How to Create a Short Movie

Short movies are often a stepping stone to feature-length films.

A short movie may be anywhere in length from a couple of minutes to an hour. You may make one in a matter of days or take several weeks. Use your short movie as a calling card film to seek representation from an agent or manager. Enter your short movie in competition and where film festivals have programs dedicated to them exclusively.

Instructions

1. Develop a captivating idea that will immediately make the viewers want to watch. With a short film you only have moments to gain the audiences attention.

2. Write a short screenplay or collaborate with a screenwriter.

3. Budget your screenplay and plan your shoot. You need to have a realistic idea of what it will cost and how many days you will need to shoot it.

4. Hire a production crew. At the very least you will need a cinematographer/camera operator, soundman, editor and producer. Your producer is usually the person who helps budget your movie and manages the different aspects of production while you are making the film.

5. Rent or purchase production equipment. If you are shooting on film it will be cheaper to rent. If you are shooting on digital video there are several consumer grade digital video cameras that will get the job done. You will also need a lighting package and sound equipment.

6. Hire actors or convince any actors you know to be in your film. The chances of your film turning out well dramatically increase with the use of professional actors.

7. Film your movie. Follow the scheduling plan. Stay within the budget and scope of the screenplay.

8. Edit the raw footage and mix the sound once you are done shooting to complete your movie.

Tips & Warnings

• Short films under 30 minutes are preferred by film festivals. They only have so much time allotted to their shorts programs so the shorter the film, the more likely it is to find a place to play.

• Many established actors work on short movies. If your budget allows they are worth pursuing.

• Depending on the budget of your film, professional or student actors might not be needed. Other personnel, such as a producer, editor or cinematographer also might not be needed since you can do these yourself if absolutely necessary.

• You can take as much or little time as you like to edit your film. It is best to take as long as necessary to make the best version possible.

• You should hire a composer or have someone you know create music for the film.

• A soundman is absolutely essential and your movie will be terrible if no can hear what the characters are saying or doing.

• Do not use music in you film that you do not own the copyright to. If you do you will be pursued by the copyright owner, usually the record company, and sued.

• Do not prominently feature brand names or trademarks in your film that you do not own. You may be open to a lawsuit if you do.

References

• Youth Central; How to make a short film; David Roving
• The Filmlot; Creating a Successful Short Film; Warren Eig