Comments on: Scripting a short film

By: steve w

steve w — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:28:20 +0000

Arghhh! im not sure what to do. I just won an award for a short 9 minute film. And now I have been writing a new film- slightly longer. I have been blessed with amazing, semi-famous actors, an amzing CG guy who wants to work on this, amazing locations and stunt team. I keep writing and the story seems to get deeper and deeper and longer and longer!! I dont think a 10 minute film, would do justice to what I have avaliable. I estimate it would roughly be about 35-40minutes in length. Is that still eligable for festivals?? Im finding it hard to keep the time down. But maybe I can make the cut to 30minutes. Its a very complicated story, with twists etc–following four characters, leading up to an event. If I make the film, not explaining everything, and every reason for this and that, leaving some bits unexplained–would that be alright? To me,as a film, it would feel incomplete and rushed–but it would also be a showcase to producers etc, that this is a strong idea and has potential to be turned into a feature…. am I wrong thinking this??? many thanks

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:54:57 +0000

Thanks John, great read.

I came across a short film/comedy on Youtube and I wanted to share it with all of you. I think it’s well put together. It’s only 7 minutes but it takes you a hilarious and wild ride. It’s called Backjumping. I’d love to create something as fast paced as this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paiC98FhPxQ

By: Kevin Ross

Kevin Ross — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:42:12 +0000

MikeO,

Thanks for the input. I am a new writer and I'm really just trying to get my feet under me right now. I honestly don't have a chance to be self indulgent yet since everything I write is normally filtered through at least three other people. Your right about the length though. I had no clue festivals programmed shorts at 10 minutes. Sorry if it sounded like a stupid question. Chalk one up for a newbie. Thanks.

By: MikeO

MikeO — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:14:01 +0000

Kevin.

Maybe the fact that just about every festival prefers to program shorts at 10 minutes and under? Also, it's easier to get a short financed and made rather than something that's going to be half a feature film. If it's half a feature, hell why not go all the way? And from a writers perspective, a discipline thing. A 40-50 minute short isn't a short, it's a TV episode and no one wants to watch a TV episode at a film festival! Expanding your short film just means that either you're right at the start of the writing journey where you write everything THEN chop it back or you're at the end and you're just being self indulgent, which is bad man, VERY BAD! :D

By: Kevin Ross

Kevin Ross — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:45:48 +0000

I’m working on a short right now and I’m really fighting the urge to expand it. What would you say are the advantages of keeping it under 20 minutes rather then stretching it out to say 40 or 50. It’s a simple take on the awkward romantic situation that is the first date. Should I sideline some character development for times sake?

By: Lisa P

Lisa P — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:14:25 +0000

"the clue is in the name"

Yes.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:26:01 +0000

I agree, it is tough to make a compelling dramatic story in short form.

I have been writing my next short and the strangest thing happened. One of the characters was screaming at me in regards to the set-up of the story. Well I never had a character talk to me like that before, so I put that story away from my hand and into my head.

It is 2 months later, and the story has completely changed. I think that character was right in telling me that a short does not allow enough time to set up and explain the somewhat complicated story.

Here it a short I made under 6 minutes……it does the dramatic visual quite well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqoMaMgunKo

By: Kirsty

Kirsty — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:48:25 +0000

Pierce, that one was so bizarre! Seemed awfully sad really… without needing to say so — in fact it reminds me of ‘Big Fish’ in that way. Totally helpful, thanks =)

By: Rafael

Rafael — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:21:41 +0000

"...but rather that if you delay any longer, your story is going to feel lopsided: too much setup for what was accomplished..."

How can you know and preach this and still like LOST!? I'm puzzled :-)

By: Pierce

Pierce — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:00:33 +0000

Thanks Kirsty for the kind remarks about my short! If it helps, there’s one more short I wrote also on the net. It won a couple of awards a few years back, so could be worth checking out (hopefully!): http://tw.video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1338066

By: MikeO

MikeO — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:37:59 +0000

If there’s one thing I hate, it’s watching a short film that is essentially either an elaborate knock knock joke, an ‘urban legend’, a variety of ‘whoops vicar, my trousers just fell down’ kind of a skit or some kitchen sink misery fest with no empathy. My heart sinks like a torpedoed battleship whenever I come across one at festivals. As for comedy… seeing as it’s practically the hardest thing to write well ever, I fail to see how writing it as a short is any easier. I’d always try and go for the human drama told visually, cinematically and under 15 mins max as if there’s also another thing fests hate are long winded short films (the clue is in the name!).