What Makes a Documentary Meaningful?

By Jeremy Snead, Founder of Mediajuice Studios

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When I embarked on the journey of creating documentaries like Video Games: The Movie and Playing with Power: The Nintendo Story, I wasn’t just aiming to chronicle events—I wanted to capture the essence of stories that shaped cultures and generations. But what truly makes a documentary meaningful? Through my experiences, I’ve identified key elements that resonate deeply with audiences.

1. Authentic Storytelling

A documentary’s power lies in its authenticity. It’s about presenting facts while weaving a narrative that connects emotionally. In Video Games: The Movie, we didn’t just chart the evolution of games; we delved into the cultural impact, personal stories, and the passion that fuels the gaming community. This approach transformed a historical account into a relatable journey for viewers.

2. Comprehensive Research

Depth comes from diligent research. For Playing with Power: The Nintendo Story, we explored Nintendo’s origins, challenges, and innovations. By uncovering lesser-known anecdotes and insights, we provided viewers with a fresh perspective on a familiar brand, enriching their understanding and appreciation.

3. Engaging Visuals and Sound

A meaningful documentary captivates both visually and aurally. We utilized dynamic graphics, archival footage, and compelling soundtracks to immerse viewers in the eras we depicted. This sensory engagement enhances the storytelling, making the content more impactful and memorable.

4. Diverse Perspectives

Incorporating varied viewpoints adds richness to the narrative. By featuring interviews with industry pioneers, critics, and fans, we presented a holistic view of the gaming world’s evolution. This diversity ensures that the documentary resonates with a broader audience, offering multiple angles to the story.

5. Emotional Connection

At its core, a documentary should touch the heart. By highlighting personal stories, challenges overcome, and moments of triumph, we created an emotional thread that viewers could connect with, making the documentary not just informative but also profoundly moving.

6. Relevance to Contemporary Issues

Connecting past events to present-day scenarios adds relevance. By linking historical developments in gaming to current trends, we showcased the enduring influence of these stories, prompting viewers to reflect on the ongoing impact in today’s context.

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Crafting a meaningful documentary is a meticulous process that blends factual accuracy with compelling storytelling. It’s about honoring the subject matter while engaging the audience on an emotional level. Through authenticity, thorough research, engaging visuals, diverse perspectives, emotional depth, and contemporary relevance, documentaries can transcend mere information delivery, becoming powerful narratives that inspire, educate, and resonate long after the credits roll.

Jeremy Snead is the founder of Mediajuice Studios, an award-winning film and television production studio based in Dallas, TX. He has directed numerous commercials, video game trailers, short films, and music videos for companies like Hasbro, Activision, and Capcom. His passion for storytelling led him to create impactful documentaries that explore the rich histories of cultural phenomena.

What Makes a Great Video Game Trailer?
By Jeremy Snead, Founder of Mediajuice Studios

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 20+ years of crafting trailers, documentaries, and marketing content for the video game industry, it’s this: a great video game trailer isn’t just about flashy visuals and cool music—it’s about storytelling.

I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the best studios in the business, from Gearbox Entertainment and 2K Games to CAPCOM, helping bring their worlds to life in a way that excites, intrigues, and ultimately sells. And whether it’s an epic cinematic reveal or a punchy gameplay teaser, every great trailer shares the same core ingredients. Let’s break it down.

1. It Starts with Emotion 

A trailer’s job isn’t just to show what a game is, but to make you feel something about it. Is it exhilarating? Mysterious? Heart-pounding? That first impression is everything.

Take the “Borderlands 3” Mayhem  Trailer we created for Gearbox. Fans knew another Borderlands game was coming, but our job was to make them feel the mayhem. We used high-energy music, kinetic editing, and bombastic character reveals to instantly grab attention. The moment you hear that classic “Children of the Vault” chant, you know you’re in for something big.

2. Know Your Audience, Speak Their Language 

A trailer isn’t just for anyone—it’s for the players. Understanding who you’re talking to changes everything. Are they longtime fans who crave deep lore? Are they newcomers who need a quick hook?

For the “Adagio for Homeworld: Creating the Sounds of Homeworld 3,” we knew Homeworld fans are passionate about the franchise’s rich sci-fi storytelling. So instead of leaning purely on flashy gameplay, we emphasized the emotional weight of the score, giving viewers a sense of history and purpose—because that’s what makes Homeworld special.

3. A Killer Hook in the First 5 Seconds 

The average attention span online? Brutally short. You have just seconds to pull someone in, or they scroll away. That’s why every great trailer grabs you immediately—whether it’s a jaw-dropping moment, a powerful line of dialogue, or a killer piece of music.

4. Music & Sound: The Secret Weapons 

People often underestimate how much sound makes or breaks a trailer. Music sets the tone, while sound design brings weight and impact to every moment.

For the “The Cost of Joy” We Happy Few Mini-Doc, we combined haunting, 1960s-style music with eerie, unsettling sound design to immerse players in the dystopian world. That juxtaposition between cheerful tunes and dark subject matter? That’s what made it unforgettable.

5. Cinematic vs. Gameplay: The Perfect Blend 

A common debate: Should a trailer be cinematic or gameplay-focused? The answer? Both—depending on the goal.

• Cinematic Trailers (like our work on Borderlands 3) build hype and establish a game’s world.
• Gameplay Trailers (like our Homeworld 3 reveal) show off mechanics and get players excited to play.
• Hybrid Trailers blend both, giving players story and gameplay in one package.

6. A Call to Action (Without Overdoing It) 

Every great trailer should leave you thinking, I need this game. But there’s a balance—you don’t want it to feel too salesy. The key? End on a high note: a shocking moment, a killer one-liner, or a release date drop.

Sometimes it is best to lean into high-energy action, quirky humor, and a bold “AVAILABLE NOW” punch at the end—because at that point, the goal was to drive immediate sales.

Final Thoughts 

A great game deserves a great trailer. And while every project is different, the core principles never change: emotion, audience connection, a killer hook, impactful sound, and the right balance of story and gameplay.

At Mediajuice Studios, we’ve spent years perfecting this craft, helping some of the biggest (and smallest) studios in the world bring their games to life in ways that excite players and sell copies.

So, if you’re working on something special and need a trailer that hits all the right notes—you know where to find us. 😉

What are your favorite game trailers of all time? Drop them in the comments below! 

#GameTrailers #Marketing #GameDev #MediajuiceStudios #Gearbox #AAA #IndieGames

 

Welcome to the Mediajuice Podcast, featuring Mediajuice founder and CEO Jeremy Snead. Join Jeremy and his podcast producer Jeremiah Isley every week as they give you an insider’s view of filmmaking, production, video games, and chat with guests known for their work both behind and in front of the camera!

The lovely and talented Alison Haislip returns to the Mediajuice Podcast! Ever wondered how Alison broke into the business? Wonder no more because we hear it all right here in her second appearance on the show. From 8th grade drama class to bartending in Hollywood to being cast on The Voice to G4 and Battleground, this is one you don’t want to miss. In the behind-the-curtain segment, Mediajuice founder Jeremy Snead breaks down the pitch process and finally, the guys talk Solo: A Star Wars Story and Avengers: Infinity War in cutscenes. Pull up a chair and settle in because this episode is truly epic!