Short films are typically 5-10 minutes long, with 35 minutes being the maximum length. They aim to tell a story quickly and keep the number of characters low, usually 1-3 people, to avoid complications. The narrative is condensed and gets straight to the action, often taking an everyday scenario and twisting it. Most short films end with a twist or cliffhanger instead of a clear resolution due to their short duration. They are typically low-budget, independent productions shown at film festivals rather than mainstream cinemas. Narrative theories like Barthes' hermeneutic codes around suspense are often employed to engage audiences within the short time frame.

1. Codes & Conventions of Short
Films
By Magreth Dzafundwa

2. Duration
• Most short films are 5 – 10 minutes
• The maximum length for short films reach up to 35
minutes, anything longer than that cannot be
considered a short film.
• Because of this short duration, the producer’s aim
when creating the short film is to make the short
film as action packed and interesting as they can.
When creating my short film, my aim will be not to
make it any longer than 5:30 minutes long.

3. Characters• When it comes to characters within short films, it tends to be kept to a
minimum (meaning 1 – 3 people). This is because short films being ‘short’,
there is not enough time to develop deep character histories and a proper
narrative. Also as it is a short film, having many characters could make the film
more complicated and distract the audience from the narrative (unless your
narrative is specifically character based).
• When looking at horror short films, the producer tends not to have any
character development at all. This is because within horrors, the purpose is not
to have it majorly based on character background/history but to get an effective
emotive response from the audience. So although there might be slight hints or
clips signifying what type of person the main character is, the main focus tends
to be on the antagonist and how they create fear. A good example of this would
be ‘Night Night Nancy’. This is because we get some character history in that
we are clearly introduced to the fact she has a boyfriend and his not home,
which then leads and works as an activating event to what is about to occur.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiL6ECmzP-
E&list=PLoSiwvbO53vo1jaRyb974CIHrfylU3nDo&index=3

4. Narrative• Within short films, the aim is to simply tell a story/tale within a short duration of time. So unlike a full
length movie you will see at the cinema, short films tend to get straight into the ‘action’ very quickly.
This is not saying there is not a build up, there is, but the build just isn’t as gradual as a full length film
would be. This links up to the fact that it is a short film, therefore the producer has to a beginning, middle
and end in a shorter space of time.
• Storylines are stereotypically kept very simple and easy to follow. The narrative is usually condensed.
Therefore, this is usually done in the form of taking an everyday scenario and take a twist on it. This is to
make the short film relatable to the audience and also to build a false sense of security (this being a
horror convention). A good example of both getting to the action quickly and also an everyday situation
with a twist is in the short film ‘Light’s Out’ which starts off with a normal scenario of a woman on her
way to bed which quickly changes.

5. Twist/cliff hanger
• There tends to be a twist/cliff hanger within short films. This is done for
various reasons, one of them linking once again to the duration. Because a
short film is limited within time, having a stereotypical narrative with a
clear resolution is sometimes simply not possible, and if a full narrative with
a resolution is attempted, then it can make the film appear rushed. Short
films in general tend to go against conventional narrative theories as they
are unconventional/not as common as mainstream, full length films. This
leads to most short films not having a clear resolution and just having a twist
or cliff hanger. This is because one of the aims of a short film (specifically
horror) is to get a big emotional response in a short amount of time. Twists
and cliff hangers easily achieve this as it leaves the audience wanting to
know and want more, also maintains the interest of the audience in that short
amount of time. It’s all about trying to get as much as you can out of those 5
minutes you have!

6. Low Budget
• Short films are typically unconventional as they are not as common or mainstream
as your typical full length film you would see at the cinemas. It is very unlikely and
rare to see major media conglomerates such as Disney or Times Warner to dedicate
and put in a big amount of money towards a short film, this evidently being because
as they are not a full length film they would not need such a high budget. Therefore,
the majority of short films tend to be made by an independent film company, this
meaning they are of a low budget.
• Short films tend to be produced by people trying to get into the film industry looking
for recognition or by experienced professional people who have been in the film
industry for a long amount of time, therefore, they tend to be shown at Art House
Cinemas, Film Festivals or social media (YouTube). This links to the small budget
as they tend to be created not with the intent to get major views but out of creativity
and a general love for film, with an audience with a similar taste to them.

7. Theories linked to short films.
Narrative Codes - – Roland Barthes
• Hermeneutic codes (The hermeneutic code (HER.) refers to
any element in a story that is not explained and, therefore,
exists as an enigma for the reader, raising questions that
demand explanation.) These are generally used in short
films to create the suspense and excitement needed for the
audience within the short duration of time – working to and
linking to the idea of short films having a ‘twist’ or
‘cliffhanger’.
• Proairetic codes – refers to actions, those plot events that
simply lead to yet other actions.