How To Make A Short Film For Tropfest
So, you want to make a film for Tropfest (or another film festival), but don’t know where to start?
Here we present an overview on how to make a short film and submit it to a film festival. Of course if you’re not submitting to Tropfest, that’s not a problem; just make sure you meet the requirements of whatever festival you are aiming for instead.
The ten (overview) steps to film festival fame and fortune are:
- Step 1. Developing an idea
This is probably the hardest part of the entire process. What is it that you want this film to say? What style of film do you want to make? Comedy? Drama? Action? Art-house?
In a short film, you don’t have much time for developing the story. For Tropfest, that’s seven minutes including titles and credits. So you’ll need to keep your idea simple. A single, simple theme or idea works best.
- Step 2. Creating the characters
Who are the people in your film? What is their history? Their background? What are their goals? What do they want to achieve or stop from achieving?
In a short film, you should keep your cast down to a few characters that the audience can easily recognise. You simply don’t have the screen time to introduce a cast of hundreds.
- Step 3. Finding the locations
Where does the action in your film take place? Good locations are an important part of your story, but they don’t need to destroy your budget.
Use locations that you know. Locations that belong to your friends or family are the cheapest. Otherwise, check that your locations allow filming. Some won’t but it never hurts to ask.
Also, think about the lighting. Unless you have access to an arsenal of lights and filters, think about filming outdoors or inside where there is excellent natural light.
- Step 4. Writing the script
You don’t have to follow a strict format, however sticking to script writing templates that are freely available on the web will show your cast and crew that you’re serious about the project.
Keep in mind the background and history of a character when writing their lines. Would they really talk like that?
Describe the important action in the story. If there are specific props that are required, make sure you write them down.
- Step 5. Choosing the equipment
If you already have a digital video camera that records good sound then you’re set. Otherwise, use whatever you can get your hands on. Beg, borrow, steal (ok don’t steal) or rent.
Your equipment doesn’t need to be top of the line or expensive. You just need a digital video camera that can output to a computer. If it can record sound, that’s great. Otherwise, you’ll need a microphone and some form of audio recorder. Again, you can hire this stuff.
- Step 6. Filming the story
You are directing this film. You need to see the final scene in your head and make sure you shoot enough footage to cover the action. Shoot from multiple angles. Shoot close-ups of related props etc in case you need a cut-away in editing.
Since you don’t need to shoot the footage in the right order, try to group scenes together that contain the same actors. That way, they can turn up for a short time, do all their scenes and then leave.
Ask your actors to do their own hair and makeup, or find a friend that’s good at it. If they have their own costumes/clothing that fits the script, ask them to bring it.
- Step 7. Working with sound
Get the best sound you can during filming. Viewers will often put up with poor visuals, but bad sound will ruin a film.
Record your sound effects on set. Make notes in the script of what you need and tick them off as you record them.
Think about the music you want in the film. Do you have the rights to use it? Contact local musicians or use ‘open-source’ audio available on the internet.
Unless you are making a music video, go easy on the music in the film. It should quietly add to the story, not overpower it.
- Step 8. Editing the footage
For first-time filmmakers, get an editor to help you. Otherwise, you can do the editing yourself on your home computer with the appropriate software. If you are brave enough to take this path, do some research on ‘crossing the line’ and other editing problems before you start.
- Step 9. Meeting the festival requirements
You need to keep the festival requirements in mind throughout the process of making your film. Make sure you fill out all the necessary paperwork. Meet the requirements exactly. Don’t miss anything out. If it helps, make a checklist and tick it off as you go. The last thing you want at this point of the process is to find your entry disqualified because you forgot to do something.
Does your film include the Tropfest signature item? It doesn’t need to be a pivotal part of the story, but it needs to be in there somewhere. Have you included your production stills? Do you have all the appropriate release forms signed?
Submit the film on time. You can’t be in the festival if you don’t submit the film.
- Step 10. Good Luck!
It’s out of your hands now. It’s all up to the judges. Will they ‘get it’? Will they figure it out? Who cares?
Now’s the time to show your cast and crew (if the festival permits and you haven’t already). And after the festival is over, send your film off to other festivals that it qualifies for.
Be proud! You’ve made a short film! Now go and start making another one.
Steps 1 through 5 are know as pre-production. This all happens before the filming. Steps 6 and 7 are what is known as production and steps 8 through 10 are post-production. Ok, so the last one isn’t really a step you can follow. But you get the idea.
Of course, some of the best short films break one or more of the guidelines above so don’t worry - experiment!
Lights! Camera! Action!
