In film (and film trailers, of course) the final product is all about framing. The music, the editing, and even last-minute cinematography effects can bring the raw footage locked down on set to its natural conclusion — or in a completely different direction. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in the expanding world of mock trailers, especially this latest take on the Star Wars trailer from Jonah Feingold, cooked up in the signature style of Mr. Wes Anderson.
As one commenter points out in the YouTube comment section for Feingold’s post, Wes Anderson’s unmistakable style in movies like The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Darjeeling Limited, and so many others is ripe for parody; so much so that one could no doubt forge a richly packed channel on the site with nothing but regular movie trailers repainted with the brush of Anderson’s stylish camp and nostalgic soundtracks.
But, turning this trick of the mock trailer trade to the iconic world of Star Wars seems to take even the standard Wes Anderson treatment to a whole new level.
The trailer begins with what has been framed by J.J. Abrams’ official trailer as a moment of panic: Jon Boyega’s character, Finn, emerges in the middle of a desert planet in a state of sweat-riddled mania. However, in Feingold’s Wes Anderson version, Finn’s panic is washed away by a dry snare beat and beach-style guitar. Soon after, a French singer enters the soundtrack, recalling both Anderson, and the great Quentin Tarantino.
The trailer continues with staggered freezes, which help draw out the camp, as does the striking yellow script and the Polaroids laid out against a plaid background. The entire melange is cut with dirty film spots and crackle, making the viewer feel as if we’re watching from a seat in a small pulp theater in some slow-to-gentrify side of town.
The overall result is something completely different, which is what makes the accessibility of movie-making tools in today’s digital landscape so fun.
While Star Wars purists may not find what they’re looking for here, fans of both genres will no doubt enjoy the reimagining — after all, with six weeks left till The Force Awakens premiere, we need something to pass the time.
