Making a Short Film

 

How do you make a short film? What will my short movie be about? How do you find a topic for a short film?

These are valid and important questions that I asked myself when starting the filmmaking process. And here’s what I have come up with so far. 

I want my short film to be interpretive and creative and portray an important message. I have the specific shots planned out in my head. I will use primarily low-angle shots with a medium close-up and switch from what side I am filming from. I wouldn’t say I like the camera to shake or move, so I will not be filming with my hands but instead propping up my phone with different items to get the desired effect. While I understand that hand-held shots can be incredibly impactful in some cases (Blair Witch Project), minus those particular circumstances, it makes the film come off as being very novice. I’m not aiming to win an Academy Award anytime soon, so that’s not a significant concern for me, but still something I want to be aware of. I also want to make it a point not to see anything or anyone but the main focus of the film. That way, there is no context for the audience, which causes them to be more interested in what is happening. After a few low-angle shots, I want to switch to a medium shot, finally revealing the scene and what has happened. 

I want the person watching it to say “Oh” once they see it. I don’t know if I can create what I envision, but I will try. My film is based on a shock advertisement which I will eventually post here, but until I’m done editing and filming, I will keep it a surprise. Cinematography will make all the difference in my short film. I’ve actually filmed/edited videos my whole life, from making weird video star edits to actual youtube videos. So, I’m pretty excited to have an excuse to edit again and pick up a hobby I once adored. I will most likely make a follow-up post to this with my short film and explain the meaning/reasoning behind it. But, for now, this is just my thought process.