Outline of a short film
Short films are usually 5-10 minuets in length with only a few characters. In terms of culture short films are very widespread. In the US short films aren't popular but in the UK there is market for them and there a film festivals about short films. Voice overs are a common feature as having a voice over can help to explain how or where the characters are. Also some short films don't have any dialogue and as the films are short and simple lengthy dialogue is not needed.
Characters
The characters are either main characters or a background character. This is because short films don't have time to fully develop a story into the history or mindset of a character and if there are too many characters they will each feel superficial and hard for the audience to relate and understand the characters.
Budget
Most short films have either a very short film or no budget at all. To keep budgets low directing and filming and writing are usually done by the same people. Actors are amateurs and there isn't a big soundtrack. Very locations are used and not much CGI if any is used.
Good example is The Black Hole which is based in one location - an office, with only one character.
Concept
Most films are about normal events or are realistic. This helps with the budgeting but it also appeals to audiences well as they can easily relate to the characters or situations. Usually short films will have a single problem that the characters will overcome.
Twist
Most short films include a 'twist'. This could be a super power, something abnormal or a plot twist. This helps to keep the film interesting as most short films have a very normal or basic setting. Unlike Feature length films short films are more likely to end in a cliffhanger or not fully explaining what happens and is left either ambiguous or up to the audience to decide what happened afterwards.
This idea of a twist can be applied to Todorov. His theory of Equilibrium follows: Equilibrium; Disequilibrium; New Equilibrium.
In short films the equilibrium the start shows everything as normal. The twist in the film or the problem encountered is the disequilibrium; and the new equilibrium is when the problem is solved or the character accepts the new equilibrium.
Examples
Sites such as shortoftheweek.com show a whole list of short films.
Short films with similar genre to ours include:
The Fly
Prosopagnosia
The offering
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