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I wrote about the editing concept of eye trace, which is SUPER important for trailer editing!
In a nutshell, don't make the audience move their eyes to a different screen position between cuts; it's very disorienting, especially in fast cut trailers! https://www.derek-lieu.com/blog/4/6/good-eye-trace-for-smooth-editing
In a nutshell, don't make the audience move their eyes to a different screen position between cuts; it's very disorienting, especially in fast cut trailers! https://www.derek-lieu.com/blog/4/6/good-eye-trace-for-smooth-editing
I also have a quick tutorial to check the eye trace between two cuts which can work with any editing software.
tl;dr just temporarily add a cross dissolve between the two cuts. When the playhead is between them, you'll see if things line up!
tl;dr just temporarily add a cross dissolve between the two cuts. When the playhead is between them, you'll see if things line up!
Here's an example of good eye trace via @kertgartner's excellent trailer for Celeste!
It's extremely easy to follow because Madeline's position at the end of each cut is matched to her position at the beginning of the following one.
It's extremely easy to follow because Madeline's position at the end of each cut is matched to her position at the beginning of the following one.
By contrast, this fight scene from Taken 3 has disastrous eye trace. Some cuts work ok, but enough of them require re-adjusting that it's very difficult to keep up.
And just so I'm comparing apples to apples, here's a fight from Mad Max Fury Road which has amazing eye trace because the entire film was mostly center framed (look up @vashikoo's video Mad Max: Center Framed)
There are also many other factors involved for clear action: editing, costumes, camera position, 180° rule, shot composition, and choreography!
But eye trace is a big one which can really up your directing & editing if you're just getting started. It makes a world of difference!
But eye trace is a big one which can really up your directing & editing if you're just getting started. It makes a world of difference!
Also, I realize I got a bit off topic, because I started this by talking about trailers and ended by talking about fight scenes 
In trailers I feel like there's less room for bad eye trace because every shot is so important you really want people to see everything!
In trailers I feel like there's less room for bad eye trace because every shot is so important you really want people to see everything!
This goes ESPECIALLY for game trailers where we're often trying to understand how the game mechanics work in addition to narrative elements, whereas with film you're just concerned with the story and feel.
Trailers are inherently about showing a new thing, so clarity is king!
Trailers are inherently about showing a new thing, so clarity is king!
