Print edition: 
Movie trailers are more than just commercials. They are paramount to a film's success.
But Erin Wyatt will explain this and more in " Movie Trailers 101 & the Business of Film Marketing," a workshop he will lead on Saturday, presented by the Tallgrass Filmmakers Lab.
Wyatt is an award-winning producer, trailer editor and co-owner of the Los Angeles-based film and television marketing company Seismic Productions.
His work includes trailers for "27 Dresses," "The Kids Are All Right," "Sex and the City," "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' By Sapphire," "Inception," "Green Lantern" and numerous others.
A Colorado native, Wyatt moved to Los Angeles after college to pursue an acting career, but he landed a job as an office assistant at Seismic Productions instead.
He soon started toiling around on his own, learning motion graphics and Final Cut Pro editing software. After a spot Wyatt had cut for the Mark Wahlberg film "Rock Star" was a hit with clients, he became a regular trailer editor for the company. Eventually, he moved from senior editor to co-partner/co-owner of Seismic Productions.
Saturday's workshop will consist of two parts. First, Wyatt will provide an overview of movie marketing. He'll then dissect several movie trailers, providing insight into structure, length, music, graphics and voice-over techniques. He also will discuss current industry trends.
The class will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday at Integrated Media Group, 143 N. Rock Island on the third floor. The cost is $25; $20 for students/teachers/seniors/Tallgrass Film Association members. Advanced reservations are required by going to www.tallgrassfilmfest.com.
Registrants may prepay online or with cash or check at the door.
Ad Astra announcement— The Tallgrass Film Association also announced this week the recipient for its annual Ad Astra Lifetime Achievement Award, to be presented at the festival in October.
This year's award will be presented to actor Elliott Gould, whose notable career includes roles in Robert Altman's "M*A*S*H," "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice," "Bugsy" and Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's Eleven" and its sequels.
Gould will attend the festival and participate in a Q&A session at the awards presentation. The festival also will screen his most recent film, "The Encore of Tony Duran," which premiered at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
Upcoming indies — There are a slew of cool independent films coming to Wichita in the near future:
* The Murdock Theatre, 536 N. Broadway, will screen " In a Better World" —an Oscar winner for best foreign language film — Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The film follows two Danish families' hardships and a dangerous friendship that they spawn. Tickets are $7.
* The Warren Theatre (east) is bringing the Sundance Film Festival award-winning documentary " Buck" to town very soon (tentatively Friday), and the Ewan McGregor/Christopher Plummer coming-of-middle-age comedy " Beginners" on July 22.
* On Aug. 12, the Warren east is set to open Wayne Wang's latest epic " Snow Flower and the Secret Fan."
* On Aug. 26, the Warren east will open " Another Earth," about dual planet Earths and what happens to a girl who chooses to live in the alternate timeline.
