A trailer for this book from Kerala sets the trend

It can be termed a trendsetter in the state. For the first time, a trailer has been made in connection with the release of a new book in Kerala.

A first in the arena of book publishing in this part of the globe, the trailer that matches those made for films has come out for promoting a newly released book ‘The Shadow of the Steam Engine’, a thriller for children.

The book, written by a Thrissur-based veterinarian Vestin Verghese, revolves around two kids who are abandoned in a dense forest. Vestin himself suggested that a trailer would be best suited to promote the book.

Trailers for new books are common abroad. But it is the first time it's happening in Kerala. Creative aspects were taken care of by Oak Tree, an advertisement firm. The script, which suits the theme of the book, was written by Favour Francis, creative director of Oak Tree. He has also directed the trailer.

“The book belongs to the genre of Harry Potter series. The two children whose house is swept away by tsunami are lost in a forest and their adventures constitute the book,” says Francis.

“The easiest way to reach kids is video. All of them watch videos on smart phones and so we felt that introducing the book through this medium was a very good idea,” he adds.

When the book is read after watching the video, the characters and the background will come alive clearly in the readers’ mind, explains Francis.

Movie trailers can be made from the visuals already available. But for a book trailer, the work has to be read thoroughly and a new script has to be written, which is then shot as a trailer. Each of the shots in the trailer is a crucial episode in the book.

The camera and editing have been done by Albin Anto, while music is by Sangeet Pavithran. Geo Mathew has done the grading and colouring.

The filming was carried out by Oak Tree creative team in Thrissur and nearby areas.