Wednesday, August 14, 2013

A Guide To Short Student Films

By Essie Craft


A common problem with students is that they need experience to get work and work to get experience. Fortunately in the case of short student films there is something that people can physically see that will give potential employers a taste of what they are capable of as well as giving them an idea of the reality of filming.

Most people when they watch a film think that they could do a better job. It is very rare that they actually do so. Students can have the chance to back this up and by doing a short film they can learn the mechanics of creating work without the amount of effort required to do a full length film.

One of the positives with the emergence of video upload sites is that students have more access to videos from classic cinema as well as modern sources. This means that increasingly they are becoming more cineliterate and more open to a variety of influences on their work.

As well as the students making the films other students from other disciplines can also benefit. For example creative writers can show off their ability to create a structured script for a filmmaker to follow. Costume designers, musicians, actors and many more can all benefit from being involved in this kind of project.

However it is also equally important to encourage creative talent to use restrictions inventively. A lot of established film makers such as Kevin Smith and Robert Rodriguez used creative means to fund their work and to make the most of their individual circumstances. For example Kevin Smith used the convenience store he worked in as a set for his debut movie Clerks while Robert Rodriguez handled most of the off screen roles while making his first film El Mariachi.

It is vital to remember that the practical work be taught either after or alongside the theory. A student needs to know why it is sensible to shoot from a number of different angles and that an editor can only work with what they have filmed. They need to look at other films in order to be aware of the best techniques and the conventions of a genre in order to properly structure their work.

As well as people involved in media this is also a good opportunity for other creative people. You could involve make up artists, costume designers, animators and any number of other people involved in the project. If someone is part of the business school this may be useful marketing experience for them to put on their resume.

For local communities showing short student films is also a way of showing a commitment to the arts at a relatively low cost. Equally there is nothing to stop the students themselves hiring out rooms to arrange their own screenings. In short while there is no guarantee these projects will lead to a Hollywood career the experience is something that any ambitious person interested in this medium ought to attempt.




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