My idea for a trailer

[WalterKovacs]

rough draft
-the music would be from here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=fESZvhDsBDE
-we see the wb, dc, and legendary logos, silence.
-we see, with no music, the comedian being thrown out of a glass window.
-Music starts
-we see rorschach looking at the pin for the first time, with a close up of his bad ass moving inkblot face
-a black screen/red letter screen says "From Zack Snyder"
-We see footage of manhattan's mars castle
footage of the original masks in action
-rorschach raising a butcher knife
-title screen says: "comes the masterpiece that changed pop culture"
-We see slomo footage of walter protesting, intercut with other stuff IE
-Manhattan fighting
-comedian hitting vietnamese woman
-title screen says: "forever"
-Laurie crying on mars
-Nite Owl's ship (archie)
-Veidt, glorified just like xerxes was in the 300 trailers
-The music goes to the dramatic choir part as we see the following:
-Veidt's (what the new yorkers think is) alien monster
-SAlly grabbing a certain framed picture, bawling
-The comedian about to rape sally
-Manhattan screaming on TV
-TheMusic ends and a title screen says : "Watchmen"
-THe rest is in eerie silence or ambient music, not noticable
-We see manhattan walking on water
-The masks at the comedians funeral
-SHots of mars
-Note owl/rorschach in the snow
-Then to end it all, we see the opening shot of the smiley pin, as we go up, with rorschachs quote about the ****e and the politicians and how he'll say "no"
-The final frame is of the release date of the flick

Reveals a bit too much, and its a little cheesy but i thought it was ok. what do you think?

 

[Harlekin]

Any trailer is worthless without the "Who Watches the Watchmen" saying.

 

[sad lieutenant]

Any trailer is worthless without the "Who Watches the Watchmen" saying.

Indubitably!

(And the trailer probably shouldn't be a complete synopsis of the entire story!)

 

[Sub-Zero]

nah. i'd go with a rorschach voice over with flashes of the other characters or just flashes of random scenes. i do like the "who watches the watchmen" line at the end though.

 

[cryptic name]

it needs to start with a shot of the hands on a yellow clock approaching midnight, then between every few shots show the hands ticking closer (the first shot should be of the heroes at Blake's funeral), whatever footage is shown, it should be shown with Rorschach's voice over and end with his quote from the book, "We do not do this thing because it is permitted. We do it because we have to. We do it because we are compelled." then the clock strikes midnight, and the camera quickly pulls back to reveal the the clock is really the smiley face logo. text over the logo then reads "on (release date)...Who Watches the Watchmen?"

 

[Shifty]

TEASER TRAILER

Open with the WB and DC logos,

Giant clock image at 1 o' clock.

The figures gathered for the first meeting of the The Crimebusters.

Brief shot of Jon's accident in the chamber.

Nite Owl II and Rorschach in the 1960s.

Voiceover saying the Keane Act has passed.

Look at the recurring street corner with the newstand and 1980s NYC.

The Comedian being attacked before his death. He is thrown from his apartment window and we watch in slow motion as he falls to his death and right before he lands on the streets it goes black.

Adapted from the story by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons that changed the comic book industry.

Shot of Rorschach attacking the police officers in the Moloch's building.

And from the director of 300, Zack Snyder.

Rorschach in Dan's house telling him about The Comedian killed.

Voiceover while the following images are shown

Dan Dreiberg: Maybe this was a political killing?
Rorschach: Maybe. Or maybe someone's picking off costumed heroes.

[shot of The Comedian in Vietnam shooting the Viet Cong]

Dreiberg: Um. Don't you think that's maybe a little paranoid?
Rorschach: That's what they're saying about me now? That I'm paranoid?

[Viedt looking at his television screens]

Footage of an older President Nixon on TV in the 1980s

Laurie kisses Dan.

A man pulls a gun on Veidt.

Kovacs with his sign.

Dr.Manhattan in his suit being interviewed.

The younger Comedian tries to rape Silk Spectre I.

Shot of Veidt's Antarctic retreat.

Dr.Manhattan and Laurie on Mars as his time piece reveals itself.

The prison riot.

Dr. Manhattan: This world's smartest man means no more to me than does its smartest termite.

Dan and Laurie rescue several people from a tenement fire.

Rorschach voiceover:
There is good and there is evil, and evil must be punished.

[shot of clock striking 12 o'clock]
Even in the face of Armageddon I shall not compromise in this.

WATCHMEN

The giant clock covered in blood.

Love scene with multiple Dr.Manhattans.

The familiar WHO WATCHES THE WATCHMEN? is seen spray painted on building wall.

Shot of anti-vigilante riot.

