What genre are you looking for?
Here are some of the filmmakers and storytellers I've made trailers for and how I helped them find their audience, as well as some of the spec work I’m most proud of.
Drama
Salcedo: Cuero y Boogaloo
Series
Netflix wanted a short, music-driven trailer that showcased the style of the series, highlighting specific characters and moments.
The result was a fast-paced trailer that felt like a music track of its own.
DOLO
Series Pilot
Director Gonçalo Braga wanted a trailer that stood apart from series like Euphoria and 13 Reasons Why, and made Dolo look bigger than its budget.
The result was a trailer with a fast-paced edit to the sound of a slow song by Édith Piaf, which helped it achieve over 100,000 views on Instagram.
Uníssono/Unison
Short Film
Having directed the short, this film was more than engrained in my bones. And sometimes, as I was directing, I asked myself “How would this look in a trailer?”. Although counterintuitive, thinking about how I would reduce the essence of this movie into 30 seconds helped keep me focused during the process.
AMICI
TV Series
I can’t show anything from this project.
…yet.
Besides cutting the trailers, I am also currently cutting the series itself.
All I can say is that something really special is in the works.
No Man’s Land
Short Film
I can’t show anything from this project.
…yet.
I’m currently working with the director to make a trailer and several spots for social media and distributors.
This is a process that involves figuring out what the right messaging for the project is, how to highlight the movie’s strengths and defining the audio identity of the trailer.
I’m really excited to share it all when it’s ready.
Horror/Thriller
The Edge of Sleep
TV series
This is a spec trailer.
This trailer was born out of the frustration I had with the official trailer, which made this psychological thriller come across as a teen drama.
So for my version, I wanted to cut something that felt in line with the psychedelic nature of the show and that would make the viewer see the world from the main character’s POV.
I cut this trailer in just 3 days.
Five Nights at Freddy’s
Film
This is a spec trailer.
I decided to cut a trailer for this film because it presented a certain challenge: although it was a horror film, I didn’t find the film scary. At all…
So my goal was to cut a trailer that strengthened the horror elements of the story and make it seem like a scary film.
Whether or not I succeeded, I’ll leave it up to you.
Comedy
The Company II
Stage Play
This is a clear example of what it’s like to work with directors I’m already familiar with.
Having worked with Mafalda Santos in the past, I was already aligned with her style of writing and her process, which made the conversations about which direction this trailer should take very short.
I was given room to watch and film the early rehearsals, which allowed me to plan, shoot and cut the trailer quickly.
Wilford ‘Motherloving’ Warfstache
Short Film
This is a spec trailer.
I’ve cut so many trailers for comedies, I hadn’t realize they were all stage plays. So I decided to change that.
Being a fan of this short film, I decided to cut a trailer for it. The goal with comedy trailers for me is to always have the comedy guide the story, not interrupt it. In this case, it meant juxtaposing a very serious main character with the over the top eccentric antagonist.
Dinner for Schmucks
Stage Play
The production company called me the week of the premiere to cut a spot for this play. I didn’t know the play and was watching it for the first time as I was filming it. And yet, I had to cut a trailer that represented the style of comedy, the story and the entire cast (some of which only showed up for a couple of minutes on stage).
Even with the little time I had, the trailer became the main spot they use for their social media campaign.
Family Friendly
In The Twinkling of an Eye
Stage Play
For this play, director Mafalda Santos had a big obstacle in front of her: having written a children’s play about a period of dictatorship in Portugal's history, the play was given an age rating higher than the target audience's age.
To combat this, the trailer retained the energy and style of humor that young children appreciate, while remaining faithful to the themes it explores and the musical component of the play.
Because of the trailer, they were ultimately able to reach their young audience.
Raining Questions
Stage Play
As the play's budget and resources were limited, the company was unable to have the set and wardrobe complete in time for the early promotion. The trailer and promotional videos were then planned from the conception of the play so that the process became agile for the team and managed to appeal to the young audience they were looking for.