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Archive for July, 2010
Friday, July 23rd, 2010
Some television networks make use of short films by playing them during certain short timed blocks. You could therefore send a copy of the short film on DVD along with a cover letter to some networks’ short film acquisition executive.
You could also check your local video/DVD dealer to see if they would be interested in selling or renting out you kind of film. Having them view a sample of your films would definitely be a plus. If your film has documentary works or is based on a particular theme, you could look into advertising it to museums and universities, which tend to buy films of this nature from time to time.
Another popular way for you to market your short film is through the internet as many sites are available which will give you the opportunity to broadcast your film. Some are even designed, so as to allow you to generate some amount cast. Most of these however, only act as a means of giving you some amount of exposure. It’s all about marketing, not so much about creating. After your short film is in the can, focus all your energies on selling the product; the creative part is done.
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Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
There is always a feeling of great accomplishment after the production of a short film. The problem however arises in getting the completed film to be seen or distributed. Below are a few tips you can use to distribute your short films.
Send a copy of your short film to a film festival – You can get information on different festivals taking place both locally and internationally by browsing the internet, checking with a film journal or a film school near you. In most cases you will find that these festivals are very much interested in short films. As a matter of fact, there are instances where awards are available for the best short film at the festival. In addition, if you attend these festivals you will have the chance to meet major distributors and have dialogue about your short.
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Monday, July 19th, 2010
If you are interested in entering a festival or have entered your film in a festival, it is recommended that you first check the regulations to see at what point you can upload your short. Some festivals seeking premieres want to be the first medium by which the film is displayed. Others however will have no problem with you displaying the film initially online, so long as that particular film festival is the first of its kind to show the premiere of the film.
Short Film Online Rights are extremely important. In order to sell or license the rights of the short film to an online provider, or allow the film to be streamed, you first need to have all rights to the film. Should you choose to sell your rights, check to see if you will be giving the provider exclusive rights to the film. Basically this means that only the provider will be permitted to display your short. Always negotiate for non-exclusive rights so that you can still retain some rights to your film.
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Saturday, July 17th, 2010
While displaying your films online gives you the opportunity to publicity and have a larger and wider audience view your short film, there are some important things that you need to know about showing your shorts online. These things include: the kind of short that is most suited for the online arena; when it is best to put your film online; and your online rights.
The best kind of short film for the online arena has to do with the length, brightness, subtitles and movement; these are all factors that determine which films are best suited for being displayed online. Films that are shorter in length that is below 10 – 15 minutes tend to be the more popular online films. Films which are dark, or involve many dark scenes are more difficult to watch online. Also, if you have subtitles or text in your film, do ensure that the font is appropriate and in bold, as fonts that are small are not easily viewed online. Finally, there are some technologies which are used in streaming that are not capable of properly displaying fast or sudden movements in a short.
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Thursday, July 15th, 2010
Make contact with film distributors, there’s a lot of small distributors who are operating independently tend to be more interested in shorts than the larger distributors. They will be able to guide you to get your short on a DVD or even in the theater as a collection of films. Nevertheless, do not rule out large distributors unless they have made it clear they clearly state that they are not interested in short films.
Distribute in a foreign country – There are many foreign countries that are enthused about selling films from America in their country, even if it’s a short. As a result, you can check with foreign markets by hiring a translator or getting someone you know to help you. You may need to add subtitles and caption in some cases, but considering that many foreign viewers know English this may not be required at all times.
Post fragments of the short on YouTube, MySpace or even your own blog – This will help to give you more publicity and even fans, increasing your probability of being seen and loved by a distributor or movie company.
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Sunday, July 11th, 2010
Short films have been around for some time and are becoming increasingly popular today. Many short film makers are not just desirous of making a short film, but also have a greater desire, which to use these film to generate some amount of income. In cases like these, it is crucial that the film be marketed in such a way that persons will be drawn to them or at least know about them to watch them.