Nite Owll II: "Who are we protecting society from?"
The Comedian: "From themselves."

Bob Dylan's Desolation Row (just vocals):
At midnight all the agents
And the superhuman crew
Go out and round up everyone
That knows more than they do.

CAST/CREW CREDITS
DECEMBER 2008

Happy face button with blood smear on it appears.

 

[ThatDamnNinja]

TEASER TRAILER

Open with the WB and DC logos,

Giant clock image at 1 o' clock.

The figures gathered for the first meeting of the The Crimebusters.

Brief shot of Jon's accident in the chamber.

Nite Owl II and Rorschach in the 1960s.

Voiceover saying the Keane Act has passed.

Look at the recurring street corner with the newstand and 1980s NYC.

The Comedian being attacked before his death. He is thrown from his apartment window and we watch in slow motion as he falls to his death and right before he lands on the streets it goes black.

Adapted from the story by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons that changed the comic book industry.

Shot of Rorschach attacking the police officers in the Moloch's building.

And from the director of 300, Zack Snyder.

Rorschach in Dan's house telling him about The Comedian killed.

Voiceover while the following images are shown

Dan Dreiberg: Maybe this was a political killing?
Rorschach: Maybe. Or maybe someone's picking off costumed heroes.

[shot of The Comedian in Vietnam shooting the Viet Cong]

Dreiberg: Um. Don't you think that's maybe a little paranoid?
Rorschach: That's what they're saying about me now? That I'm paranoid?

[Viedt looking at his television screens]

Footage of an older President Nixon on TV in the 1980s

Laurie kisses Dan.

A man pulls a gun on Veidt.

Kovacs with his sign.

Dr.Manhattan in his suit being interviewed.

The younger Comedian tries to rape Silk Spectre I.

Shot of Veidt's Antarctic retreat.

Dr.Manhattan and Laurie on Mars as his time piece reveals itself.

The prison riot.

Dr. Manhattan: This world's smartest man means no more to me than does its smartest termite.

Dan and Laurie rescue several people from a tenement fire.

Rorschach voiceover:
There is good and there is evil, and evil must be punished.

[shot of clock striking 12 o'clock]
Even in the face of Armageddon I shall not compromise in this.

WATCHMEN

The giant clock covered in blood.

Love scene with multiple Dr.Manhattans.

The familiar WHO WATCHES THE WATCHMEN? is seen spray painted on building wall.

Shot of anti-vigilante riot.

Nite Owll II: "Who are we protecting society from?"
The Comedian: "From themselves."

Bob Dylan's Desolation Row (just vocals):
At midnight all the agents
And the superhuman crew
Go out and round up everyone
That knows more than they do.

CAST/CREW CREDITS
DECEMBER 2008

Happy face button with blood smear on it appears.

I don't think the rape scene should be shown in the trailer... the interaction between Rorscach and Dreiberg where he says "Maybe someone's picking off costumed heroes" is a must.

I love including the "Who are we protecting society from?" part too. The Rorscach armageddon voiceover pretty much rocks. We could lose the Dr. Manhattan love scene...

It's kind of flawed, but I like your ideas the best out of what I've seen so far... I like that it doesn't give away too much of the plot. It doesn't tell you much, but I like that it creates a sense of the "superheroes being murdered" plot that everyone THINKS they're getting when they start to read it or when they hear about it.

 

[Shifty]

I don't think the rape scene should be shown in the trailer... the interaction between Rorscach and Dreiberg where he says "Maybe someone's picking off costumed heroes" is a must.

I love including the "Who are we protecting society from?" part too. The Rorscach armageddon voiceover pretty much rocks. We could lose the Dr. Manhattan love scene...

It's kind of flawed, but I like your ideas the best out of what I've seen so far... I like that it doesn't give away too much of the plot. It doesn't tell you much, but I like that it creates a sense of the "superheroes being murdered" plot that everyone THINKS they're getting when they start to read it or when they hear about it.

Thanks for the comments.

I don't have the book with me so I was just going off my memory and what I could find from the internet. But I thought the audience should know this is a different super hero movie, that vigilantes were around in the 1960s (I originally wanted to show the Minutemen in the 1940s but it doesn't have any of the main characters and The Crimebusters do introduce all the main characters), Congress outlawed them in 1977 and The Comedian is an ******* but has been killed. And the remaining heroes are in danger and it won't end very nice.

Yeah its not without its flaws, more detail or referencing page numbers would help, maybe the order of what is shown could be juggled and building up the masks being murdered angle a bit more. For the rape it was more just the start, the struggle.

