Quick question about short writing

seansshack

seansshack

Well-known member
Is it a big "no no" to write a short script that ends, but without a conclusion.

Basically we are left at the other side of a door, as our character enters a room to be interviewed by police.

I've always written shorts that end/conclude.

Just a little unsure as don't want the viewer(s) left angry.

Guess the Empire Strikes Back got away with it.
 
i think that if we know what the outcome of the police interview is going to be it shouldn't matter. is he going to confess? is he going to lie his way out of hot water? is he reserved to a fate of prison?

without reading the script no one can say for sure but i think i would be annoyed if it just ending at some pivotal moment where everything still hangs in the balance.

shorts are more often than not, a set up followed by a twist -- at least the ones that eventually get passed around and seen by a lot of people.
 
Can't give too much away as it is registered and the producer thus far is happy with it.

Basically the guy is not sure if he is innocent or guilty and is going back into the room to get grilled.

The questions will be answered (and then some) in a feature (extension of the short).

just curious if anyone else has done such. I know you can experiment in the short medium and "bend" the rules a little, but guess I'm just nervous that a potential "to be continued" message might be a red flag for some viewers.

Thanks for the comments.
 
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I think it really depends on the work. If you're leading into a feature, then it makes sense to leave it open.

I've written things where I leave it open because the point is to have the audience answer the question and decide for themselves what they want the character to do. Thus, it's a reflection of what the audience wants.
 
Thanks. Always nervous doing something new. But that's how we learn. Through success and failure.

Thanks again.
 
I think it also depends on what you intend to do with the short. If it's intended to be shown to potential investors to try to get them to back the feature, then you're in good shape. If it's going to film festivals or to be seen by general audiences, they may very well not like being left in suspense.
 
As far as I know it's to get the money people interested (while not giving away everything or hints of everything in the short).

Cheers!
 
open endings divide audiences, at any length. Look at the end of 'Cube' - the traditionally expected ending and explanation is never given, and some people hate this and some love it.

If you're effectively making a teaser trailer for a full feature, I think it's fine - you do NOT want to give away the entire feature plot. I can very much see you freezeframing as the actor opens the door or re-enters the room.

If you also want to make it work as well as possible as a short in itself, you can still wrap a structure around such an open ending, e.g. your mini-ending is that he has made a decision as to what he'll say. But don't let that spoil the film's primary role as a teaser trailer.
 
As far as you know???? Ummm.....aren't you the one writing the script???
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Well I written it, but won't be making or promoting it. So you know yourself in this game. Things rarely proceed as you are told. i.e. we love it we are a green light = might get shot and we may use your script. I'm going to enter it in festival xyz = maybe. So I trust they will only be using it to get investors interested, but I wouldn't rule out anything...

If you're effectively making a teaser trailer for a full feature, I think it's fine - you do NOT want to give away the entire feature plot. I can very much see you freezeframing as the actor opens the door or re-enters the room.

If you also want to make it work as well as possible as a short in itself, you can still wrap a structure around such an open ending, e.g. your mini-ending is that he has made a decision as to what he'll say. But don't let that spoil the film's primary role as a teaser trailer.
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Yep a trailer of sorts, but has to be able to existhavon it's own as a short. So a combination of the two - which is why I'm a bit nervous. Would have be easier for me as a writer to a simple; beginning, middle and end. But hell I'm learning a lot...
 
I agree with the above, if its supposed to be a preview or prelude to a feature then it probably helps that it's open ended.

If it's supposed to be both then it depends on the story. I personally don't mind if something is left somewhat open ended, but I do think the majority of people like stories with all the answers wrapped up.

If you're trying to make it both a prelude and a short that stands on its own, you may want a conclusion to something.

His decision to talk to the police could be the conclusion. If talking to them is something the character was conflicted about and then at the end he makes a decision, then that is a conclusion. The character was conflicted and then at the end made a choice.

We don't know what he's going to say, but maybe up to this point it was more about him having to make that choice, will he talk or won't he? I could live with that ending.

Of course this is all speculation without reading the script.

Congratz on getting something produced, I hope it turns out well.
 
I think something has been lost here, too.

If your audience actually cares and is angry that you left it open-ended, because they wanted a conclusion, surely you must have done A LOT right with this film! haha. Usually my attitude by half-way through most shorts I see is, "God, who cares about this crap, when is this over?" So if you have me angry at the end that I didn't get a great ending, or that I don't know what happened, I'm going to be thinking about your film at least because I cared enough to want to know what happens. That's a good thing, in my opinion, that's more of a reaction than I usually have to a filmmaker's work.
 
JonathanLB said:
I think something has been lost here, too.

If your audience actually cares and is angry that you left it open-ended, because they wanted a conclusion, surely you must have done A LOT right with this film! haha. Usually my attitude by half-way through most shorts I see is, "God, who cares about this crap, when is this over?" So if you have me angry at the end that I didn't get a great ending, or that I don't know what happened, I'm going to be thinking about your film at least because I cared enough to want to know what happens. That's a good thing, in my opinion, that's more of a reaction than I usually have to a filmmaker's work.
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Very well said. Twists are good endings, but look at how often people say 'the movie was great but the ending sucked. they didnt finish it!' what happens? You go see the movie. and the best part is when movies like star wars 2, pirates of the carribbean 2 or whatever come out with those total cliffhanger endings, all you can do for weeks after watching is try to figure out where it'll go. That gets the word out, man.
 
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