Filming Shorts

[NashvilleActors]

Hey, I have access to a couple of locations and an agency with actors who are willing to act for free to build their portfolio.

I want to use this to my advantage, I'm hoping to film a couple of short films with what I have. What's the best way to go about this and use this. For an example I want to submit some to festivals, any idea on what screenplays attract the most viewers?

I'm not even sure what I'm asking for, I guess maybe suggestions, comments, and etc. I'm just excited about doing this. :smile:

 

[mrWr0ng]

I think you're approaching this whole filmmaking thing backwards.

Great films are questions; they are questions a director asks of himself - the film itself is the answer. A successful film is an intimate expression of what the director feels as they struggle to answer that question. They are incredibly personal expressions, and you cannot separate that kind of expression from the medium.

When you come in saying, "What's hot? What can I make that's hot?" then you're already skipping that whole introspective section. A great screenplay is 90% of your film right there, you can't just say "let me grab something popular and make it," because the end project is going to feel like the director was as completely mentally separated from the material as the feeling I get when you say you're going to grab locations first then try to think of a story to shoehorn in there.

It's nice to have locations set up, but generally I don't answer questions about "What should I make this story about?" because if you can't answer that question, why are you making a film?

 

[NashvilleActors]

I think you're approaching this whole filmmaking thing backwards.

Great films are questions; they are questions a director asks of himself - the film itself is the answer. A successful film is an intimate expression of what the director feels as they struggle to answer that question. They are incredibly personal expressions, and you cannot separate that kind of expression from the medium.

When you come in saying, "What's hot? What can I make that's hot?" then you're already skipping that whole introspective section. A great screenplay is 90% of your film right there, you can't just say "let me grab something popular and make it," because the end project is going to feel like the director was as completely mentally separated from the material as the feeling I get when you say you're going to grab locations first then try to think of a story to shoehorn in there.

It's nice to have locations set up, but generally I don't answer questions about "What should I make this story about?" because if you can't answer that question, why are you making a film?

Hey thanks for responding, I agree with your reply, however I don't think I was clear in my post. What am I basically trying to state is that I have a lot of free time and a lot of resources and I think it would be fun to film something and possibly submit it to some festivals.

When I said "any idea on what screenplays attract the most viewers?", I meant that as far as festivals goes so I can get an idea of what to film. But I totally agree with your post.

 

[mrWr0ng]

Festivals pick films that appeal to them, move them and are interesting and heartfelt. Unless you're applying for specific genre film festivals, then there is no genre.

I remember only a couple of years ago, the biggest short film of the year was a musical about Jews and Palestinians on opposite sides of the wall, something like "West Bank Story," and it was extremely popular because it was inventive, original and very real - the portrayals of the people involved, though it was a musical, rang as very genuine to a lot of people who then brought it in to their festivals and gave it the exposure it needed.

If you're planning on applying for genre-specific film festivals, then that's understandable - you should make horror films for horror festivals, drama films for drama festivals, comedy films for comedy festivals. But when you talk about "festivals," with no specific genre requirement, then you should make a film that you feel needs to be said. Otherwise, whatever you make will come off as very superficial and disinterested.