Short Films 101:
How To Make a Short Film by Connor Curlewis

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Have you been wondering how to make a short film? Don't worry because we're here to help you through the process of making your first.

You will learn what a short film is, how long your screenplay should be, and a 10-step guide on how to make a short film.

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Connor Curlewis

How To Make a Short Film: Beginner Guide by Connor Curlewis

Have you been wondering how to make a short film? Don't worry because we're here to help you through the process of making your first with Connor Curlewis.

Trailer

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Intro

1

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What is a short film

34

Types of short films

88

How to make a short film

152

How to write a script

659

A-roll and B-roll

877

Short film gear

1002

Editing a short film

1459

Tips and tricks

2210

Inspiration

2467

Wrap up

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Meet Your Instructor

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What you’ll learn

Short film is 5-20 minutes long and is not a scene in a feature film.

If you're keeping a journal you can use it as an idea for your scripts.

You don't need a great camera but a good microphone is a must.

A-roll is the skeleton of the story, and b-roll is those adjectives in the script.

You will go through development, pre-production, production, editing and distribution.

You must be able to explain what vision you have quickly and inspirationally.

Masterclass chapters

What is a short film?

A short film is a story between 5-20 minutes. It is a story that is easy to understand for the viewer.

Types of short film

Short films are more personal and story-driven. It can be activated or experimental films as well.

It is not a documentary or a music video but a narrative. Connor will tell you more about the different short film genres in this chapter.

Making a short Cofilm

Making a short film has five stages: development, pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution. In this chapter, Connor will tell you in detail about each phase.

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Writing a script

You start with an idea and a blank page. Make a skeleton for your story. Write a few lines at the top of the page which explain the topic of your short film. From there, drag it down to many pages, going into details with looks, discussions, and more. In this chapter, Connor tells you more about creative script writing.

A-roll and B-roll

A-roll is the skeleton of your story.

B-roll is the adjectives in your script. These bits add weight to the short film.

Best gear

Making a short film is not about the equipment. You need two things: a good microphone and a camera. In this chapter, Connor will show you the equipment for shooting short films, such as a camera, microphone, and lighting.

@connor__curlewis

Editing a short film

Connor is using Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve when it comes to post-production. He will walk you through the editing process of a short film project.

Tips and tricks

Communication is key. You must be able to explain what vision you have in your mind politely, quickly, and inspirationally. In this chapter, Connor will tell you his best tips from personal experience.

Inspiration

As a filmmaker, you are a storyteller. You want your viewers to have an emotion after watching your short film. Connor says that inspiration comes from real life. Real life is where you get those raw emotions from. Fear, jealousy, anger, or happiness.

About Your Instructor

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Connor Curlewis

Filmmaker, videographer, producer, and director

Auckland, New Zealand

“Communication is the most important. You must be able to explain what vision you have in your mind politely, quickly, and inspirationally.”

Connor is a filmmaker, videographer, producer, and director. He has been telling stories since he was a kid.

He is a video producer at Debutify and a founder of Stray Path production company in Auckland. The company tells authentic stories in educational, music, and corporate video.

If you enjoyed this masterclass, check out our article about the 10 essential steps to create your first short film or learn more about filmmaking.

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