Comments and advice for short horror film
- Thread starter alimusoke
- Start date
Randall_Oelerich
Veteran
You might want to read some guides on formatting a screenplay; I found it very distracting to see the sections of your script that were written in all uppercase (not sluglines, I am referring to the stage direction / action sections within scenes).
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Knoxworth
Well-known member
Having made a SXSW short horror film, I'll tell you right now that short horror films are one of the toughest challenges out there. You're trying to combine two things:
1.) Horror films. A feature length genre that utilizes suspense in combination with shock value. (suspense being the dominating factor in my opinion)
2.) Short films. Movies that have no time for backstory and have to deliver the goods (usually comedy) right out of the gate. Great shorts usually focus on very few characters as well.
Now how you satisfy the needs of both genres is beyond me. When me and my friends made a short horror film that Robert Rodrguez enjoyed, it seemed to be a fluke. I couldn't tell you how to do it all over again. I'm sure it's possible but since the distribution for these films is basically youtube, I couldn't tell you why anybody would want to. It's good practice but don't convince yourself you'll sell it. You've got your work cut out for you.
1.) Horror films. A feature length genre that utilizes suspense in combination with shock value. (suspense being the dominating factor in my opinion)
2.) Short films. Movies that have no time for backstory and have to deliver the goods (usually comedy) right out of the gate. Great shorts usually focus on very few characters as well.
Now how you satisfy the needs of both genres is beyond me. When me and my friends made a short horror film that Robert Rodrguez enjoyed, it seemed to be a fluke. I couldn't tell you how to do it all over again. I'm sure it's possible but since the distribution for these films is basically youtube, I couldn't tell you why anybody would want to. It's good practice but don't convince yourself you'll sell it. You've got your work cut out for you.
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jghenderson
Well-known member
Unfortunately it's very difficult to get into the script because it's painfully obvious english is not your first language. I was definitely able to follow the story perfectly, but the dialogue was difficult to get over. I also felt there was too much dialogue and not enough action.
My suggestion would be that in the future you should try to collaborate with a native english speaker, at the very least get someone to take your script and reword everything so it will all make sense and sound a lot better.
As for other problems, I think you really need to work on adding more action into the story. The beginning was too rushed for me as there was only one line of description and them immediately dialogue. Try to find some clever ways to tell certain parts of the story visually instead of putting them in dialogue form.
My suggestion would be that in the future you should try to collaborate with a native english speaker, at the very least get someone to take your script and reword everything so it will all make sense and sound a lot better.
As for other problems, I think you really need to work on adding more action into the story. The beginning was too rushed for me as there was only one line of description and them immediately dialogue. Try to find some clever ways to tell certain parts of the story visually instead of putting them in dialogue form.