A short film is a film which is significantly shorter than a feature film and even shorter than a featurette. There are no set boundaries for the exact length of running time for a short film however they are usually anywhere between 3-40 minutes long. They are most often made on a small budget by independent filmmakers which has led to one of the main conventions of short films being a simplistic and low production value.
Major media companies will only usually make short films in order to support a larger brand or project. Dreamworks Animation will often produce short sequels which are released with video releases of major feature films. Pixar took short films even further when they produced and released a short film alongside each of their feature films released between 1995-2001. More recently, Disney’s Frozen was shown in theatres with an included new Mickey Mouse short film entitled, Get A Horse! which appears before the film.
Independent filmmakers will usually begin by creating short films in order to gain experience in the industry, some recognition, and material for a portfolio. They will usually rely on film festivals in order to get their film shown. However with a new age of technology, it is more common for independent filmmakers to use the internet to give their films some exposure. Youtube has gradually become the hub for short filmmakers with a lot of careers built by the exposure gained through the site.
Shell – Wong Fu Productions
A personal favourite short film, Shell explores the unique idea of the conservation of memories – real or not.
The film contains strong cinematography throughout. The focal conversation of the film is placed against the backdrop of the view from a downtown apartment in the evening and the only other scene uses an enhancement of natural sunlight to create a dream-like perception. The use of only two separate locations in the film showed me how a simplistic approach to creating a short film can be extremely effective. The dialogue is very emotive and I especially appreciated how the music was able to marry well with it and the use of silence when necessary.
The Alienist – Chester See
This film works to put forward a current issue in the USA – How moral is it to not execute a mentally ill person who has carried out a severe crime as a result of their clinical incompetence?
This piece is very performance-based which means there is a lot of dialogue. However, the score also has the addition of stings to mark sharp points made in the piece. Coincidental music is used throughout to create a sinister mood but there is a juggle between who the villain actually is in the piece – a classic moral imbalance.
Fire – Lawrence Kao
A dominantly performance-based piece, Fire explores the relationship between two ex-lovers and their remaining connection with each other.
The main body of this short film is the conversation that takes place between both the characters who are lying in bed together which relies on the 180 degree rule coming into play from a high angle. The film also includes various monologues which come in the form of long takes. Despite it being a performance piece, there is no central conflict in the film but rather just a deeply explored reminiscence which works well to provoke feelings in the audience.
Frame 