Short film vs. Feature?

Short film. Figure everything out first with your shorts. Then when you really have it down you can think about a feature. Maybe try a music video or two so you don't always have to pay for absolutely everything.
 
How much faith do you have on the feature and what is your experience as a filmmaker? If you're asking this question, perhaps you have some uncertainty with the feature. Then I would recommend you make sure everything is tight as can be and that you have all the right people for the job. Otherwise, a couple shorts and commercials first wouldn't hurt to bump up your skills.
 
Definitely do a few shorts first of all to get the hang of things and get comfortable before making a feature film.
 
Do you already have a feature in mind? You could identify the element that will be the most difficult to execute (maybe a special effect, a theme, a camera or post production technique) and make a short film that showcases it. That way instead of a test you get a finished product for your money and discover the unexpected hurdles along the way. If it works you can go into the feature with confidence (and demonstrate your prowess to any backers), if it doesn't you can decide whether it can be made to work or should be abandoned. Nice logo.
 
The other question being "How much money you got?"
You can shoot a short for anywhere from a few hundred bucks to $40K.
For a feature $40K is considered "No Budget".
 
Depends completely on experience and available resources.

If you are an inexperienced filmmaker, definitely do a few short films first. This will be like a film school to you and will teach you what you need to know.

If you are experienced, and have no real resources, then probably still go for a short film and submit it to festivals.

If you are experienced AND have resources, go for it and do a feature.
 
If you have to ask the question, you should start with shorts. In fact, you should start with short-shorts, from a :30 spot to a 2:00 narrative. The reason to go super short is to get them done quickly. Most of the lessons come after you've finished the film and look back on it. The shorter the film, the faster you can get it done and look back on it for the lesson. Also, with shorts, you can experiment with different genres, looks and flavors. If you make bigger projects, you're locked in for a longer production period.
 
Thanks everyone! The question is based on we have few resources and little money. I did a 60-minute featurette in 2007. I think I could pull a feature off if the resources are there. I'm the writer, director, EP and editor.
 
I agree with the advice given so far. I learned so much producing/directing and shooting shorts. You can readily crowd fund a short and grow your skills incrementally. All the best with your new company. Knock 'em dead!
 
like everyone is saying, start with shorts. but something to consider is what is your goal? is this going to be a calling card to get work as a director? is this to showcase what you can do as a production company? are you planning to distribute yourself and make a profit? the clearer your goals are, the easier it'll be to see how to hit that mark.
 
kiyong said:
like everyone is saying, start with shorts. but something to consider is what is your goal? is this going to be a calling card to get work as a director? is this to showcase what you can do as a production company? are you planning to distribute yourself and make a profit? the clearer your goals are, the easier it'll be to see how to hit that mark.
Click to expand...

Our goals are at a certain point to make profitable films. I can handle doing a feature. Just need to find the resources to pull it off.
 
Ah! Therein lies the rub. I think pages. If I can shoot 5 in a great day, then I need 2 great days (a 3 day weekend) to shoot a ten page short, company moves and pickups not withstanding. How much will a day cost you?

Say you want to do a low budget (quality matching your short) Now you have 100 pages. If things go great, and you get 5 pages a day, then that's 20 shooting days. It's actually a litttle more complicated but that may give you an idea of what resources you will need to get the feature done. That's what I'm doing.


check out this thread for a good look at how to get the resources to shoot your feature http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...N-AND-DANGEROUS-quot-a-crime-thriller-by-SABI
 
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Days should match budget.

If you're spending 1,000/day (talking Nano budgets here) and your budget from pre-to-delivery is 50K, then 20 days of shooting doesn't sound too terrible. It's workable.

If you've got 30K on the same schedule then you're doing something terribly wrong.

I'd suppose it's also dependent on genre/script.
 
If you already have a feature script you want to ultimately do, then consider shooting a teaser short for it -- something you can show to potential investors, to help you get the money you need to make the feature.
 
5 pages a day is also a brutal schedule to keep up for 20 days. For a 15 page short over a weekend it's tough, but grinding like that for a month would be REALLY tough. I have a 6 page day in the pilot I'm shooting this weekend. We're hoping it's only a 14 hour day.
 
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