1. INITIAL SHORT FILM IDEAS
By Xue Bai
A2 Media studies
• Potential short film ideas
• Short film ideas evaluation
2. The Story of Creation
This potential short film idea is based on the ancient Chinese
Pangu and the creation story. The short film will be artistic and
abstract interpretation of Chinese creation myths. The narrative
structure will symbolic depict the origins of the universe, earth, and
life. Pros:
• Only one actor needed
• Surrealism style, easily
attract audiences
Cons:
• CGI needed
• Culture differences to western
audiences
• Hard to find suitable location
• Chinese traditional costumes
and props needed
3. Instant family
A heart-warming and funny modern family story about a brother
and sister who are raised by surrogate mother and paid nannies. As
they have reached certain age their biological parents have decided
to bring them over and starts insistent family they never had. The
story will explore in a humorless way relationship and ups and
downs of this new found family.
Pros:
• Modern story about family
value
• Appears to wide range of
audiences
Cons:
• 4 characters needed, two
teenagers and two adults
• Many different locations
needed
4. This potential short film idea is loosely inspired by traditional
Chinese fairytale called Learning Magic. The story will be depicted
in present days and it will follows ups and downs of a young
teenager as she attempts to master the art of illusion and magic.
Pros:
• Popular adventure
genre aimed at
teenager audiences
• Only 1 lead character
Cons:
• CGI needed
• Magic props, costumes
• Knowledge of magic
tricks
• Many locations needed
Master of Illusion and
Magic
5. This short film idea is inspired by current trait between
teenagers. Using insulting stereotypical jokes that based on a
apparent this story will follow a teenager girl as she releases and
experiences every joke addressed to her in real life.
Pros:
• Black humor
• Wide range of audience can
identify with character
• Entertaining and inspiring
audiences
Cons:
• Too many character
• Complicated pilot
• Reinforcing stereotypes
Prank
6. This modern take on identity swap is inspired by the Prince and the
Pauper story. Two teenagers that are similar in appearance decide to
change places as they are not happy wit their own life and envy the life
that other one lives.
Cons:
• Many locations needed
• Costume and props
required
• Many actors needed
Pros:
• Engaging storyline
• Dramatic characters
• Inspiring audiences
I Want to be You
7. This mock documentary style short film idea will tell the story
through form of news reports and documentary style interview. The
story can be based on real human interests story.
Pros:
• Unconventional way to tell the story
• Wide range of potential storyline
Cons:
• Complicated way to depict
story
• Advanced editing skill
needed
• Wide range of actors
News Night
8. This short film idea will artistically and poetically follow a simple
everyday object and its journey through city of Belgrade. The object will
symbolically represent connection between ordinary people as they go
about everyday life.
Cons:
• Difficult to film on different
locations
• No narrative structure
• Possibly use of CGI
Pros:
• Unconventional and experimental way to tell
the story
• Can be viewed in art galleries as video
installation
• On the spot filming and improvisation
City tool
9. This comedy drama follows a lonely person with a compulsive and sleeping
disorder who finds that his micro world is constantly rearranged despite his
constant attempts to keep everything around him in perfect and desired place.
Pros:
• Slapstick comedy drama
• Appeals to varied
audiences
• One lead character
Cons:
• Many props needed
• Professional acting
and rehearsing the
scenes
The OCD
10. Me and I
This short film idea explores intense split personality relationship
between positive and negative character that share the same body. This
film will visually depict internal struggle of two completely different
personalities.
Pros:
• One lead character
• Few location required
• No props and special costume
required
Cons:
• Professional acting
• Advanced editing
• Complicated and detailed storyline
• Time consuming preproduction and
filming
11. No Truth
This short film idea explores a world has no truth, no one says any
truth. One day, a man who is very honest, he never lies but people think
he does, so they always do opposite thing to what the man says. A series
of funny things happen…
Pros:
• Engaging storyline
• Entertaining and inspiring
audiences
• Comedy drama genre
Cons:
• Different locations
needed
• Many actors required
• Advanced acting
12. Art or Fart
This short film idea is based on an real life anecdote that happen to
performance artist Marina Abramovic when an Italian painter attacked her
with a portrait he had painted of her during a visit to Florence.
The story will depict two contrasting life of two rival art student (traditional
vs contemporary) with long lasting dispute as they prepare for the graduation
show.
Pros:
• Only two lead characters
• Target wide range of
audiences
• Based on real story
Cons:
• Props needed
• Different locations required
• Advanced acting
