Short Film: The Difficulties, Benefits and How it works

The time limit is something which can lead to drawbacks and benefits. To tell a story or communicate a message is a short amount of time is something that may prove difficult. However, does the short film mean it's a compressed feature film? Or a something more independent? I suppose that it depends how you look at it. It would be challenging to compress a feature film and therefore prove easier to build something that works into the smaller space. 

With difficulties in some areas often comes benefits in others. The short time means less work when compared to a feature film. And instead of having to forge 100s of pages of script, it'll bro baby just be 10s of pages. Which should be easier, assuming the same amount of effort is used throughout each page. The shoots should be shorter too, meaning less stress on the actors and crew, meaning most of the process is a lot lighter than a larger film. Shorter screen time means shorter editing time too, again making short films easier and less painstaking to create. 

As opposed to the technical difficulties and benefits of short film, let's talk about the more business-like side of it. Most creator of short film don't usually generate much revenue from them. Often, they're shown at film festivals with little or no pay, or they're broadcast online with the hopes of going viral. Despite not creating much income, if the film is well received and producers and companies like it, they may well pay the creator to direct and create a feature film for them. So short films can be used to gain publicity. Of course, this is a rare case, as many people that view the content aren't trying to discover and hire film makers, but are instead just wanting to view a short film. But it does at least give creators some kind of foothold in the industry which can lead to bigger and better things.

From the technical side, to the business side, and now straight into the creative side. A shorter time allows more artistic freedom. It carries less of a burden to the creator as they don't have to make a film that lasts too long. It gives them a more open opportunity to create what they want because they don't have to stretch their creativity over a 40 minute period, which can prove difficult. Sometimes a shorter time is better because they is not time for the audience to loose interest.

The film maker can be more unique and risky with a shorter film, as there is often less at risk because of the lower budget. It allows new ideas to be tested and samples that may be put to use in a bigger film too. This gives a chance to branch out to a less mainstream audience and attract new viewers too.

-BW