2. What is a short film?
To put it simply, a short film is any film that is not long enough to be considered as a feature film.
In more depth,The academy of motion picture arts and sciences define a short film as “An original motion picture that has a total running time
of 40 minutes or less, including all credits”.
The use of the term “Short film” has more than one alternative name. For example, the term “Featurette” has been given to a film that isn’t quite
as long as a feature film, but is still longer than a short subject.The margins as to whether a film is short or not are very fine, but have become
less fine as the world of film has evolved and moved on.When the world’s first films were released publically, in 1894m, all films were what we
now class as “Short”.The development of new technology and cheaper film is one of the main reasons as to why films have become longer
and overall, a better experience.
We now live in the days where films are coming up to around two and a half hours long, with some even pushing the three hour mark. Intervals,
cinemas with waiters and comfortable seats make this long winded experience bearable.There is no real reason for people to even make
short films anymore. Almost all of the film industry’s money is made through feature length motion pictures that boast special effects, A-list
celebrities and lots of explosions… so why do they do it?
In my opinion and perhaps the opinion of many others, short films are almost the beauty of the film industry.You can get the same quality of
acting, storyline and feeling in a short film that you can get in a modern day feature length.Whilst two hour long films boast their special
effects and awe inspiring action, short films express thoughtfulness and meaning through a final product that may not even last twenty
minutes.
Short films may not make millions in their opening weekend (If indeed they have one), but when thinking about the beauty of film, they win
every time. It is reassuring to see that despite not making anywhere near as much as Oscar winning films, short films are still made every day
across the world. It is like a footballer who plays for a team because they love the sport, not the money.
3. The history of short film
As already mentioned, short films have been around since the very beginning of film. Because producers and directors did not have the
endless reels of film or the finances to cover it, all films had to be short in order to be made.You could not time travel back to 1894 and watch
a two hour long film… it just wouldn’t be possible.
Short films sparked the birth of perhaps the earliest proliferation in the film industry… comedy.When films started to be shown to the public,
comedy was the way forward. Films that didn’t need a particularly good storyline, because of their comedic scripts were extremely popular in
the earlier days of the film. Cartoon animations were also extremely popular back in the earlier days of film. However, cartoons lost their title
as short films and simply became shows. Mickey Mouse is a perfect example. Originally starting off as a series of short films, it evolved into a
huge collection of episodes, because the length of film had increased significantly through the years.
Modern Era:
Despite being almost completely overrun by feature length films that last up to two hours, short films are still used alongside feature lengths.
It is almost fitting, that Walt Disney pictures still invest in creating short, subsidiary films that are shown before their feature films are shown in
the cinema. For a company that produced the first real cartoon short films, to carry on this tradition is fitting and shows fantastic appreciation
for the beauty of film, the meaning behind them and the feeling of fans who pay to watch these films as soon as they are released. It could be
fair to so say that short films stick to tradition. Short, strange and sometimes even disturbing films are made to provoke thoughts and feelings
from the audiences. Admittedly, they can make the audience members feel uncomfortable… but that’s the power of film.
4. Noticeable short film producers/Directiors
Below is a list of famous short film directors, the names of their most famous films and the year in which they were
produced:
●
Producer ●
Film ●
Year
●
Luis Bunuel ●
Un Chien Andalou ●
1929
●
Georges Milies ●
A trip to the moon ●
1902
●Pixar ●
Luxo. Jr ●
1968
●
Christopher Nolan ●
Doodlebug ●
1997
●
Tim Burton ●
Vincent ●
1982
●
David Lynch ●
Six men getting sick ●
1966
The world famous “Eye scene”
from “Un Chien Andalou”.
5. How the history of short film has influenced my product
It is easy to say that from learning something, you become inspired.When I look back at what I have
learnt about the film industry (Short films in particular) I really do begin to think about how I want
my final product to look.
Before I was set the task of doing this work, I thought of making my film deep, meaningful and
thought provoking.While it is not uncommon to have a strange, thought provoking storyline in a short
film, I thought that I would give the original short films some credit. As already mentioned, short films
started off as comedies. It is interesting to see how different proliferations have come and gone in the
film industry, but as interesting as this is, I thought that I should stick to the original idea of what short
films were – Short, funny and entertaining projects that people didn’t have to look into or think about
too much.This is why I have decided to change my short film idea.
Originally, I was trying to go for something that would make the audience think about the harsh
reality of the world we now live in. My short film was going to be based on how you are free until
you’re old, but I felt this was almost depressing.
So I have decided to go with the idea of a 1930’s man falling into a coma and waking up in 2014.
Similar to the style of Ashes to Ashes, the main protagonist needs to find their way out of the present
day and find their home again. Obviously it is shortened, but I feel that I can really produce
something funny and professional looking. I am also going to try and achieve a 1930’s look and feel
to the scenes that are set in the past. Sepia tone filming, muffled sound and songs from that era will
all be used in my film.
I really am going back to where it all started for film, and paying tribute to some of the greatest films
of all time.
6. How the history of short film has influenced my product
It is easy to say that from learning something, you become inspired.When I look back at what I have
learnt about the film industry (Short films in particular) I really do begin to think about how I want
my final product to look.
Before I was set the task of doing this work, I thought of making my film deep, meaningful and
thought provoking.While it is not uncommon to have a strange, thought provoking storyline in a short
film, I thought that I would give the original short films some credit. As already mentioned, short films
started off as comedies. It is interesting to see how different proliferations have come and gone in the
film industry, but as interesting as this is, I thought that I should stick to the original idea of what short
films were – Short, funny and entertaining projects that people didn’t have to look into or think about
too much.This is why I have decided to change my short film idea.
Originally, I was trying to go for something that would make the audience think about the harsh
reality of the world we now live in. My short film was going to be based on how you are free until
you’re old, but I felt this was almost depressing.
So I have decided to go with the idea of a 1930’s man falling into a coma and waking up in 2014.
Similar to the style of Ashes to Ashes, the main protagonist needs to find their way out of the present
day and find their home again. Obviously it is shortened, but I feel that I can really produce
something funny and professional looking. I am also going to try and achieve a 1930’s look and feel
to the scenes that are set in the past. Sepia tone filming, muffled sound and songs from that era will
all be used in my film.
I really am going back to where it all started for film, and paying tribute to some of the greatest films
of all time.
