Guest Blogger-Thomas Beane

The Short Film

Thomas Beane


In current times, movie fans go to the theater to see their favorite stars, a film that appeals to their interest or to enjoy a night of entertainment. The days of yesteryear offered the movie-goer a different experience. The feature film often followed a news reel from around the world, a weekly serial and possibly a short film featuring the adventures of a hero or the comic antics of the likes such as the Three Stooges. Those days where the short film are featured at the movie theater have long since past. New technology and the expansion of television may have been the saving grace of the short film.

Short films are as important to the film industry and the exploration of our culture as the feature-length film. The short film can be used in many ways by filmmakers to tell the subject of their stories and come in all different genres. A documentary exploring the life of a single person or group can be the subject of a short or it can be used to educate the audience about social issues in cultures around the world. A short can be a work of fiction which is created in the imagination of the writer and brought to life by the filmmaker. Fiction shorts can be as compelling, moving or as humorous as feature if properly done. Animation is a genre that often uses the short film format for its work. This primarily due to the high costs associated with creating an animated film. These examples show how diverse the short film can be and their importance in the industry.

Short films are particularly favorite formats for beginning and student filmmakers. It allows these filmmakers to improve their skills and gain valuable experience in the actual practical arts of filmmaking. The old saying “one has to crawl before they can walk” is a good observation to make when pondering the question as to why beginning and student filmmakers prefer the short film format. It is also much cheaper to produce a film that is thirty minutes in comparison to a feature-length film of two hours. Although short films are the preferred format for beginning and student filmmakers, this does not mean that they are lacking quality or that professional filmmakers don’t also use this format for their projects. Many seasoned professional filmmakers indeed make short films.

Although theaters rarely show short films any more, there is still a market for them in the film industry. Short films can be entered into festivals where they are judged and can win awards, cash prizes and help boost the career of the filmmaker. The Southern Shorts Film Festival and some other festivals specialize in featuring the short film. These festivals celebrate the short film format and the filmmakers who spend their time, money and skills into creating these wonderful pieces of art. Some television channels also feature the short film in their programming depending on the subject matter and their programming needs. For example, DOC TV features short documentaries from all over the world covering all subject areas. Short films can also be distributed through internet sales or featured on internet video outlets. With the expansion of the digital age and the internet, the short film has found a new way to reach an audience. YouTube and other similar video websites have become popular outlets for short films.

The short film has always been a part of the film industry and will continue to be a vital format for the filmmaker. It is important that the short film continues to play an important role in the art of filmmaking. Whether you are a student, a beginner or a seasoned professional, grab those cameras and bring the world to life in your own short film. It is a way that you can make this world a better and more entertaining place. Roll Camera Roll!