What is a short film?

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A short film, for our purposes, has these characteristics:
  • a length of around 5 minutes, never any longer than 40 minutes
  • focused plot with specific idea without deviations
  • less complex characters with less development
  • no subplots
  • small amount of characters
  • small budget
  • few locations
Short films are generally made by starting filmmakers by independent studios or not with a studio at all. Compared to feature films, they have small budgets and generally are more focused, in almost every part of a film. They allow for creative experimentation without the fear of profit margins. They also take less time to make than feature films. Preparation for a short film is similar to a feature film, requiring storyboards, scripts etc. The major difference is the length and how this impacts the type of story that can be effectively told in a smaller timeframe. Normally the setup (establishing the equilibrium) is done very fast, so within the first 30 seconds or so the audience knows the basics, and then narrative movement (eg. arc 2) begins from there.

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