I looked at the 300 teaser trailer and watched it a few times and saw what was shown there. There were about 36 shots/segments of footage in that, and very little dialogue. It was probably the best teaser trailer in awhile, followed by the great longer trailer; so I tried to follow a similiar formula that would get audiences interested as well please the fanboys.

 

[WalterKovacs]

TEASER TRAILER

Open with the WB and DC logos,

Giant clock image at 1 o' clock.

The figures gathered for the first meeting of the The Crimebusters.

Brief shot of Jon's accident in the chamber.

Nite Owl II and Rorschach in the 1960s.

Voiceover saying the Keane Act has passed.

Look at the recurring street corner with the newstand and 1980s NYC.

The Comedian being attacked before his death. He is thrown from his apartment window and we watch in slow motion as he falls to his death and right before he lands on the streets it goes black.

Adapted from the story by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons that changed the comic book industry.

Shot of Rorschach attacking the police officers in the Moloch's building.

And from the director of 300, Zack Snyder.

Rorschach in Dan's house telling him about The Comedian killed.

Voiceover while the following images are shown

Dan Dreiberg: Maybe this was a political killing?
Rorschach: Maybe. Or maybe someone's picking off costumed heroes.

[shot of The Comedian in Vietnam shooting the Viet Cong]

Dreiberg: Um. Don't you think that's maybe a little paranoid?
Rorschach: That's what they're saying about me now? That I'm paranoid?

[Viedt looking at his television screens]

Footage of an older President Nixon on TV in the 1980s

Laurie kisses Dan.

A man pulls a gun on Veidt.

Kovacs with his sign.

Dr.Manhattan in his suit being interviewed.

The younger Comedian tries to rape Silk Spectre I.

Shot of Veidt's Antarctic retreat.

Dr.Manhattan and Laurie on Mars as his time piece reveals itself.

The prison riot.

Dr. Manhattan: This world's smartest man means no more to me than does its smartest termite.

Dan and Laurie rescue several people from a tenement fire.

Rorschach voiceover:
There is good and there is evil, and evil must be punished.

[shot of clock striking 12 o'clock]
Even in the face of Armageddon I shall not compromise in this.

WATCHMEN

The giant clock covered in blood.

Love scene with multiple Dr.Manhattans.

The familiar WHO WATCHES THE WATCHMEN? is seen spray painted on building wall.

Shot of anti-vigilante riot.

Nite Owll II: "Who are we protecting society from?"
The Comedian: "From themselves."

Bob Dylan's Desolation Row (just vocals):
At midnight all the agents
And the superhuman crew
Go out and round up everyone
That knows more than they do.

CAST/CREW CREDITS
DECEMBER 2008

Happy face button with blood smear on it appears.

be-ee-ay-ootiful

 

[WalterKovacs]

also what'd be cool is if they took advantage of the rorschach ink blot tests, maybe the trailer could be like on one side of the screen and on the other side is a mirror image of it.

 

[Solidus]

Good ideas guys, Walter I have to ask, have you found out the name of that song ? Good drawings by that guy, but that song on the drawing of Rorschach, I loved that song, it sounds like a familiar artist, but I can't be sure. Hoping you know.

 

[WalterKovacs]

New Idea: The use of the song "Club Foot" by Kasabian. and i mean they should include the beginning and end. they fit pretty well with rorschachs mask.

 

[WalterKovacs]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LChK_AAgpw

 

[Space Moose]

Good ideas guys, Walter I have to ask, have you found out the name of that song ? Good drawings by that guy, but that song on the drawing of Rorschach, I loved that song, it sounds like a familiar artist, but I can't be sure. Hoping you know.

It does sound very familiar...

 

[Shifty]

REVISED

Yellow and black WB logo
Yellow and black DC Comics logo
Yellow and black Lawrence Gordon Productions logo

Giant clock image at 10 o' clock.

Brief shot of Jon's accident in the chamber. His wife runs away.

The figures gathered for the first meeting of the The Crimebusters.
Each character gets a brief freeze frame and title caption.

The Comedian
Dr.Manhattan
Silk Spectre II
Nite Owl II
Rorschach
Ozymandias

The Comedian lights the map on fire.

Nite Owl II and Rorschach in the 1960s at night.

News anchor voiceover saying the Keane Act has passed. "Top story tonight..."

Fade to newspaper headlines of October 12, 1985. All spell that America is still at war with the Soviets in Afghanistan. Zooms out at the recurring street corner with the newstand and 1980s NYC. Electric cars drive by with Bernie reading his pirate comic. Kovacs can be seen walking across the street. (Lots of references that would need to be paused to see all of them)

The aged Comedian being attacked before his death. He is thrown from his apartment window and we watch in slow motion as he falls to his death and right before he lands on the streets it goes black.

