Simple Secrets to make a Short Film
Young, ignited minds of deep thinkers and revolutionaries are always fascinated by a strong yet a beautiful documentary that would lighten up the way for their wandering minds in the darkness of the midnight. Short films are gaining so much popularity these days that a special category for best short films is being introduced in the highest academic awards. Producers and directors strive to make a film that would send the message for a short duration. Even though the documentaries and short films are attracting the youth, the makers have to be very careful and discrete about the theme they choose. There are some basic things that a good filmmaker keeps in mind before directing. Let us look at a few of them here.
● Main Character selection
One of the most frustrating restraint for a casting director or a scriptwriter for a short film is to decide the lead character. The film being of a short duration, you cannot confuse or bore the audience of two or more than two main characters. This reduces the intensity of the message you wish to pass and some way or the other, hinder the reach of your film. You can include one character an incident in a routine life or you can include a couple if you wish to portray a love story. This will keep the focus of the audience on just one character and they will not deviate from the main plot.
● Keep it real
No, the short films are not about Tom Cruise sliding from a building or Brad Pitt breaking jaws. It is about depicting real incidents and a normal human behavior. The short film cannot include a car chase or bank robbery. When you are making a short film, make sure that the script does not demand stunts that are not possible in real life. You can show a life journey of a man or an intense conversation between a man and a woman or a life of a storyteller, but stunts are a big no.
● Long-lasting impression
The character plays the most important role in making a strong impression in the viewer’s mind. The script should be such that it hits the viewer in the soul, so heart-warming that it reduces the suffer and so beautiful that it brings a smile to a crying face. Short films should not have a plot that is copied from a blockbuster romantic movie or a blockbuster drama. The plot should be original even if it is inspired from some other movie or a drama.
● Twist in the tale
What makes short films so special? Of course, the plot. Short films generally are written in such a way that the audience watches an unexpected beginning with an unexpected end. There can be various turns in the film too. But again, make sure you do not overdo it. If the twists are too much in a very short time, it will distract the audience and it will not make an impact as you wanted to. The beginning can be planned with a small twist after the introduction but after that, the story should go straight. Again, in the end you can put some twist which will hit the audience just right and your motive will be fulfilled.
● Use the media wisely
Visual media is something that has the strongest impact on one’s mind. If you show something very depressing or very dark, the audience may not like it at all. Different people have different receptions. Depressing drama is not one of them. When you are making a film and even if you want to add some dark part, make sure it does not last for more than a minute. Visual media can be the best or the worst depending on how you use it. So, use it wisely.
● Don’t make it too clichéd
Again, originality is the best. Don’t use the old ideas and the ways that every other director has been showing. Try and explore for something new. This will take extensive research but in the end, results will be all good. So, always have your mind open to receiving new ideas from your daily lives which will give the best plot for your film.
● Happy endings
Short films are known for spreading optimistic vibes by keeping reality in mind. If you are keeping the end part sad, there is no point in watching the short film. The short film is all about how you look at things, perspective towards life and how not to lose hope at any point of time in life.
These are some small secrets and tips that you can use if you are amateur making a short film. Keep it simple yet beautiful and strong.
