Short film guide

Before I start off I would like to say that this is just a simple worded information on short films and a few ideas which help you to deliver a good product. This is also coming from a guy who is a movie maniac and who wants to make a short film someday.

Short films are mostly used as fillers in the movie festivals. Too bad there's not many in India as one would like. But they generate a great deal of interest in the international circuit. Only these days interest is being shown in the short film circuit. The reason being the landscape of Indian cinema is changing, the movie makers are looking forward to young and fresh talent to bring in bright new ideas. So all the more importance is being showered towards the short film circuit.

There's just a couple of things that you need to consider before you can make a short film. The international standard for a short film length is 40 minutes. But its best to keep a short film within 10-15 minutes. This will help keep the maximum concentration of your audience on the story. This also won't let you wander away from the plot. Short and sweet- conveying your idea is how a short film should be.

Making a short film is not as easy as it sounds. It has its own constraints. For some budget may be a restriction, for some the technique may be and for some the story. It is only when all these come together, will the film be successful. Sometimes these short films also seeds the production of a full length movie.

So here are a few things you may want to consider before making a short film-

1) Story : The story is the most important part of any movie. This is the primary need for an audience to keep glued on to their seats. This is basically what you want to convey, perhaps can be made interesting with the way the story is being narrated or being progressed. The crux of the matter is in this. Story, simply put is what you want to tell.

2) People : Like in any feature length film, people who enact these scenes have the power to brighten up scene or cast a shade of grey. People in front of the screen are ass important as people behind the screen. A good cast\team sharing a great rapport would make wonders if they get their act together. Choose your people well. 

One of the short film crews.

3) Planning and Brainstorming : These two aspects can help you organize your schedule. There may be so many external factors which may hinder your day-to-day activity while filming. A well defined set of ideas and plans to carry this out without any disturbance will not only help you increase your productivity but also will help you create a better product. Take all the time you want for your brainstorming, but make sure you are at your creative best while doing so. Mindset at the instant plays a very important in how you develop a shoot. A few factors to consider while doing so can be the weather, traffic, scene, location and natural light, noise etc. 

4) Scene Framing and Analysis : Once the shoot begins, make sure you go all out putting your best effort in making your product. Analyze and double check for errors. Once your done with the shoot (Which seemingly is the toughest part) , get back to your desks and try to make best of the technology you have now. Frame your scenes well, analyze the thought process well. Check if the story or the idea behind the story is coming out as you wanted to. Please feel free to get back on the streets and do the same thing again if you feel that there is something lacking in what you have in your hand now. Scene framing - absolute must.

5) Editing : Editing the movie is a crucial part of the film making process. The music, light, techniques and the various blends can be played with to make the movie more effective and grand. The unwanted errors can be removed and the much needed changes can be bought in. With the current advancements in technology, the movie can be made that much fun to watch and enjoy. Editing is to enhance the experience.


So there you go, a few tips which you can keep in mind while making a short film.

Keep a watch for all the movie festivals to showcase your talent.

All the best you enthusiastic young film makers. If this is your dream, go live it - Lights. Camera. Action.

Movie maniac!

Movies and Cricket have been the bigger than religion in India. Movie stars and cricketers are treated in a Demi-god stature. Being born in a middle class typical south Indian family it was hard for me to avoid the early morning devotional hymns and posters of Kapil Dev and Sachin stuck on walls, not to forget cricket being watched as a ritual in those old tunable 21inch television.

So every child basically grew up with a bat in his hand or dressing up as his favourite movie hero pretending to be as powerful as him.

I was no different, these two religions stood out for me. My cricket bat was my favourite companion in bed and jumping from the stairs to Akshay Kumar's tu cheeze badi hai mast were some of my earliest memories.

Since this is about movies, let me just stick to that now. Rajini Kamal, Shah rukh, Salman, Bhachan, Vishnuvardhan names were engraved in my heart while growing up. Then I graduated to Rishi Kapoor, Pran, Shivaji Ganeshan, Raj kapoor, Nagesh, Brando, Al Pachino. Then came the younger lot of actors Vijay, Ajith, Sudeep, Hrithik, DiCaprio, Jhonny Deep and a whole lot more and now finally back to Rajini- Kamal.

Movies have made a strong impact in my life so much so that I actually feel that I have matured along with them. The way I feel about them now is filled with so much passion. I enjoy all kinds of movies and all languages.  Right from the black and white ones to the present day technically advanced ones. A wide horizon there. Its like how a fat kid loves food. You never get bored. Every movie has something to give you, be it the techniques, the story, the drama, emotions, even tell you what not to do in a movie and how not to make one. I dream to make a movie someday, if not a feature film atleast a short film. I totally respect the new directors who only breathe film making. There are certainly a set of film makers now thinking out of the box and really taking the Indian cinema to another level. You can see it in their work that nothing but passion for Indian cinema is what drives them. The Indiana cinema also celebrated its 100yrs of existence. what a brilliant occasion! pure joy! Indian cinema is certainly on the map now. We also have the techniques, only the budget lacks, now with public funding coming in I guess that will also be taken care of.

Parallel cinema has also come a long way now, in fact it is making a great foray on the mainstream field with the help of some well established stars. For all cinema enthusiasts like me, its a melting point of good story, culture, techniques, screenplay and photography. Of couese! the acting and the visuals are much appreciated.

There are also quite a few doors open now and the cinema industry is open with arms open for young and creative minds including entrepreneurs, marketing guys and finance guys to come in and help the cinema industry reach greater heights. For those like minded people go ahead and dive in, live your dream! its for you to conquer, and hopefully we shall meet someday on a movie making set!

Cinema and cinema enthusiasts shall prevail. Period.