The Powerful Tactics of Short Film Production

The ability to create a short film that leaves a lasting impact on viewers is one of the biggest skills any film-maker can demonstrate. Capturing the minds of your audience in a couple of hours can often prove a difficult task but achieving this in a much shorter time frame can only be described as phenomenal.

Film festivals have been a well-known favourite platform for short filmmakers to be seen but with the increase in online video platforms such as YouTube; short films can now go global easier than ever before.

If you are new to making short films it is important not to become overwhelmed by the task ahead. Adopting several basic tactics will help you create the masterpiece you are looking for:

1.    Keep it basic – The story you want to tell should only be a few minutes long covering a 1-2 page script. Of course, the finished product will end up a bit longer but this will occur naturally in the production process. Pinpointing what you want to say right at the beginning will create a clear film plot and save time on extensive editing in due course.

2.    Test the waters – Roughly mock-up your story and put it out there to “test” audience response. Gaining honest feedback can help you spot holes in your storyline that may not be obvious to you. This feedback will allow you to evolve as a short filmmaker and refine the story in hand.

3.    Don’t skimp on production quality – In a first world country where everyone has expensive phones and video cameras at their disposal, it can be easy to fall into the trap of deciding to film yourself. When you are ready to produce your film, investing that little bit of your budget on professional production will reap huge benefits in the quality of the finished product. Many extremely powerful short-films have been masked by poor filming/ editing resulting in resounding criticism.

4.    Don’t give up – Even if your first, second or third short films don’t get the desired reaction, don’t give up. The more you do, the more you will learn and harness your skills.

Getting professional expertise involved from the beginning of the process can save you hours of stress and worry. Don’t let the unknown put you off, now is the time to embrace your creativity and share your stories with the world.