OnLeash Trailer Creation
Crafting a Heartwarming Story with a Canine Lead
Role: Solo Project
Spring 2024
Project Overview
In Spring 2024, as part of the Emerging Media Capstone Project, I created a trailer for OnLeash, a mobile app designed to make pet care seamless and anxiety-free for pet owners. This 60-second trailer was crafted to not only showcase the app’s features but also to resonate emotionally with potential users, demonstrating how OnLeash integrates seamlessly into their daily lives.
The Problem
Crafting an ultra-condensed, 30–60 second presentation of OnLeash that not only captures the essence of a year’s hard work but also makes it irresistible. This trailer needed to answer some big questions: How does OnLeash make life better for pet owners? How does it fit into their daily lives and actually enhance them? Can it inspire pet owners to engage more actively and joyfully with their pets, even when they’re away?
In essence, the trailer needed to be entertaining, informative, and polished enough to stand as the lasting legacy of my project at the New Media Institute, ensuring that anyone who watches it is prompted to learn more or even try out OnLeash for themselves.
The Solution
Storyboard Shifts: My initial plan for the trailer began with a detailed storyboard, sketched out to organize my thoughts and plot the sequence of events. However, as I really sat down to start creating the video, I realized that the original storyboard was not capturing the playful and heartfelt essence I wanted. It was back to the drawing board, quite literally! This pivot was crucial; it allowed me to reframe the narrative more effectively around Kona’s mischievous belief that he was in charge of Vanessa, which added a layer of humor and charm that the first concept lacked.
Stock Video: Given the crucial role of the trailer in promoting OnLeash, I chose high-quality stock video that depicted consistent characters — a Shiba Inu that I named Kona and his sitter, named Vanessa — in various settings. This wasn’t just about looking polished (though it does look paw-sitively sleek); it was about crafting a consistent and engaging story without the time crunch of filming it myself.
Narrative Technique: The trailer unfolds through a series of playful scenes narrated by Kona, who humorously believes he’s “sitting” Vanessa. This narrative not only showcases the app’s features, like medication reminders, but also builds a story that viewers can connect with emotionally. The use of text overlays as Kona’s “letter” to his parents adds a personal touch that aligns with the bonds between pet owners and their pets.
Crafting the Clip: All the magic happened in ✨Canva ✨, where I pieced together the story with playful, royalty-free tunes that set the tail-wagging mood. I kept it crisp at 1080p, ensuring every frame was as clear as a sunny day at the dog park.
Results
The OnLeash trailer has fetched loads of smiles and nods, showing potential users just how convenient pet care can be with the right app. It’s my digital handshake, or should I say, pawshake?
Lessons Learned: Telling a good story is like throwing the perfect fetch — it’s all about where you aim and the energy you bring. This project taught me that combining humor with heartfelt care goes a long way in drawing people in and spreading the word about great tech.
