Short films are generally understood to be any motion picture not exceeding long. In industry terms, a short film is generally understood as a motion picture that doesn’t exceed 40 minutes in running time (they may also have an intermission). These days, shorts reach audiences through festival screenings and distribution on the internet. There’s no precise definition of length or time for what officially qualifies as “short.” We’re using “short feature” here to describe films ranging from under 15 minutes up to 40 minutes. So
Film Production Stages Explained: Development to Distribution It was 6:47 PM on a November shoot for Going Home. We had 40 minutes of golden hour left. I knew this because I’d written it in the call sheet, laminated the call sheet, and taped the call sheet to the monitor cart. What I hadn’t written on … Read more
The $4,000 Mistake That Changed Everything Three years ago, I watched a first-time director burn through four grand in 48 hours. The plan? Shoot a 70-minute feature over a single weekend with borrowed gear, unpaid actors, and a crew that had never worked together. By hour six, half the cast had bailed. By day two, … Read more
Introduction: Important Tips for first time filmmakers When I worked as a production assistant on major Hollywood films like Scooby Doo, Josie and the Pussycats, and Cats & Dogs, I thought I understood filmmaking. I watched directors work. I saw how crews operated. I absorbed everything like a sponge. Then I tried to direct my … Read more