INTOTHEIBFILM

Make use of film as a visual medium:

Short films don't necessarily have to be about strong, economical dialogue (though we will do our best to produce a decent script).  Visual epiphanies are just as important; so are moody moments of pure color, texture, and sound, as well as other evocative, raw images.  Consider replacing non-vital dialogue with pure reactions and other meaningful, visual moments. 

 

 

Writer/Director clearly demonstrates a personal connection to the story:

It's important to find something that not only inspires you but something that becomes an extension of who you are.  Keep your topic personal; you don’t need to address huge themes. By keeping your focus narrow, you will address those themes better than you could have imagined.

The Crush’s screenwriter likely thought, What if I had taken that crush to the next level?

Blomkamp's films generally resonate around South Africas struggle with Apartheid.

 

 

Tell a story of one character’s or couple’s journey—but no more:

Shorts don’t overreach. Remember: A short film is not a feature. It has little room for subplots, secondary characters, montages, or epic scope. It covers a single dilemma and resolves it in some way by the end. Too often, writers attempt to confront multiple dilemmas, introduce us to more than two main characters, or recreate a whole chunk of their feature film. A short is not the place for any of that. It’s the chance to attack one major scene or conflict—nothing more. 

 

 

Use available resources:

No huge explosions, unless your rich and have them at your fingertips -  Instead, drama and tension come from highly personal stories that take place mostly in enclosed environments (because those are easiest to film in). Don’t try to replicate movies with budgets of hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars—because you can’t. Just make what you have look as good as possible - however you also have one of the most vibrant cities on earth at your fingertipsd with some of the worst light polution known for humans, which is ironically great for filmmakers on a low budget with no lights.

 

 

Feature Memorable Characters:

Film and TV are about characters; even the biggest special-effects-heavy movies are nothing without memorable leads. short films demonstrate that the filmmakers can build characters that sear themselves in our mind, even in the space of just 10 or 15 minutes. Plot, twists, and story are all important, but without someone we can empathize with, your film will be forgotten.

 

 

There’s a twist at the beginning and a twist at the end:

Story is unpredictable; we’re constantly kept on our toes. And the endings bring an even deeper surprise. 

This is what viewers want in every television show, feature film, and short film, no matter what the genre: Set up our expectations, then subvert them.

 

 

Outlook is largely optimistic (or they at least end on an upbeat note)

It’s relatively easy to say something cynical about human nature, relationships, or people’s greed. But can you find something positive in even the darkest story, while still being true to your vision? If you can leave the viewer with at least a moderately positive impression, they’ll be more likely to remember your work. This isn’t to say that you need to add an upbeat, rom-com-style ending to a story that doesn’t warrant it.

 

 

If you can create memorable characters, demonstrate a unique worldview, and use the visual medium of film to demonstrate your personal connection to an intriguing, unpredictable situation, you’ll create a short film that everyone wants to see. Think Level 7 and grab for it.