Conventions of

short films

•By Hamza Butt & Tristen Smith

Running

time

• Short films are usually 5-10 minutes long. In short films they tends to be only a few main characters and no secondary actors, the reason why they do this is because they is not enough time to introduce these characters to the story.• Short films are not as popular in the

US as they are in the UK, the UK show them to people through film festivals.

Narrative

• Short films are probably best known for having a message within the narrative, most messages which are portrayed through short films are mainly to do with social lifestyle, religion, race or history.

• Short films are a lot popular in the UK as they are a lot more realistic narratives and messages whereas in America they have their own industry so short films are not as recognised there.

Budget and

funding

• Short films are not like long length features which have a huge star cast and a even larger budget to make the film. They are made on a very low budget and sometimes they have no budget

• If they tend to need funding in the UK they would get their funding from the BFI.

• As I said before they is no huge cast included in a short film people playing the characters will probably be people who are either aspiring actors or directors.

Character

s

• In a short film there is typically 3-4 main characters who all have significance within the movie.

• For a short film it is best not to have to many characters as this means that they will need to be much more development on each character and in a short film there is not enough time for that.

• Most of the time there is only one main protagonist who is either trying to portray a message to a group of people or is trying to achieve something.

Content

with a

twist

• A short film has to have a twist included within its plot as if they is no twist or something for the viewer to look forward to then they may not be any reason the viewer watching the film.

• Most of the time with short films the twist in the story is kept at the end of the story they do this so that it will become worth watching for the viewer and also keep them interested.

Camera,

technical ideas

and themes

• With short films you will never see effects such as CGI being used as they don’t have the budget or equipment, typical equipment used by a director of a short film will be a tripod and a full HD digital cinema camera.

• These are all the essential pieces of equipment needed to create a high quality short film.