From the director of 300, Zack Snyder. A new adaptation of the only graphic novel to make Time Magazine's Top 100 Novels.


Shot of Rorschach shooting his grappling hook to The Comedian's building.

Rorschach in Dan's house telling him about The Comedian found dead.

[Voiceover while the following images are shown]

Dan Dreiberg: Maybe this was a political killing?
Rorschach: Maybe. Or maybe someone's picking off costumed heroes.

[shot of The Comedian in Vietnam shooting the Viet Cong]

Dreiberg: Um. Don't you think that's maybe a little paranoid?
Rorschach: That's what they're saying about me now? That I'm paranoid?

[Viedt looking at his television screens]

Footage of an older President Nixon at a poduim on the White House lawn on TV in the 1980s

Laurie kisses Dan in the Owlship.

Adrian Veidt: The Comedian had plenty of other political enemies to choose from, even discounting the Russians. The man was practically a Nazi.

Rorschach: He stood up for his country, Veidt. Never let anyone retire him. Never cashed in on his reputation. Never set up a company selling posters and diet books and toy soldiers based on himself. Never became a prostitute. If that makes him a Nazi, you might as well call me a Nazi, too.

A man pulls a gun on Veidt in the lobby.

Kovacs with his sign outside The Comedian's building.

News footage of Dr.Manhattan revealed to the world in black and white television.

Shot of him standing at the press conference, zoom in on his head, zoom out and pan to reveal him at a charity function. Zoom in on his head and zoom out and pan to reveal him with Janey in the 1960s (decor of the room) and zoom in and zoom out to reveal him with Laurie in the 1970s (decor of the room). Zoom in and zoom out to reveal him at the press conference in 1960.

The younger Comedian tries to rape Silk Spectre I.

Shot of Veidt's Antarctic retreat.

Dr.Manhattan and Laurie on Mars as his ship reveals itself.

Moloch is in his kitchen with a scared look on his face.

The prison riot.

Dan and Laurie are surrounded by a gang in an alley.

Dr. Manhattan: This world's smartest man means no more to me than does its smartest termite.

Dan and Laurie rescue several people from a tenement fire.

Rorschach voiceover:
There is good and there is evil, and evil must be punished.

Shot of burning building and Rorschach watching it burn.

[shot of clock striking 12 o'clock]
Even in the face of Armageddon I shall not compromise in this.

black and yellow
WATCHMEN

Go to black and zooms out to reveal the giant clock covered in blood, is at 12 o'clock.

Love scene with multiple Dr.Manhattans and Laurie.

Hiroshima bombing couple graffiti on a building wall.

Holis Mason has a look of shock as he's about to be attacked in his home.

Shot of anti-vigilante riot in NYC.

Nite Owll II: Who are we protecting society from?
The Comedian: From themselves.

Bob Dylan's Desolation Row (just vocals):
At midnight all the agents
And the superhuman crew
Go out and round up everyone
That knows more than they do.

Yellow and black, with red blood spatter
CAST/CREW CREDITS
03.06.09
watchmenmovie.com

The sound of spray paint is heard, it is revealed a young man is spray painting something on the wall. Rorschach's footsteps are heard, he punches the man before he can finish his graffiti. Rorschach walks down the alley and it is revealed 'Who Watches The Watc__' .

 

[Luchastyle]

i shall sit and contemplate. then i shall take my book, skim through and take notes, then i shall come up with my own trailer idea. and it shall be awesome. and then, i will stop saying shall.

 

[WalterKovacs]

heres the music:
http://deco83.imeem.com/music/Zn7V4zKz/es_posthumus_tikal/

 

[Lobster Charlie]

Slinger, that's good stuff!

You know what line I think would work real well in the trailer?

"What happened to the American Dream?"
"It came true."

 

[Harlekin]

Good ideas slinger, but I would think it a little long for a trailer.

 

[Sandman138]

it needs to start with a shot of the hands on a yellow clock approaching midnight, then between every few shots show the hands ticking closer (the first shot should be of the heroes at Blake's funeral), whatever footage is shown, it should be shown with Rorschach's voice over and end with his quote from the book, "We do not do this thing because it is permitted. We do it because we have to. We do it because we are compelled." then the clock strikes midnight, and the camera quickly pulls back to reveal the the clock is really the smiley face logo. text over the logo then reads "on (release date)...Who Watches the Watchmen?"

This is it, right here. It needs the doomsday clock.

 

[Noir]

How about this, The logos, close up of the smiley face comedian being thrown from the window, then "Who will watch the watchmen."
the trailers needs to be mysterious not revealing.