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Introduction to Short Films

Big Tricks, Small Packages

Hey, you, with the camera. Yeah, you—the aspiring filmmaker. We’ve been watching you, trying to get your attention for a while now. Want to know something?

We believe in you.

That’s right. You probably didn’t realize this, but we know you’re a little lost right now, not knowing how to use that camera, attempting to figure out what kind of story to tell, planning a budget (that you don’t have) for set, makeup, actors, editing, sound and light. You’ve really created an unreachable fantasy. Anyway, listen up. You can make quality indie short films. You really can.

For starters, you need to get your butt off the couch. Uh oh. You’re not on the couch? You’re locked in a closet? You’re actually sitting in the dark thinking your movie dreams might be over? Is it that bad? Stop this nonsense.

Quit crying about not having a $25,000 budget for that short film you always wanted to make about two psycho lovers, or the one about that zombie who can live without his head while wandering aimlessly through Hollywood searching for it. You don’t need that much money to pull it off. And no more whining. A film school degree is not the only thing that will help you hone those indie filmmaking skills you desperately need to grow.

Got your attention now? Good. Listen. No aspiring filmmaker requires $25,000 to make a short film. And, a film school degree isn’t what makes your moviemaking skills shine. It’s you. You have to put in time and learning. You have to work hard. You have to figure out how to frame scenes, how to direct, how to edit, how to organize, how to cut corners . . .

You have to cut lots of corners.

In fact, by following the directions we’ve prepared in this book, you can learn how to make solid short films that you can show off at film festivals. Oh, and guess what? You can do this without a film degree or deep pockets. Along with some inner drive, some moviemaking gear, some money, and a lot of ingenuity, you can get really far in the film business.

So, yes, we’re on to you. We know what you want. You bought Cheap Movie Tricks: How to Shoot a Short Film for Under $2,000 because you need to make short films so bad your eyeballs are starting to burn. You want some help. Admit it. You want a self-help book for moviemakers. Something that will take the sting out of those flaming eyeballs. Can’t say we blame you with the catchy title and the sheer awesomeness this book has to offer.

Here we are. Just what you’ve been looking for, ready to help mold you into a smart indie filmmaker, a cost-cutting planner, a genius storyteller, a creative editor and filmmaking effects guru. Seriously, before you know it, all your friends and a whole lot of strangers will think you’re some kind of magician. Alakazam!

You’ll have us to thank, because Cheap Movie Tricks is less expensive than film school and a lot easier to swallow than that giant budget you don’t have. Who can afford that crap anyway?

But hold on. There’s something you should know about being a filmmaker. Before we can even get started we need to be in agreement. About what, you ask? About the fact that filmmaking isn’t an easy process. There’s just no easy way through this career path. Better go sell paper dolls or make mud pies for a living if you want something mindless to do with your oodles of creative energy. If you really want to be a filmmaker, you must solemnly swear to stay committed, to be incredibly focused. Above all, you must have a positive outlook no matter what.

Got all that? Not in the closet anymore? Are you on your feet? Good. Dust yourself off. Dance around with this book in your hands. Go ahead. We’re excited, too! That’s because you’re about to start learning how to take the short film process from the beginning of a project all the way to the film festival circuit. It’s a long road, but not as long as you think. And if we can do it, you can, too.

Here’s what you need to do. Think of Cheap Movie Tricks as a reference guide to help you have a better understanding of all indie filmmaking processes. You’ll learn tips about locations, story and script, budgets, sets, costumes, talent, crew, special effects, makeup, filming and editing tricks, sound and light, promotion, and the film festival circuit.

Did we mention Cheap Movie Tricks is about to blow your mind? You’re probably already saying, “Where the hell has this book been my whole life? Why didn’t I give these guys a hundred bucks for all these great ideas?”

Don’t worry about it. Just follow us on all those fancy social media sites and we’ll call it even.

. . .

Wait a minute. Is that doubt we see creeping across your face again? Now you want to know whether you should even make short films if you have this book with so many great filmmaking secrets!

So why short films?

Simple answer: Short films are a constructive way to get you into the film industry. A solid short film is a stepping stone, one that will grant you the potential to get noticed by producers willing to fund your next film (short or feature length). Of course there’s a caveat. Your work has to be good. Maybe even great. It will take more than a few tries. That’s another reason you don’t want to start with a feature film. You don’t want to invest all kinds of money, time, talent, etc. into a film, and then afterwards suddenly realize, “I should have started smaller, much smaller. My skills aren’t up to speed. What was I doing when I emptied my bank account into a film I can’t sell?”

The short film process helps you hone your craft and works your filmmaker muscles in ways you can’t imagine. Learning the process on a small scale turns your creativity into a focused lens rather than a sloppy mess. Let’s say you want to build houses. You build a small model of a home to show people that you can actually build a house. They like your architectural style. They say you’re great at it. They want you to start building houses. Think about it. If you didn’t take the time to make that model home they might not have hired you. Now, instead of a model home, we need to see what you’re capable of doing with filmmaking on a smaller, more manageable scale. Get it?

Big tricks, small packages.

You might even get a career out of it.

One more thing before we really start focusing on Cheap Movie Tricks. You know the idiots who say not to spend time making short films? They usually have a ton of money. A lot of them went to film school, possess oodles of natural talent, and can shoot a feature on Daddy’s dime. So what? Not everyone has the same opportunity.

How about the guy who made Avatar? Self-taught. Tarantino and all his flicks? Self-taught. Or maybe Robert Rodriguez—who now owns a whole TV network and shoots big-budget Hollywood movies from his house? Self-taught. Look, the biggest mistake filmmakers often make is taking advice from people who have no idea what the hell they’re talking about. So please, spend a lot of time on short films. But start with Cheap Movie Tricks, because by the end of this book, you’ll be a filmmaker! Now, grab your camera, and as Samuel L. Jackson says in Jurassic Park: “Hold onto your butts!”

Figuring out your short film end-goal

If you want to be featured in a particular film festival, start researching to see what works and doesn’t work for that festival’s fan base. Tailor-making a film for a festival, or even for a certain industry, will help you get on your way. Want to get into the horror film industry? Start researching horror festivals now. You never know who you will meet. Some short films at festivals are getting produced into features. Remember, short films can be artistic statements, or they can act as resumes for the film industry. Sometimes they do both! Figuring out the end-goal of your project will help steer you in the right direction.

Getting ready! Short film checklist

Camera

If you don’t have a camera, you don’t have a movie. We recommend using a DSLR camera. They look like they only take pictures. Surprise! DSLRs do video, too! You should be able to get a nice Canon with a decent zoom lens for around $500.

Lights

Lights make or break the film quality. You have several options. Most hardware stores carry bell lights. They look like big silver bells with a clamp on the back. These lights are the easiest type because you can clip them anywhere. Cost: under $10.

Sound

If movie sound sucks, so does the movie. Do not use the mic on the DSLR you just bought. Always record sound separately. There are some inexpensive sound-recording devices that capture high-quality sound. We like Zoom recorders. Cost: around $100.

Short films made into indie features

Short films showcase your talent. It’s a good idea to keep a full-length feature idea handy when putting together your script. Think we’re kidding? Saw, Sling Blade, and Napoleon Dynamite were all short films. Maybe you already have a feature idea. Even better. Pull some elements from the feature you’re thinking about and make a short film.