Episode Archive

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Trailers are one of the most popular forms of media on the Internet, but few people know who makes them, and how much work goes into those 1-3 minutes of footage. The Cutdown is a podcast about making trailers, the people working behind the scenes of this unique industry, and the latest news in movie and game trailers. Hosted by Hollywood trailer editor Ric Thomas and indie game trailer maker Derek Lieu.

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September 24, 2021

Phil Daccord is the legendary trailer editor of The Matrix Trilogy (amongst many many more!) and in this episode we talk about his start as an assistant searching for frames of film in literal bins all the way through being senior editor at Giaronomo Productions and now Creative Director at Ignition Creative. Derek and Ric also discuss the website and trailer for The Matrix Resurrections!

Trailers DiscussedThe Matrix Resurrections Trailer 1The Matrix TeaserThe Matrix TrailerThe Matrix Reloaded TeaserThe Matrix Reloaded TrailerThe Matrix Revolutions International TrailerThe Matrix Revolutions Enter the Matrix TrailerThe Matrix Revolutions TrailerAlice Through the Looking Glass Trailer #2.

LinksWhatisthematrix.comGiaronomo ProductionsIgnition Creative.

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June 4, 2021

Ric and Derek talk about their first ever trailer finishes which somehow both involved selling DVDs. Also, they discuss the trailer for Dear Evan Hansen, and how it walks the line between serious drama and musical.

Trailers Discussed: Dear Evan Hansen, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, West Side Story (2021), Constantine 90 Sec Home Video Sizzle Reel, Constantine, Roobarb and Custard DVD Trailer, Samurai Deeper Kyo Trailer, Miss Potter UK Trailer.

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May 7, 2021

The F9 and Misfits trailers are both selling globetrotting heist films and they hit a lot of the same notes, but they're edited with very different attitudes. In this episode Ric and Derek break down what separates the two and what their trailers say about their respective films.

Trailers Discussed: The Misfits (2021), F9 Trailer 2

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March 20, 2021

Zack Snyder's trailers are some of the most famous in modern trailer history. Why are his films uniquely suited to making trailers for?

Trailers Discussed: It Takes Two "Better Together" Trailer, Judas and the Black Messiah Trailer, 300 Teaser Trailer, 300 Trailer 2, Man of Steel Trailer 1, Man of Steel Trailer 2, Man of Steel Trailer 3, Watchmen Trailer 1, Watchmen Trailer 2, Dawn of the Dead (2004), Sucker Punch Trailer 1, Return of the King Trailer, Justice League Official Teaser Trailer.

Links: Jenn Horvath Reel, David Yocum Reel.

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August 28, 2020

The DC Fandome event revealed a bunch of new trailers which we just had to discuss along with the exciting trailers Ric finished, and Derek's thoughts on the final trailer for Tenet.

Trailers Discussed: Bill & Ted Face the Music Trailer 1, Bill & Ted Face the Music Trailer 2, Tenet, Zack Snyder's Justice League, The Batman, Suicide Squad Roll Call, Suicide Squad DC Fandome Exclusive Sneak Peek, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Gotham Knights, Wonder Woman 1984 Teaser, Wonder Woman 1984 Trailer.

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May 29, 2020

The Tenet trailer is the starting point of this week's discussion. Derek and Ric dive into the trailers for all his films and look for the common threads in the marketing of this master of secrets.

Trailers Discussed: Tenet, Dunkirk Teaser, Dunkirk Trailer 1, Dunkirk Trailer 2, Inception Teaser, Inception Teaser 2 Inception Trailer, Interstellar Teaser, Interstellar Trailer, Interstellar Trailer 3, Interstellar Trailer 4, The Dark Knight Teaser, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises Teaser, The Dark Knight Rises Trailer 2, The Dark Knight Rises Trailer 3, The Dark Knight Rises Trailer 4, The Prestige, Insomnia, Memento.

If you have questions or comments please send them to [email protected].

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May 15, 2020

Kert Gartner loves making VR game trailers, and he's constantly breaking new ground in virtual cinematography and mixed reality. He's been making indie game trailers for about 10 years, and with his years of experience in the feature film VFX industry, he's most comfortable making trailers in After Effects. We discuss how the heck that works, why he wouldn't have it any other way, how he got into making game trailers, and what interests him most about the work.

Trailers Discussed: Gato Roboto, Canabalt, Nidhogg, Serious Sam: Random Encounter, Hotline Miami, IceBurgers, Space Channel 5 VR, Museum of Other Realities, Genital Jousting, Minit, Dungeon Hearts, Vacation Simulator, Eighth Grade, Whiplash, Neverending Nightmares, Snow Runner, Fantastic Contraption.

