Hello fellow creators,
I want to start a conversation for writer/directors who are making short films to build experience and awareness of their work so we can move our "careers" forward and make bigger and more impactful projects. Besides the festival route and possible short film distribution how can one take extra steps to get their work seen by individuals who can make difference in their career? Relative Agents, producers, investors etc.
Thank you,
Ahi Black
This is a great question, thanks for reaching out! Shorts are incredibly valuable for showcasing both creators and projects. We've had several threads that discuss creating "proof of concept" shorts (here is a case study on a short to feature: https://www.stage32.com/webinars/From-Short-to-Feature-A-Case-Study-on-a...), which can expand into a series or feature. There has also been some discussion around "calling card" shorts, which are meant to highlight a director's strengths and make clear the type of films they are making as part of their "brand" (this works for actors, too, so maybe finding up-and-coming talent to showcase is a great opportunity as well: https://www.stage32.com/webinars/Making-Short-Form-Content-that-Launches...).
In my experience, the more you can make your short more than just about you, the further it will reach - showcasing other talent and crew, including a social justice cause you stand behind or a non-profit organization your film will benefit, or even making it specifically for a channel that would distribute it.
Here is a blog about the Economics of Shorts: https://www.stage32.com/blog/The-Economics-of-Short-Films
And a blog about Financing a Short Film: https://www.stage32.com/webinars/How-to-Finance-Your-Short-Film
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Shorts are a great way to exercise the creative muscles be it writing, directing, producing, DP'ing, editing, VFX, etc. I know that when shorts go viral on YouTube studios/production companies take a look. You can also use your shorts to get repped as the short is your calling card. I know the team that did a "WW" (aka: Wonder Woman) short a few years ago, and the director got meetings at WB. Gareth Edwards (director Monsters, Star Wars Rogue One, Godzilla) made a sci-fi short winning the 48 hour film competition. Dan Trachenberg (sp?) made the short 'The Portal: No Escape', and he got his studio meetings, and made a feature for Universal afterwards.
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Everything Lindbergh E Hollingsworth said. 100%. 'Saw' and 'Mama' are couple of other examples that come to mind.
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Karen "Kay" Ross Kay thank you very much for taking the time to respond with such value! I will be exploring these sources and put them into practice!
You are most welcome! Happy to help! Also, I'm all about "more impactful projects", so thank you for bringing such important subjects up! Oh, hey - have you met Cali? She also is dedicated to social impact films - I think you'd enjoy meeting her: https://www.stage32.com/CaliGilbert
You are most welcome, Ahi Black! Keep us posted!