7 rules for writing a short film

1. The shorter the better 
The script for the film should be as short as possible so its less costly to produce. Digital technology fees up filmmakers. It has to be cheap but shouldn't look too cheap. If you want to get a short film into a festival then you should keep it to no more than 10 minutes which is usually 7-8 pages maximum. This is because if a short film is longer, it will eat up a longer slot and festivals love to play as many shots as possible. You can create emotion in just a few minutes. For example Sebastian's short film 'Voodoo' is a 4 minutes and is about a voodoo doll who must pierce his own heart to save his friend from being impaled. It creates a heartbreaking emotion for the audience.

2 .Keep the practicalities of writing in mind
You should choose locations that are interesting, yet practical, think of access and control and avoid remote locations requiring driving for miles. Don't create a script that is going to be time consuming. If you have access to modest resources think small.

3. Make it visual
Film is about telling stories in pictures, without too much script. Creating visual back stories for your characters makes it more better. 

4. Find single moments
The best short films are often a single moment that is played out, but one that has a story at its heart. For example a conflict that has to be resolved, where there is a dilemma at stake and a choice the protagonist has to make. It is good to add a deadline or ticking clock. It is not necessary but it will add some tension to the short film.



5. Tell a story
A compelling story is a good way to engage the audience. Short films are an opportunity to push the boundaries of what cinematic storytelling can do, for example making the audience emotional. A short film should have a hero with a goal and an obstacle/antagonist in the way. For example in 'I love Sarah Jane it shows a bunch of teenagers in a ghost town where adults have turned into zombies, yet at the core it is a love story about a young boy who cant reach through to the older girl he loves.






6. Engage the reader
Since there's so little time to make an impression the impact of page one is crucial. It is important to hook the reader in the first 10 pages of a feature length script. The ending is also essential as its rare to truly feel moved at the end of a short, so it needs to be meaningful and a satisfying ending.


7. Beware of cliches 
Avoid stereotypes unless you have a fresh viewpoint on them. In the Descendant, a couple of bewildered hit men actually have to kill a seemingly cute little boy and one of them gets cold feet until he realizes that the child is a supernatural being who terrifies his mother.

Therefore by watching lots of short films you get ideas on how to make your own one.


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