Links: Virtual Cinematography For VR Trailers, Plugin Everything.

If you have questions or comments please send them to [email protected].

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May 1, 2020

In this week's episode we have an interview with AAA game trailer editor Elisha Male. We talk about her journey from editing emo Kingdom Hearts music videos to editing trailers for AAA games like DOOM Eternal, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Shadow of the Tomb Raider and more!

Trailers Discussed: DOOM Eternal, Wolfenstein: Youngblood, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Elder Scrolls Legends - Heroes of Skyrim, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Neo Cab, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, The Green Knight, The Lighthouse, Parasite.

Links: Hammer Creative, Virtual Cinematography For VR Trailers, Derek-Lieu.com.

If you have questions or comments please send them to [email protected].

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April 3, 2020

In this week's episode Derek and Ric discuss working from home during the coronavirus pandemic, and how it's affected the industry. We also discuss the brilliantly cut trailer for season 3 of Killing Eve.

Trailers Discussed: Killing Eve Season 3, Kong: Skull Island.

Links: Derek's post about working from home.

If you have questions or comments please send them to [email protected].

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March 13, 2020

In this episode Derek and Ric dive into various trailers for movies from A24 and try to pin down what exactly an ‘A24’ trailer is. From Hereditary to The Green Knight these trailers frequently get held up as an example of restraint and confidence, so we discuss why that might be…

Trailers Discussed: The Green Knight, Skin, Hereditary, Midsommar, First Cow, Waves, The Kill Team, Green Room, Saint Maud, In Fabric, A Ghost Story, The Disaster Artist, Under the Silver Lake, Laggies, Under the Skin, Swiss Army Man.

If you have questions or comments please send them to [email protected].

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February 28, 2020

This week Derek and Ric discuss the Instagram account taking the trailer industry by storm, and the trailers for The Invisible Man. For the main topic, we get super into the weeds discussing their best trailer editing tips for sound editing, eye-trace, project management and loads of other geeky tips which editors will love!

Trailers Discussed: The Invisible Man Trailer 1, The Invisible Man Trailer 2, S ucker Punch Teaser

Links: RedbandGreenband Instagram, Derek’s YouTube tutorials, Derek’s Avid Transition button feature request.

If you have questions or comments please send them to [email protected].

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February 7, 2020

Time is money! It's the biggest TV Spot event of the year, and Derek and Ric are breaking down all the big game spots including F9, Sonic, Top Gun Maverick and Minions. They also talk about what makes TV Spots a unique thing to create.

Trailers Discussed: Sonic the Hedgehog, Independence Day: Resurgence, The Twilight Zone, Minions: The Rise of Gru, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, Top Gun: Maverick, Black Widow, Marvel Studios Disney+, Never Say Die, The Invisible Man, A Quiet Place Part II, F9: Fast and Furious 9.

If you have questions or comments please send them to [email protected].

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January 24, 2020

In this episode Ric and Derek discuss meta trailers, trailers which are self referential either to the movie, game or the trailer itself. What makes these trailers so much fun? When are they the most effectively used? And how long did it take for the trailer industry to start referencing how formulaic they were being?

Trailers Discussed: Comedian, 6 Underground Whisper Trailer, Jumanji the Next Level ASMR Trailer, Inception Acapella Re-dub, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, BattleBlock Theater Steam Trailer, The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists UK Trailer, The Stanley Parable Raphael Trailer, Muppets Most Wanted, Toys, Miracle on 34th st (1947) Trailer 1 Trailer 2, The Birds, Psycho, Real Life, Mother, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Gone in 60 Seconds, Gemini Man, Deadpool 2, Detective Pikachu, Free Guy, Mighty No. 9 Masterclass Trailer, Kingsman the Golden Circle.

If you have questions or comments please send them to [email protected].

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January 10, 2020

In this episode Derek and Ric are talking trailers for sequels, and different approaches to that difficult second launch. Along those lines, we dive into the trailer for A Quiet Place: Part II.

Trailers Discussed: A Quiet Place: Part II, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Magic Mike XXL, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, No Time To Die, Grown Ups 2, Half Life: Alyx, Thor: Ragnarok, Cloverfield, It: Chapter 2, Hellboy, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Happy Death Day 2 U, Frozen 2, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last Jedi

If you have questions or comments please send them to [email protected].

Join us in the Idle Forums to discuss this week's episode!

The Cutdown

A podcast about making trailers, the people working behind the scenes, and the latest news in movie and game trailers.