There are many ways to get your short film out there and generating revenue. One of the most efficient methods, especially where exposure and cost is concerned, is to enter your film in a competition or at a festival. These take place from time to time and so you will have to keep up-to-date to know when one will be taking place close by you.
If you have a film that is below 10mins, is funny and has good content you could have your film marketed by a short film distributor or sales agent. In order to get this done you would need to write a letter to a distribution company entailing any press material or reviews you may have, along with the reasons why you think this film will be a seller.
None of this is the fun part of film marketing, but it’s the most crucial part of film making.
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Friday, July 9th, 2010
What else do you need to make a kick ass short film? Pre-production has many intricate parts and none of them should be taken lightly. Here are a few more points:
1. Storyboard – This is basically a comic version of your film, with each frame giving a depiction of what you are expecting from each shot. This is very helpful and can reduce some amount of stress, but it is not absolutely necessary for a short film production.
2. Equipment and Props – You will also need to take into consideration the equipment that will be required. What will you use for the recording, will anything else be needed? Do you need to buy props, what kind is needed and the cost?
3. Location – You will first need to scout out the location before filming, and if necessary devise a means to get the filming done perfectly without much hassle. Do bear in mind that for some places you may need a permit.
4. Cast – Persons will be very important to your production. If you are low on funds it might be best to use family member and friends.
5. Stamina – It will be a hustle from start to finish and pulling favors from many people can be very stressful. Welcome to indie film making!
Get all these things together and your plans in place with a time line to work with, and you should be OK for filming your short film will little hassle.
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Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
The process of making a good short film can be divided into three important stages; these are the pre-production stage, production stage and the post production stage. Pre-production refers to the stage where all the planning takes place. This is where ideas are put to paper, deadlines are created and things are put in place for the production. During the production stage, the videotaping or filming takes place, while post production deals with mixing and editing.
One key areas to look at during the pre-production stage of a short film that will prevent frustration is to have a strong concept. You will first need to know what you want the film to be about and what possible messages you may want the film to convey. Bear this in mind, and use this to guide you through the rest of the process. The script is one of the most important pieces of your project, but without a good concept, great dialogue can’t save a bad idea. Depending on your concept or method of deliver, you may not need a detailed script. However be sure to write something down, put your ideas to paper as your guide.
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Monday, July 5th, 2010
So what else will you need to prepare for your short film? You will also need to think about resources or materials that you will need for shooting your film; this will also include your human resource, and the location required. Depending on the theme and idea behind your film, you may only need a camera and one or two persons. In other cases however you may have to consider lighting, the cast members and the best location to use. If you are on a low budget, you may have to rely on family and friends to be your actors and help.
You should bear in mind that in some locations filming is not permitted and you may need a license to do so. You also need to consider any props and the cost of any additional material you may require. Also do remember to have a budget and a time line to work with. Try to fit your plans into your budget and time line and if possible, do a test run before the actual shooting of your film.
No matter what forces are against you, preparing for a shoot before the day of production is the best plan to action you can take.
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Saturday, July 3rd, 2010
Pre-production planning is a very important part of the production of any short film. It is at this stage that plans and measures are put in place to bring to life the idea for the short film. The first step in pre-production planning is the idea for the film. What will be the basis of the film, the theme, or what message do you hope to bring across via your short film? It is important that you know this as this will be your guide throughout the planning.
After having an idea, you can then develop a script, which is basically putting your idea to paper. Ideally your script should give certain details about what is going to take place in your film. There is also the method of story-boarding which some persons tend to use. This is almost like the script; instead, it gives a pictorial description of your short film. In that you are planning a short film, you may or may not include story-boarding in your planning.
Remember to be as clear as possible with your ideas, the point of preparing for the shoot is to have as much time as possible focusing on getting the job done and being creative on set, so prepare as much as you can off the set and you will save money.
Posted in Short film pre production planning, Short film producing | No Comments »
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