What is a short film? - Writer's Codex - FORUMS - Filmnet Messageboard - Australian Film & TV Industry Message board. - Message Board - Yuku

0 Kudo

Add Reply New Topic New Poll

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

What is a short film?

Author	Comment
Scrible	What is a short film?	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1 (13/10/09 04:13 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	What is a short film? I know it's probably a weird question, but I'm use to reading, writing and studying feature length scripts. I'm use to the the 3 Act structure. I want to start getting into writng short films but am unsure of the short film structure. Can anyone point me to a reference (book, film or website) that I can learn more from? Cheers
Glen Crawford		#1	[-]
Posts: 426 (19/10/09 09:34 PM) Mega Star Filmnetter Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	To me at least, a short film is a 3 minute waste of my time. I haven't seen one yet I really liked, and I refuse to write them, even though in Queensland to be considered for screenwriting support from the PFTC you must have at least one short film produced and shown at festivals. To me they're a complete and utter waste of money, and have Buckleys of ever making any money no matter how good they are. Sorry, I'm being cynical, but it's the truth! Cheers, Glen.
Scrible		#2	[-]
Posts: 2 (21/10/09 12:45 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I'll agree with you glen that most short films (a bit like feature length films) are a waste of time and money, but it is the price we have to pay for in order to get to the really good stuff. Carmichael and Shane - Tropfest Finalist Australia 2006 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JTc9IvPybc I haven't seen many short films, but his one is definitely one of my favorites. The Story of Bubble Boy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmsu1N9c4L8 is pretty good too. Anyone know a good a link to any other good short films?
bernardlau		#3	[-]
Posts: 50 (26/10/09 11:30 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	The Portable Film Festival website has a pretty good collection of short films. I also liked a few shorts at Atomfilms from a few years ago, but now they've turned a bit weird... http://www.niceshorts.com.au/ was started by a fellow SCA alumni of mine who won a Cannes Short Film award for "The Haircut". Also, depending on where and who you ask, short films mean different things. From memory, Cannes and the Oscars consider anything under 60minutes to be a short film. Sundance considers anything under 45 minutes to be a short film. Then you have Tropfest, which is anything under 7minutes. To me, the ideal short film time is about 15minutes. Which can definitely accomodate a 3 act structure as well as enough time to build character/situation. Then there was that Speilberg comp, On The Lot, where contestants made 2 minute short films! Which really, are more like advertisments that try to sell a pitch instead. A blog I read is http://thestorydepartment.com.au/ There was a section with links to short film writing tips... I can't find it now though. Maybe you can. To me, I believe in Short Films as a good stepping stone for aspiring filmmakers before they delve into feature length films. Bernard Lau - Indie Filmaker - www.silverkottage.com.au Sony FX1 . Beachtek DXA-4 . Rode NTG-2 Shotgun Mic . Manfrotto 595B Fig Rig . Manfrotto 745B Aluminium Tripod
tswheaton		#4	[-]
Posts: 5 (26/10/09 09:02 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Short films can/should still follow a 3 act structure - just they do it a lot quicker, and the final act is often very very quick. The best short films in my opinion have a twist ending. The film that stands out for me was shown to me whilst I was at Griffith Film School. It was from the UK, and had won awards there - made by professionals, not amateurs. Basically it introduced a young teen girl who came from a broken family. We saw her expressing her hopes and dreams, and later how she was wishing to live with her dad and his new family. The film ended with the girl walking along a canal, and dumping a bag into the canal. Her voice over revealed how she didn't wish to jeperdise her chances of living her with father... and then as she walked away, we saw the contents of the bag floating down the canal - an infant newborn. As noted, making short films is a way to get yourself noticed in the film/tv world. My lecturer also showed us a short film made by a film student in the USA. The film won the student version of the Oscars, and the writer went on to receive backing to make a feature film - Desperately Seeking Susan. Until I went to film school, or was thinking of going to film school, I also had no interest in the genre. Even now I've made my own, I can't say it's something I seek to watch a lot of, but I will say that when I see a good short, it can really blow your mind.
Scrible		#5	[-]
Posts: 3 (06/11/09 07:13 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	thanks for the replies and the great links bernard

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Add Reply

Quick Reply