Short Scripts Vs Feature Films

F

Fxguy

Member
Hey again everyone,

Been searching the forum for little over an hour now and cant quite find what I am looking for. I want to practice directing a short film to prepare me for shooting feature films . Here is my problem, I have TONS of ideas for feature films (over 5 feature films in my head thus far and more ideas that have spawned but havent commited to page yet) but I cant seem to wrap my head around a short script. I have read ALL of Syd Fields books as well as Robert Mckey's Story (think I spelled that wrong) and The writers Journey but they all are geared towards writing features, not shorts.

I am finding the idea of trying to sell a complete story in 15 minutes or so very challenging and was wondering what everyone else does to write short scripts? A lot of times I try to come up with an idea and my mind immediately takes the idea and runs it into the feature film pipeline. How do I break this bad habit?


Thanks
Tim
 
Watch other short films, see what they cut out, what they do quickly etc. My opinion is dont "try" and cut down your script too much. Take out what should be taken out don't sacrifice what could be a great story just for the sake of shortening it. That would be a terrible thing to do. I say try and trim things down, but be careful.

-Kyle
 
For me whenever a feature film idea pop into my head it usually turns out to not be long enough to fill the time. I would take one of your feature film ideas, write down all the elements that you think you need to make it work. If it turns out that there's not enough material there for a feature then you'll have a foundation for a shorter script.

Just my .02 cents :).
 
This is just my 2 cents, but most of the shorts I've seen that, IMO, sucked were shorts where someone tried to take a feature and cram it into a short. Dramas for shorts are also very hard to pull off because you don't have time to make people care about the characters and if they don't care about the characters they won't care about what happens to them.

Shorts need to be easy for the audience to step into and step out of. Shorts should be about events, not characters (where as features should be the opposite). Situational comedies are a great genre for shorts because they can be easy for the audience to relate to.

Of course I cut a short last year that was pretty dramatic (though it had enough humor to save it) and pretty well received by festivals so obviously there are no rules just suggestions.

-A
 
Shorts

Shorts

Sounds about right. Most of my ideas start out as an event and then get expanded upon (characters , locations, mood, theme etc..) I have to agree, most of the shorts I have seen (and I admit I havent seen a lot, but enough) were either a single scene that felt as if it was taken right from a feature, or a situational comedy (most of these worked well). I am trying to find short films to write that will allow me to cut a dialogue scene, an action scene, a chase or fight scene, etc.. as well as learn storytelling visually.

I'll be the first to admit, I have wonderfull ideas for feature films, but I need to hone my skills first before I ruin those ideas with bad shots, lighting choices, etc....


Currently working with Apple Pro Training Series Advanced editing techniques in Final Cut Pro. I think its taught me a lot with editing so that when I do go shoot a short or feature, I'll have a good understanding of shots I'll need to get adequate coverage.


Anyways, if anyone is ever on AIM, feel free to say hi! My screename there is lecoles526.


Tim
 
There are books on short film writing, but I've never read them. You might check out amazon.com or your local bookstore if they have a nice filmmaking section.

I began writing short scripts for a website contest and have now begun enterting short script writing contests just for fun. Now that I've decided to start directing, I've found short script ideas almost everywhere. They're fun to write (can write one in a day or two) and if you're careful, they can be easy to make as well.

My suggestion would be to try to stick to 2 or 3 main characters and as few locations as possible. I once wrote a short script for a friend of mine after I asked him what locations he had access to. He said, "an apartment, an office, a freight elevator, a jewelry workshop, and a blue van." So now he's got a script to shoot using those locations. I threw in two sidewalks scenes and a bar scene, which should be easy enough to find locations for. Other than that, half his headaches (location scouting sucks in NYC) are gone.
 
That is what I am trying to do, figure out what locations I have access to (a forest , lots of forest, some old demolished building (ruble actually) and a school, then go from there. I've thought about a fantasy short about people of the forest, who are at war with Man over deforestation, then a guy accidentally goes of a cliff and the daughter of the forest king finds him and falls in love, her dad finds out and banishes her and she dies of heartache. He husband then burries her under a tree and every year on the anniversary of her death the tree blooms.

Then I have also though of trying to take abonded buildings or ruble and write a short appocolypse style short. No luck there yet either!


Thanks for the replies though!

Tim
 
If you just need a short script I can hook you up with that. I have a half dozen short scripts I'm trying to find good homes for.
 
MrBlue1022,

Hey I'd love to see them, like I said, I 'm just looking for something to shoot. If you want you can email me them at Fxguy@comcast.net and I'll take a look. Saves me the trouble of having to write them when what I really want to do is shoot.



Tim
 
Even short scripts have the standard three act structure. Break down the story into three beats then find the quickest way to establish that information in the story.

Nobody every said writing was easy. lol.

EJ
 
EJ Pennypacker said:
Even short scripts have the standard three act structure. Break down the story into three beats then find the quickest way to establish that information in the story.
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Well they don't have to follow the structure. They don't even have to be a 'story' in the classical sense.

With shorts you have a lot of freedom, a lot more then a feature (structure and design wise). Traditionally, yes, they are stories (with the three act) that are condensed to fit a 2-3 range. And they often turn out great.
But you can also go the alternative route. You can just take excerpts of interaction. Take a look at Miranda July's "Are you Someone's Favorite Person", or something along that sort. That doesn't really have a story, but it is just an eccentric interaction between a couple people. Obviously you should try and have a minor resolution, but you don't have to have one.
Just think of odd experiences you or your friends have had, maybe exaggerate parts, and film it. If you are just looking for practice, start out small.

A lot of this may seem like ramble, but hope some of it helps.

cheers.
 
I have just finished (written/directed/produced) my 4th short (http://ball.tcnj.edu/movies/)

My advice is the following. Festivals like them the shorter the better. If festival screening is what you are after, keep it under 15 minutes.

In that amount of time you can have one dramatic action. That is, one change in a character. Build everything around that. Use the 3 act concept. Introduce your main character and situation, then build to the dramatic moment where something about the character changes, then quickly wrap things up. That gives you a solid foundation of story and you can get people involved with one character quickly and they will feel satisfied when something about the character changes.

The rest can be customized to fit your resources: locations, number of supporting characters, etc.

Thus I would agree that cutting down a feature, or extracting scenes from a feature, is a bad idea. But you could still use the short to experiement with a situation, location, technique, or actor that you are interested in using in a feature.

After experimenting and learning, I am ready to try something about 30-45 minutes in length but it will be very hard to find screening/distribution opportunities with something like that.
 
Bill. After 4 shorts it might be time for a feature. A 30-45 minute short seems like a waste of time and resources.

I'd echo the 3 act comments of other posters. Ultimately, most filmmakers make short films as calling cards for feature film or TV work. If that's your goal, you should go with a 3 act structure. When the powers that be see your short film they want to know you can tell a story. That's what it's all about.

If you're making your short films solely as artistic experession then the Miranda July example is apt. However, she's a performance artist, not a filmmaker. Personally, I found her feature lacking. Why? Weak story.

My plan is to direct 2-3 shorts before I begin the process of fundraising for a feature project. The first short has a story, but is largely experimental. The 2nd and 3rd shorts are concept driven. I'm making the first one to get my feet wet. The next two are my "real" calling cards for becoming a professional filmmaker. If they're good enough, I'll get work. If they aren't, I'll either go back to writing or I'll make more shorts until I get it right.
 
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