The Art of the Short Film

One of the best ways to start your career in the film industry is by creating short films. But even if you are not just starting your career, short films have become powerful tools for filmmakers to use to help advance their careers. As the Sundance Institute puts it, “Shorts have and will continue to be an important part of cinema, storytelling, and culture.” In this blog, we are going to explore the short film and how mastering it could help you. 

What is Considered a Short Film?

The easiest answer to this question is simply in its title; a short film is a film that has a short running time. To be more specific though, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science award rules define a short film as “an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes or less.” The official Academy Award categories only include animated short films, live-action short films, and documentary short films; however, creatives can experiment with other types of short films outside of those categories. The category of short film excludes advertising, sequences from full feature-length films, unaired episodes, or unsold pilots of TV series. 

As a whole, though, a short film is not very different from a feature film. They both have the same creative processes and work to tell a visual story. The only difference is that a short film is shorter in running time. 

The Types of Short Films

There are three most popular types of short films: animated, live-action, and documentary. That said, there are many other forms that a short film can take that can be considered; short film music videos have become more popular, and more experimental films will always have a place in short films. 

1. Animated Short Films: Animated shorts account for short films using stop-motion, 2D or 3D animation, or other animated techniques. Generally, they are easier for smaller groups of animators to create than a feature-length and can exhibit various art styles and techniques.  

2. Live-Action Short Films: Live-action shorts, similar to live-action features, involve a scripted story with live actors. 

3. Documentary Short Films: Just like feature-length documentaries, a documentary short is a film that follows and documents certain subjects to piece together a real-world story.

Why Make a Short Film?

There are many reasons why one should make a short film. Often, short films are thought of as something that only amateurs and students create to work on their skills before they find better jobs. Creating short films does not just have to be for students to practice though. Even working, well-known directors will create short films from time to time. 

Here are some reasons to make a short film:

1. To showcase your talent to potential employers and collaborators: Whether you are a burgeoning filmmaker or someone who just wants to update their portfolio with new work, creating a short film can help you show people your talents and what sort of storytelling vision you have. Using your short film as a sample or to help build your portfolio is a great way to show collaborators what you are capable of for potential or future opportunities. 

2. To try out new techniques or “proof of concept”: Making a short film gives a filmmaker the opportunity to try out new techniques in a more controlled and limited scope that they might not be able to do when working on a large, big-budget feature film. There can be lower stakes with a short film which allows you to try some new techniques out. With that short films are commonly used as “proof of concept,” meaning that filmmakers will make a shorter, abridged version of their vision, perhaps something that they wish to turn into a full feature film, to see if the story works. It helps to see how a particular story or emotion will translate if you have something to view. It is almost like creating a model of a building before construction. Many famous filmmakers have used short films as a blueprint for their feature films, such as Wes Anderson’s debut feature film Bottle Rocket which was based on his short film of the same name.

3. Use it as a sample: When you are working with many other collaborators or have a big studio or network backing you, they will often want some sort of sample or proof of vision. Shooting smaller chunks of your film can help you show your collaborators what you envision the final film to look like and potentially help you find more supporters.

4. Cheaper in budget: If you are tight on budget, short films are naturally cheaper to produce than feature-length films as there are fewer shoot days and typically are less elaborate and involved. Working on a short film might allow you to continue to be creative while you find funds for your larger projects.

5. Some stories may fit better in a short format: Some stories are concise and can be told well with a short run time. When creating films, one should never be trying to add more scenes, dialogue, or elements that are not important to the story.

Some Tips to Master the Art of Creating a Short Film  

Now that there are many reasons why you might want to create a short film, here are some tips that will help you improve your craft and create a short film. 

1. Length: Most short films fall between 5 to 25 minutes. It is meant to be short, so don’t try to drag out the story just because you can. These stories are meant to be concise. This means that if there is any unnecessary scenes or dialogue don’t hesitate to cut it out.

2. Budget: While it is true that the more money you can put into a project, the more resources you will have available; however, that isn’t necessary to make a good film. If you are making a short film because you don’t think you will have enough money for a feature film with all the bells and whistles you want, that’s okay. Just make sure to narrow down your ideas and find the specific ideas and techniques that you want to try so that you can learn what works and what doesn’t. You don’t want to be over-ambitious if you have a tight budget, but stay creative and find new ways to achieve what you want to achieve. 

3. Crew: Make sure you are working with reliable and hardworking crew members. Often, you work with a tighter budget and fewer resources for a short film. You and your crew will have to get creative and work with less than you are used to with a feature film. You want to know that you can rely on your crew members and that you all have mutual trust and interest in the project. That said, take care of your crew. It may be harder with a tight schedule or less money but a little can go a long way. These people are working hard to create your vision, so make sure you don’t make the experience unpleasant. Ensure they have water and maybe some snacks, write them personal thank you notes, and generally be kind. The better environment you make on your set, the more willing people are to work for you.

4. Understand and be involved in the process from idea to finished film: The more you try to learn about the entirety of creating a film, the more prepared you are going to be for anything that happens. It might involve a lot of prep and plan Bs but it will be worth it when you finish your film the way you want it to be. 

5. It is no different than creating a regular feature film: You are going to go through the same development process, scripting process, casting process, prep, shooting, and post-production. That’s what makes creating short films such good practice for filmmakers. Treat the processes as seriously as you would treat a feature film. 

When Your Film is Complete

There are many different things that you can do with your short film when it is completed. If getting an Oscar is your goal, your short film could be the answer. You must find a way to qualify for the nomination, but who knows, your short film may be Oscar-worthy. If that is not quite for you and your short film, though, you can use it as a sample and include it in your portfolio for future collaborators and employers. You should also make sure to find an opportunity to screen it! Share the film and celebrate the hard work you and your crew put in. You might want to do a private screening with your friends and family, share it on social media and the internet, or enter it into a film festival. 

Just because you’ve finished your short film doesn’t mean its story must end so find ways to share your film, and maybe even use it as inspiration for your future work. The short film is a very powerful tool for a filmmaker so learn how to master it.

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