ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

4 years, 9 months ago - Alwyne Kennedy

Maybe if you give some details about the production - locations / number of cast / etc, - people will feel more able to offer their thoughts.

4 years, 9 months ago - Molly Keogh

Hi,

So it’s really early stages, I have my concept, mood board & research etc.

But I would love to chat with people who have created a short film/ hear about the problems they were faced with & any advice they would like to share with a newcomer.

Sorry I don’t have more information than that!

Many thanks,

Molly

Here is my email: molliie_@hotmail.com

4 years, 9 months ago - Alwyne Kennedy

Oh, so the script hasn't been written? Your post sounded like you were ready to start filming.

The only advice I can give then is the obvious advice of trying to limit the script to whatever your production resources will likely stretch to. If the script turns out good, you may well be able to find collaborators on SP who will put in their own time and resources.

Other advice may be available from other people.

4 years, 9 months ago - Anthony Hett

Hi Molly, I hope that you are well. I have a blog and YouTube channel offering advice about how to write and make a short film, while I also offer 1:2:1 mentoring sessions where I pass all the knowledge I have gained while making my award winning short films. You can find out more information about my blog, videos and mentoring at www.thefilmcoach.com and more information about me and my films at www.anthonyhett.com

4 years, 9 months ago - Anthony Attah

Write the script.

4 years, 9 months ago - Molly Keogh

Never written a script before, very new to all of this. Thankyou for your advice & if anyone has anymore on writing for screen then I would love to talk. Thankyou

4 years, 9 months ago - Paul W Franklin

Hi, I emailed you on here.
P.

4 years, 9 months ago - Marlom Tander

Molly, no script? Writers are gonna love you :-)

You could try posting your concept and info and seek "writers with projects that might suit".

Eg. "The gang are holed up in a Barn. The police are outside. Crazy comedy slapstick as they try and hide the loot before the police break in

It's a barn because we have access to a barn. It's slapstick because two of the cast are great physical comics.

Any writers with a suitable script, contact me. Open to other ideas provided it's set in a barn, has a max cast of 5, and isn't horror".

4 years, 9 months ago - Anthony Attah

Molly - change the heading to 'First short screenplay'

You might get more useful assistance that way.

By saying 'First short film' without having written the screenplay, it comes across as somewhat smug and.

Get writing.

4 years, 9 months ago - Tom Hughes

Um, is it me or is there a lot of passive-aggression on a thread in which somebody is asking for help?!

Molly - I'm currently making my first short having worked in theatre for ages, and so don't have my own advice but the advice which has been given to me from elsewhere. The most useful from someone who now makes features was to keep your early shorts achievable; it's likely you'll be working with v.small/no budgets at first so try to keep the number of locations and actors to a minimum. If you have a fun idea for something with one person, go for that one.

I've also learnt loads from the Scriptnotes podcast (you can get a premium subscription for like £4 a month and listen to it from the early episodes, there's some amazing advice on there from working, professional screenwriters). And from watching short films online - they're quite a specific storytelling medium so it's worth watching other people's work regularly to find out what works and what you like - Directors Notes and Short of the Week are both great. Aesthetica Film Festival has just finished but all the shorts are archived on there until the end of the month for a fee.

There's also loads of good advice from working directors on this amazing document: http://www.directorsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DIRECTORS_NOW-1.pdf - not specific to short filmmaking but I've found it helpful to get into the head of people who do this for a living.

As I said, I'm going through it myself so don't have advice but feel free to send a message if you want to talk further.

4 years, 9 months ago - Alwyne Kennedy

Tom, are you aware that Molly hugely edited her post some days after making it? On SP, original posts can be edited whereas responses cannot. My responses to her were to her post in its original form, and I point that out in case it is my responses that led you to feel that passive-aggressiveness had been directed at Molly.

Perhaps you could ask Molly to point out any instances where she felt she was subject to passive-aggressive attacks?

To SP moderators: maybe make the forum so that all posts can be edited, or none can be edited, rather than the mix we have now? When Molly edited her question, it left my existing response to her looking very odd. I would have deleted them but that isn't an option.

4 years, 9 months ago - Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc

There are two aspects: formatting or creative, so where do you need help? As a BAFTA mentor in script I’m happy to help. I’ll talk you though with so give me a call 07739329747 or franz@imperialfilmproductions.com

4 years, 9 months ago - Marlom Tander

You should have a lot of ideas.

Start writing.

If you actually want to see the short get made, write to your budget. Because it'll be you paying for it. Because you'll also be The Producer :-) (The proportion of new people shorts funded externally, within a rounding error of zero).

If you budget is ZERO plus change, then you have to write locations that are your house, your mate's house, you or mate's business premises, and external public ones. Costumes are "cast own clothes". Cast should be small, but if you have lots of friends, rope them in as extras.

Good shorts are hard to write - like a short story, they have to be perfectly crafted, so be brutal on yourself and avoid padding. Once you get to the end, get out.

If you are ambitious, go for comedy, if you can write it. Comedy is hard to write, hard to cast, and hard to shoot BUT if you get it right, it gets noticed at Festivals. A good belly laugh is worth 100 moody arty glances.

Good luck.

4 years, 9 months ago - James Hancock

Format the pages correctly, as the layout is extremely important. Google how this is done, and read a few different opinions.

Write to the budget in mind. Ideally, minimal cast and locations. Don't over-direct with your writing; leave camera angles to the director/dop (unless important to the story/script). Don't do the casting director's job (JOHN, a smartly dressed man in his early thirties). Be willing to make changes when a producer and director are on board.

And remember, four out of five experts who tell you 'exactly how you should do it' are wrong. Or they're only 'mostly' right. Don't pick up someone else's bad habits. Enjoy your own.

4 years, 9 months ago - shaun blaney

Hey Molly,

I've just finished my first screenplay, and have written several short films. Happy to have a chat about lessons I learned over the years that gave my writing greater direction and focus. My email is shaunblaney22@gmail.com, happy to have a zoom and a coffee.
S

4 years, 9 months ago - Andi Reiss

I can offer a 6x1hr course to help you write your first screenplay, Molly. Feel free to email me (info@andireiss.com).

4 years, 9 months ago - James Hancock

I can offer some basic tips, free of charge. Email me... bucketofscript@gmail.com

But you will need to google the correct layout/format depending on the software you're using to write it. Obviously I can tell you the basics with everything, but can't go into the finer details for free.