Filmmaking: "No" To Short Films

I received a great question on my "J. R. Legend Q&A" section on the Filmmaking.net Forum.

The question was a response to my comment that making "short films is worthless." This filmmaker argued his/her point that they gained a lot of experience making short films which enabled him/her to move on to doing features.

My response was as follows:
*******************************************************************

Great!

I knew that would stir the pot.

Now, my perspective is purely a business perspective. So let me ask you two questions.

1. How much did you spend on your short films?

2. How much did you make from them?

If you spent your own money, and you and your friends, some interns maybe, got together to do these films with no intent of it being seen by an acquisition exec who leaps from his chair saying, "Gentlemen, we have a hit on our hands," then I hope you see it as a great investment in your education. Because that's exactly what it was, and a better education than most get from 4 yrs. at UCLA at that. (No offense if you attended UCLA.)

I will go into greater detail into this on my blog, but the bottom line is - "Shorts don't make money." At least now they don't. True, you hear "Cinderella" stories like how Napoleon Dynamite started out as a short and MTV floated them a few hundred thou to make a feature. But as filmmakers, or in any industry really, we can't live by the dream of becoming the next Napoleon Dynamite.

In today's era of technology, a filmmaker can produce a feature length film, digital or tape, for well under $5K. (You can also produce a 35mm film, for about 5K using tried and true Hitchcock tricks and techniques).

If you want great hands on experience with coordinating actor's, crew, budgets, scripts, everything...do a feature. Not only can you raise more money to produce a feature, but you can give yourself a paycheck while you're learning.

Features have a better chance of getting better actors (Unless you are close to a college with a strong theater/film program)

Features have a better chance of making it into a major film festival.

Features have a better chance of getting picked up by a distributor.

Features have a better chance of making money online as you charge visitors to watch it in a streaming video format.

And on and on...

Honestly, it all boils down to script.

If you have a great script that can handle low budget, i.e. dressed up stage play (90 min., one set, one location or even two or three within a few blocks of each other - "Reservoir Dogs," "Dan in Real Life," "Rear Window," "Meet the Parents," "Panic Room," "Friday the 13th" and every other slasher film, courtroom drama and family reunion movie out there. See, even Hollywood knows how to make a cheap movie), then odds are you will not only gain a great education and solid experience but you have a better chance of making a profit to put into another film or to show potential investors, "Hey, we know how to make a profitable film."

A lot of filmmakers get offended when I tell them they're wasting their money on a short because many of them have put so much money into producing them. "That's what you're supposed to do, right?" "That's what everyone else does, right?"

If you're making shorts to learn without putting too much at risk, or you've got the money and you want to have a little fun, great.

But when it comes down to it, the risk takers are the success makers. In any business.

Shorts don't sell, and if you want to get noticed, get any financing and make any money in this business, you have to show that you know how to pick a marketable script, shoot on time and on budget, take the risk and make a feature.

My philosophy is if you're going to do it, do it. If you want to make movies, get your education (the information) and put it to work making real movies.

Don't play with shorts, play with features. Know how to hire competent professionals that will give investors more confidence.

Obviously, I can go on and on...and I will, but not here.

If you feel the investment you, or others, made in your short films was totally worth it. I can't argue with you. You did what was right by you. And for you it was the right thing.

But, and forgive me but I can only assume at this point because I don't know the specifics, if you spent the same amount of money and effort that you spent on all of your shorts combined on a feature, I can almost guarantee that you'd be much further along in your education, experience and success.

Thank you for starting out with a great question. I'm thrilled that you have moved on to features now! I wish you all the success in the world.
*****************************************************************

Listen, if you have the right information, anyone, regardless of experience, if they have the talent and the work ethic, can make a feature length film.

So here's the plug, not a shameless one, but it is a plug -- That's why it is so important to go to FilmSchoolSavings.com and enroll in our pre-launch promotion.

This is the only course I have found that truly puts the puzzle together from the novice to the experienced. Even if you're somewhat experienced, the course we are offering from the Hollywood Film Institute can fill in the blanks that are keeping you from success.

As always, your friend in filmmaking,

J. R. Legend