 pm - Your intro to the trailer was enticing and pulls your audience in. So much of this works well together to present a quality trailer. Great camera work and framing, music and audio mix that blends well, actors that are believable for who they are supposed to be, etc. The story is there, but doesn't always fit in with the title, so teasing that part a bit more can be helpful and help connect. Love the trailer, it turned out great!
- 4/24 11:53 am - This trailer has a solid premise, and the camera work combined with clean editing really helps bring it to life. The graphic title at the intro was especially well done, it set the tone right away and looked professional. That said, I would’ve liked to see a bit more shot variety and a clearer sense of time passing to help build the narrative. With a title like Insomniac, I expected to see more of the mental or emotional toll of sleeplessness, but the scenes didn’t fully communicate that theme just yet. You’ve got a strong foundation here, keep pushing to visually connect the story and title, and it’ll land even more powerfully. Great effort overall!
Judge 1
Positives: Great job! This is a beautiful and uplifting trailer, with a GREAT needle drop, and interesting camera movement and lighting design. I love the slow track toward the blinds as your protagonist walks through your on-screen text (cool!). I also have to give you a lot of credit for creating a film/trailer that seems so specific and nuanced. This trailer is unlike the vast majority of other entries in MMEA.
Improvements: Though the narrative is clear, it feels slightly "vague" and could be expanded upon, just a bit (without disturbing the "teaser-esque" tone) perhaps with an ending that is a little less ambiguous/abrupt. Some of the lighting throughout spikes the color into a greenish/yellow grade (seemingly unintentional), so that could be pulled more toward a neutral or blue grade to remove some of that look. Excellent job on your entry this year – there was clearly a lot of skill and talent put into this piece.
Judge 2
Positives: Good shots and lighting. Well edited. Good sound.
Improvements: Would have liked to have seen a few shots from the parents archival footage. Strengthen the inner conflict of the main character tied to his parents passing and his insomnia. Good work!
Judge 3
Positives: Really cool and clever use of text—it added a fun energy to the trailer! The acting was solid across the board, and the concept came through clearly. You had some great moments that grabbed attention and made the trailer stand out.
Improvements: Some of the quick cut scenes didn’t totally match the overall vibe of the trailer—they kind of pulled me out of it. Also, a few of the shots were super dark and tough to see, which made it hard to follow what was happening. A bit more lighting or brightness would help those scenes pop more.
Judge 4
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Judge 5
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