Short film emerged as a new art form in the late 19th century, with early films often being single shot depictions of everyday life. As the 20th century began, film lengths increased to around 40 minutes. Short films typically have a simple storyline focused over a short period of time to engage audiences. They usually feature 1-3 main characters to develop within limited time. Short films commonly include a twist to keep viewers interested in how the story unfolds. They tend to have low budgets, using few locations, amateur actors, and no soundtrack to reduce costs.