"How to Make a Short Film: Important Tips and Advice"
video by D4Darious (https://youtu.be/PaIEaciHvXI)
length: 45 seconds - 40 minutes
- the shorter the better
- for film festivals: 1-15 minutes
- Know your resources
- use what you own, can you lend from a friend of have money for
- Show don't tell
- "Film is a visual medium. You communicate with images. You're telling stories with pictures. It's the most economic way to tell a story."
- show the things you're trying to communicate about a character
- Strong opener
- e.g. action, conflict, interesting shot
- powerful, engaging
- Conflict
- it's what makes it interesting
- Not a feature
- you can't show 2 hours of content in 10 minutes
- Minimize backstory
- the subject matter should not require it
- Avoid narration
- a narrative tool that has been overused to the point of being clichè
- use cases: contradiction to what is seen, irony
- it should add value/ content/ another perspective
- Filmic subject
- something that you can point a camera at
- characters with a goal outside of themselves
- Event based
- protagonist → obstacle / conflict → choice for resolution: stakes, pros & cons ⇒ dilemma → resolution
- Minimize # of characters
- e.g. 2-4
- Locations
- should also be minimized
- write for locations that are interesting and practical
- Risks
- because the invested time of the audience is much smaller than for a feature film, they will be much more willing to follow along even with characters they don't like
- Write what your know
- stories will feel more authentic and original if the come from a place of experience and honesty
- Watch a ton of shorts
- you can get ideas, but also know what has been done, done, and re-done
Short Film Analysis Elements
video by D4Darious
- title, thumbnail
- synopsis
- plot structure / story structure
- center: goal
- set-up
- inciting incident: new problem presented, plan to solve it must be executed
- rising action
- climax
- resolution
- colors / color palette / color grading
- production design
- shots
- depth
- premise, genre
- rule of thirds
- music / score
- target audience