Here’s a nifty bit of timing: Just as I’ve been considering how the Watchmen movie trailer helped the book, Dorchester Publishing, in a collaboration with Circle of Seven Productions, is running a contest that promises to put a book trailer in two movie theaters: one screening at a New York City movie premiere, and another engagement at “a theater in the winner’s home market.” The catch? Aspiring filmmakers will be creating their promotional films for books that have already been published under Dorchester’s Shomi imprint, a showcase for “speculative fiction that combines the best elements of the fantasy, thriller, science fiction, cyberpunk, and romance.”
Contestants will upload their videos to YouTube, and Dorchester will sift through the footage and select five finalists whose work will be reviewed by Stephen King. What does Stephen King know about making promotional trailers, you ask? Oh, I’m so glad you asked:
You really can find just about anything on YouTube.