Trailer Talk: Snow White & the Same Old Fairy Tale
A new Snow White and the Huntsman trailer came out this past week. It’s a story we’ve all heard before, so will it be worth seeing? The first thing that struck me about the new trailer, was that the same piece of music from the teaser was used. They had something good, and continuity in marketing is always a good thing. Let’s take a look at that teaser.
The Teaser:
The teaser trailer used Danny Cocke’s “World Collapsing” (from the album From the Blue by RipTide Music). First, I should note, it’s not difficult to see the similarities to Zack Hemsey’s custom cue “Mind Heist” written for Inception. While the two pieces are inherently different in instrumentation and overall sound, the structure of the two pieces are almost identical. The melodies are heavily inspired as well. I suppose imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
I first heard “World Collapsing” when the trailer music album From the Blue was released. Honestly, I didn’t think much of it. So I was stunned when it was used in its entirety (with some edits and custom touches) in the teaser trailer for Snow White and the Huntsman. I was also impressed. It’s an incredibly good trailer, and the music is woven wonderfully into the mix. The quality of the editing is fairly evident, but what really impressed me was the sound design. It’s the sound design that brings the music to a new level.
At 0:12 there is a screech of a bird, followed by a horn blast. At 0:19 the sounds of the sword impact and debris blends into the music. There are hits and whooshes throughout. Together all these elements create a rousing aural experience that enhances the music’s power. Listen to the music on its own to see what I mean.
Charlize Theron’s evil laughter is even used as a sound effect at 0:38. I don’t think I even realized that’s what it was until the new trailer came out last week. The new trailer uses the same laughter at the very end, but it sounds cleaner.
Theatrical Trailer:
This new trailer uses a custom written alternate version of “World Collapsing”. Given that this trailer uses a lot of the same elements as the teaser, it’s hard for me to get too excited about it. However, it’s a solidly built trailer, and manages to live up to the high standards set by the teaser.
So what is new? As is to be expected, the story is told a little more completely, and we learn more about the plot driving the film. Kristen Stewart also has a few lines. That aside, the second trailer is really an opportunity to show off more of the incredible visuals. The effects are awe inspiring, and whether or not critics are moved by the characters or plot, this movie will certainly be a feast for the eyes. The editor has done an excellent job of showing that quality off.
I mentioned that I was stunned that this particular piece, “World Collapsing”, was used in such a prominent way. I guess I felt it wasn’t entirely original, so I dismissed it. However, I’m the first to admit that it works. More than that, it works well. Which leads me to wonder, how important is originality in trailer music?
In a way it’s quite fitting that a piece like “World Collapsing” was used in a Snow White trailer. The story of Snow White has been retold countless times, in many different ways, and in different countries. This year is the 200th anniversary of the version by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. It’s safe to say neither brother imagined a retelling like the one to come out on June 1st. I’m quite looking forward to experiencing Rupert Sanders’ vision of the tale.
Zack Hemsey’s cue for the Inception trailer took on a life of it’s own. Few pieces of trailer music have entered the public consciousness the way that “Mind Heist” did. Danny Cocke is not the first, or the last to take inspiration from it. Danny Cocke, like Sanders, put his own twist on existing ideas.
In an interview with an Australian publication, The Vine, Danny Cocke commented on his music being compared to other works, like Tron. I recommend reading it; it is a thorough interview with videos of some of his other placements:
“What’s funny is that I wrote They Came From The Blue and most of that record before TRON: Legacy even came out! But certainly there is an influence there -Tron, Inception, Dark Knight, and all that. A familiarity. I love those darker melodies and that vibe. I am trying to steer clear of any similarities on the next album though. I think it helped to be relevant when I was first coming out, but now I’m really focusing on continuing to develop my own sound. I wrote most of that album in my parents house having no idea it would see the light of day out in the world. Things can really change for you when you step into that arena as an artist!”
It’s probably for the best that Danny Cocke avoid writing pieces with such striking similarities as can be found in “World Collapsing”. Snow White is in the public domain, but Zack Hemsey’s cue is not. However you compare those two tracks though, my larger take away is this. Debates over originality often miss the obvious. Stories that are worth telling, will be told again, and they should be. I think these trailers prove that.
Well, I heard somewhere that Danny’s track had to be included in Inception trailer, too, so I would put aside discussions on who was first with his melody idea. Let’s just enjoy the music, since both tracks sound awesome 🙂
Thanks for that. It helps the trailer and the music of course to have the performance of Charlize Theron punctuate most of the major beats. This is clearly going to be HER picture! (Passionate performance and epic score= WIN) The Vine interview was very interesting.