Anyone done one?
I've got a script I really like. It's a comedy drama monologue and I would like to shoot it as a short film - 15 mins.
This raises two questions:
1. Where can I find someone to make it happen?
2. Why? I mean what is the point of Short Films?
If you can answer either of these questions it would be lovely to hear from you.
merry chrimble
warbs
There are many opportunities with shorts. A real good short put on YouTube can bring a monthly income. If popular you get advertising. There are some getting monies of high amounts monthly.
Quote: jdubya @ December 17 2008, 11:25 AM GMTAnyone done one?
Here's a monologue I made earlier. Click on full screen and it should be clearer.
http://www.channel4.com/4laughs/enjoy/userMediaDetails.jsp?userMediaId=1014
I made a thirteen minute one but haven't got it digital yet.
Like anything - it's worth doing if you enjoy it.
Quote: Marc P @ December 17 2008, 11:38 AM GMTLike anything - it's worth doing if you enjoy it.
Rape? Murder?
Quote: jdubya @ December 17 2008, 11:25 AM GMTAnyone done one?
I've got a script I really like. It's a comedy drama monologue and I would like to shoot it as a short film - 15 mins.
This raises two questions:
1. Where can I find someone to make it happen?
2. Why? I mean what is the point of Short Films?
If you can answer either of these questions it would be lovely to hear from you.
merry chrimble
warbs
If it's a good script you won't have much difficulty finding a willing film maker on Shooting People. Whether of not they're up to the task of doing your script justice is for you to decide.
Short films are really just a calling card for a writer/director - there's no money in them. That said, they're a great way to get a foundation in the practical aspects of film making, and things like understanding budget and directing actors can end up illuminating the writing process.
Quote: David Bussell @ December 17 2008, 11:42 AM GMTIf it's a good script you won't have much difficulty finding a willing film maker on Shooting People. Whether of not they're up to the task of doing your script justice is for you to decide.
Short films are really just a calling card for a writer/director - there's no money in them. That said, they're a great way to get a foundation in the practical aspects of film making, and things like understanding budget and directing actors can end up illuminating the writing process.
er....... I know there is monies to be made on YouTube. Look at advertising on some. This guy makes around 20,000 american dollars monthly.
Quote: jdubya @ December 17 2008, 11:25 AM GMTAnyone done one?
I've got a script I really like. It's a comedy drama monologue and I would like to shoot it as a short film - 15 mins.
This raises two questions:
1. Where can I find someone to make it happen?
2. Why? I mean what is the point of Short Films?
If you can answer either of these questions it would be lovely to hear from you.
merry chrimble
warbs
Hi jdubya,
I have written, produced and directed two, short silent films. This is going to sound very patronising but it isn't: If you've written it then you've already found someone to make it happen and that person is you.
If you're serious about doing it and like me you are a perfectionist when it comes to production values, then I'd say you could easily produce this on a very tight budget. It cost me about £1500: I put up an ad on the Arts council mailing list for a cameraman, editor and music composer. These are the two skills I was ready to pay for and although what I was offering wasn't the going rate by far, it was a good incentive. It also helped that we had the same dark sense of humour. It worked well because we all 'got it'.
The rest of the crew and actresses were fed, watered and transported to different locations.
2. Why short films? Well I have a short attention span when it comes to writing so I started with a short film-and continue to enjoy writing sketches as well. They are succinct, cheaper to film and great for short stories.
Put it (your film) up on YouTube, Live Video etc and send the DVD off to prodcos. Yes it's expensive but you'll be glad you had control over your work and it beats getting any old camera and knocking up something that looks haphazard.
OK now I'm going to preach: Don't hang around and wait for others to make things happen. Make your film, send it out and *then* see what happens.
Umm peace out, man. 
Quote: Dr Mato @ December 17 2008, 11:48 AM GMTer....... I know there is monies to be made on YouTube. Look at advertising on some. This guy makes around 20,000 american dollars monthly.
When John said "short film" I'm sure he didn't mean "pissing about with a cat on YouTube."
Quote: oldcowgrazing @ December 17 2008, 12:01 PM GMTHi jdubya,
I have written, produced and directed two, short silent films.
Let's see them then!
There's also talentcircle.org where you can pitch your script.
I've got a short film script I'd love to make but it's quite ambitious and wouldn't be the cheapest, easiest thing to film.
Quote: David Bussell @ December 17 2008, 12:06 PM GMTLet's see them then!
Here's one.
http://www.livevideo.com/video/EFCADA052ECA478B9CEC9EC12F75C30A/cut-up.aspx
and the second one you can't because I didn't upload it.
Enjoy!
Oh yes forgot to say I also paid for a prosthetics artist.
I agree, you should make it yourself. There's probably noone who can make it better than you.
A calling card and internet fame is good, but for me I'd just love to put something into a few film festivals and then sit at the back and watch a theatre full of people laugh at it.....err, in a good way I hope! That must be quite a buzz!
When John said "short film" I'm sure he didn't mean "pissing about with a cat on YouTube.
Maybe not, but it is a way to make monies. I have seen some clips on here from members that are better than the cat guy............just giving ways to have incomes while you work on the real gig. So there!
Quote: oldcowgrazing @ December 17 2008, 12:14 PM GMTHere's one.
http://www.livevideo.com/video/EFCADA052ECA478B9CEC9EC12F75C30A/cut-up.aspx
For some reason I can get it to load but not play. I'll try it on my home computer later.
You can always go to your local film agency. The latest round of lottery scheme funding has passed, mind you, but they may be able to offer help and advice on getting your film made, which may or may not include money to develop your script or even make it, particularly if you can demonstrate to them that making the film would enhance your chosen career path.
As for why... good question. Depends what you want from it. It can start you off on a career path that can culminate in writing/directing a feature, but that's a long way down the road. If it's shown in festivals, you get to hobnob with other filmmakers and you're more likely to get money to make your next film.
A short film is a great way to deliver your "vision" unadulterated, with little or no outside influence.
You get to learn. Make mistakes. Discover what works and what doesn't in terms of presenting your ideas visually.
And you never know who's watching these things. Someone from the BBC features department saw The Curse of Jeff and asked if I had any ideas for feature films. I was drunk. I said "no". But still.. Another one of mine got some interest from nickleodeon, who were briefly interested in having me make some little films for between their lovely cartoons. Then the dude who was interested got sacked. But still...
As for money - you'll rarely make cash out of them. think of a short film as a calling card. A way to show what you can do, what your "vision" of filmmaking is, what your style of comedy should be if you have complete control.
Um.. that's a bit waffly, but I think the gist is there.
I've directed three short films; two studio-produced animated ones and a self-financed mockumentary. I've also started making a few that never got finished.
The animated films both went to a lot of festivals and won awards and got me a Bafta nomination; and I got to visit Finland, Korea, the States, Turkey and a bunch of other countries, and meet Robert Redford, twice, and get drunk on someone else's tab.
What I should have done was not get drunk, and use the chance to pitch more lengthy projects to the producers I met - but I was young and very foolish, and totally unaware of how many opportunities I was blowing.
I wrote about making two of the no-budget ones here:
http://somegreybloke.blogspot.com/2008/11/no-budget-film-making-highs.html
and
http://somegreybloke.blogspot.com/2008/11/no-budget-film-making-lows.html
Regarding the YouTube cat guy, "Mr Safety" - he's a bit of an anomaly. There aren't many people who regularly get millions of viewers on YouTube; I would guess around about a dozen. I've been putting videos up every fortnight for 18 months and get an average of 20,000 views per video. Total advertising revenue over the last year: 129 dollars.
I've kept my day job.