All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill Book Trailer - Interview with Director Casey Davoren

Our UK bloggers are quite a talented lot. You may know quite a few bloggers who are also aspiring writers, but there are other skills are putting to use in an effort to get people hearing about books. Like creating book trailers, and starring in them.

The lovely - and super talented - Casey Davoren of Dark Readers and Hannah Mariska of My Book Journey have their own fan-made book trailers production team, The Bitter Productions. So talented is Casey, she was contacted by Bloomsbury Children's Books to create the official UK trailer for All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill, with the help - and acting talents - of Hannah. Both ladies have agreed to talk to us about how that came about and their experience. First up is Casey.

How did you get into creating book trailers? How long have you been making them?

I started making book trailers maybe two years ago. I was making random videos for awhile on my YouTube channel but its mostly book trailers now. When I attended college and studied film my passion just grew. I wanted a big production company one day were we help promote children to read in any forms of video. Technology is only getting bigger. I am working on it.

How did you get involved in creating the official UK trailer for All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill?

Interesting question! I actually don't know. I remember just tweeting my videos and showing them to my blogger friends and followers on my blog. Then one day I got an email and it changed everything. I was so over the moon and flattered.

What did Bloomsbury Children’s Books give you for you to create the trailer from?

They gave me a proof copy of the book. I read it that day. It was so amazing that I couldn't put it down. Again with such a good book I felt I could put my heart and soul into the trailer. I was worried I wouldn't like it.

Were there any specifics you were given regarding the content and length of the trailer?

I had no specifics from Bloomsbury. I was not briefed. This was great for me as I was given free rein to create anything I wanted. I hate restrictions. I am a fan/blogger of YA so I feel like I know what we like to see in either book trailers or books in general so it was a great opportunity to run wild.

Can you tell us what was involved in creating the trailer, from being contacted by Bloomsbury Children’s Books to the finished trailer?

A lot of things were involved; I could be here all day. But it involves storyboarding, location scouting, casting, budgeting and patience. I had to do a lot of research. I wanted to create something amazing... but not let it be a 5 min video so I had to figure out what was the best scene in the book that I could portray and make people want to read it. I just decided to keep it minimal but explosive.

Fellow blogger Hannah Mariska has starred in your trailers before. What's it like working with Hannah?

Hannah is my little movie star. She's beautiful and a great actress. I am glad we are friends, she's a kind soul. It's always great working with her. She's now become my partner in "The Bitter Productions" so we shall be working on projects together from now on. Every time I have an idea or want to film something random she's always up for it! And shes great on camera so who wouldn't want the girl in a film, etc! She's going to be a huge star one day. Her imagination is fantastic, she follows direction amazingly and is the queen of improvisation which is helpful.

For all the ladies wondering, who is the actor playing Finn in the video? Where can we stalk follow him?

That's Adam Richardson! I found him online and he was a delight to work with! He's a very nice, funny guy and an amazing actor! The whole shoot flowed smoothly with him as Finn. He did his research, read the book and portrayed Finn in an epic way. I hope to work with him again! You can follow him on twitter @ATRichards.

What was it like being asked to create the trailer? Now you can say you make official book trailers as well as fan-made ones?

It's crazy. I mean people go to Uni and study for years to get at least a tad of the opportunity I have had. I feel so grateful to the publishers for taking a chance on me... but I also think that if it wasn't for the support from the UK bloggers and my friends, I feel that I wouldn't have got this chance. I have had so much support. It was so flattering to be asked and it was a big confidence boost. I can do this and do it good, people tell me.

What was the Bloomsbury Children’s Books’ response when they saw the finished trailer? Do you think we will be seeing more official book trailers from you for Bloomsbury Children’s Books’ novels?

I was called a genius. I am not sure about that but I wasn't going to complain. They seemed to love it and tweet, Facebook, etc. like crazy, so I am glad that I could produce something good enough for their standards. I hope to make more for them. It was a great learning curve and I look forward to working with them again. If they'll have me of course.

How have people you know – friends, family and fellow bloggers – responded to the trailer?

Again, I think the response from friends and fellow bloggers has been so sweet. I love the UK blogger scene. We are all defiantly close and have each others backs. Compared to other bloggers in other countries. I like to think their support has made me very confident in what I do. For most of them to post my trailer on their blogs on release day for nothing in return speaks a lot for them being supportive. Also wanted to mention Hannah Mariska and Katie Hopkinson. These two bloggers have been amazing. Hannah stared in my video and Katie came along for the day and helped. They didn't need to but they did and they were AWESOME.

Without giving anything away that you can’t, have you been contacted by any other publishers about creating official books trailers off the back of the All Our Yesterdays trailer?

YES! I have been asked by another major publisher to create one. It's still up in the air at the moment BUT it could happen...so watch out for something maybe end of September.

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of trying their hand at fan-made trailers?

Go for it! Doesn't matter if you don't have a fancy camera or equipment. Be imaginative and get it out there. Stick it on YouTube, Post it on twitter. Send to the publisher. If you want to do it as a profession, then just keep at it! One day you'll get an email like me and then the rest is history!

Anything else you would like to add?

Thanks to Jo for having me on her epic blog and thanks to all the UK bloggers and Publishers along this crazy book trailer journey! x

Thank you, Casey, for giving us an insight into creating the All Our Yesterdays trailer! It all sound so exciting and so much fun! And to see just how insanely talented she is - and the awesome actors - here is the trailer:



Isn't it such an awesome trailer?! How exciting to know that Casey may be creating/directing more official trailers in future! And how amazing does the book sound? I can attest to the fact that it's BRILLIANT! If you fancy, you can read my review here. Be sure to come back later, where I will be sharing my interview with Hannah Mariska, who stars in the trailer!