Genevieve Clay-Smith:

My name is Genevieve Clay-Smith and I'm a writer, director and producer. I have made a bunch of short films that have screened at over a hundred film festivals around the world, even winning an Oscar Qualifying Film Festival award. I'm going to chat to you today about short films. What makes them unique, and how to make a successful short, so that you can have fun making your own short film and be proud of the result.

First things first.

We need to understand the conventions of a short film. Now, what I mean by that is that we need to know what the ingredients of a short film entail and where short films find their audiences. I like to look at short films as being their own genre of film with uniquely defining characteristics.

Short films are short, obviously. They're usually around 40 minutes and under. They are standalone stories. So, unlike a web series, which is episodic, short films are their own story that finish without further episodes or series.

They are structurally different to feature films and television. They often only have 2 acts, rather than 3 or 4 acts. Some short films only have one act. They have minimal characters and locations. They're often low or no budget, which puts limitations on the filmmakers.

Now, these limitations can influence the filmmakers' creative decision making. My guess is that you guys are going to be making a low or no budget short film. Understanding your limitations as a filmmaker is important. You must think about what is achievable in your circumstances and within your means.

Short film audiences tend to engage with short films on the internet and at film festivals. Understanding this is really important to making a successful short film.

So, what makes a successful short film?

Well, firstly, I think we need to define what success is. Success is an interesting concept. It means different things to different people. What you personally define as success might be different to someone else. For the purpose of making films in the context of your high school journey, I'm going to define a successful short film this way. A successful short film realises the creative vision of the film set out by the director. It understands its audience and can engage that audience.

There are different ways to measure this. You can measure it personally. Did you achieve the film you set out to make? You can also measure it through audience. So engagement online and in film festivals. So let's talk about audience first. We need to think about where the audience is going to see your film. That's going to be mostly online, or at a film festival, or a school function.

These days, festivals don't usually take films that are 15 minutes and over. This is because filmmaking has become more accessible to people around the world with smartphones that can shoot brilliant imagery and semi-professional sound, and lighting kits that can create high quality production.

Film festivals get thousands of entries and they want to programme as many great films as they can, usually not giving room in their programme to films longer than 15 minutes. When people go online to watch films, they don't tend to watch long films. Keeping films short means you are more likely to engage your online audience. So I always recommend keeping a film as short as possible. I think between 7 and 12 minutes is the sweet spot. The other thing that is going to engage audiences is ensuring the world of your story is engaging. Will your audience believe the world you've created? You don't want them to see anything in your film which would distract them from the story.

Which leads me to my next point.

Understanding your limitations first, before the script is even written, is incredibly important. If you don't have access to a green screen, or a massive sound studio with sets and stunt coordinators, Victorian costumes, an elephant, maybe don't try and make a film that relies on those things. If you don't have access to older actors, maybe don't make a film that relies on characters who are older. Working within your means is a key ingredient to making a successful short film.

You want your audience to believe the world and the story and you want to make a film that successfully realises your creative vision. So, write a film you CAN make. Keep it simple, sweetheart. So, in summary, when I think about the qualities of a successful short film, here's my top 5.

One, a short film is short. Keep it under 12 minutes. Seven minutes is ideal. And for your project, keep it under 5 minutes.

Two, a short film will generally only have one or 2 acts.

Three, a short film will have minimal characters and locations.

Four, it needs to be made within your means so that nothing distracts the audience from the story.

Five, keep it simple.

To give you an example about what I'm talking about, I'm going to chat to you about my film, 'Be My Brother'.

So 'Be My Brother' won Tropfest in 2009 and a lot of awards around the world. It is a film that is set in one location, a bus stop, and it has three characters. It does have a bus. You might not be able to get a bus, but you could set your film at a bus stop, or at a park, or in your bedroom. All you need is one location, minimal characters.

It's all about the drama and the relationships between characters that make a film engaging. And I think that's why people connected to 'Be My Brother', because at its core, it is about 2 brothers and a stranger who gets transformed through meeting somebody who's different to herself. So, you know, think about how you can create interesting stories just between relationships of characters. You'll be surprised at how engaged audiences will be. Let's watch 'Be My Brother'.

[Transition to short film]

Richard:

Call him off. I won't ask again. Call him off. Call him off! I never miss. It-it-it is approximately 12 o'clock so far. Uh, the bus hasn't a-a-arrived. Renard, this is Bond! I've killed Electra, she's dead... and I'm coming out, and I'm gonna kill you! Uh, someone's dollar o-o-on the ground. Whoever dropped that... should be more careful with their money. Th-there's a woman sitting on the bench. Sh-she's wearing a shirt and some pants. She has a, a b-brown bag. She's quite a-attractive, but not as attractive as others I've seen. She just looked at me. Now she's looking away. She's, she's moving over to the side of the bench. She's scratching her head and putting her hand down on her lap. Hey, what's so funny?

Amanda:

What?

Richard:

A-a-are you laughing?

Amanda:

No, no. Do you always talk about people right in front of them?

Richard:

All the time. I'm, uh, Richard.

Amanda:

Amanda.

Richard:

Uh, you're engaged.

Amanda:

Ah, yes, I'm engaged.

Richard:

I would like to get engaged to my girlfriend. Uh, Julia. How long have you been engaged for?

Amanda:

Six months.

Richard:

Amanda, where are you off to this morning?

Amanda:

I'm going to work.

Richard:

I would like to go to work.

Amanda:

Well, you'll have to get yourself a job then, won't you?

Richard:

Yes, but...yes, but I wouldn't get one that I actually liked, though. "But soft...but soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise fair sun, and kill the envious moon!" Now, who was that?

Amanda:

Um, was that Shakespeare?

Richard:

Very good. Now, who's this? "Ah, nah, nah, nah, Betty. We're not having another cat in this house. I have enough trouble with Cleopatra. She did a whoopsie in my beret."

Amanda:

Frank Spencer.

Richard:

Very good, now. Now, who's this? "That's not my father. Just my r-reflection." "No, look, water... You see? He lives in you." "Hmm, Simba!" "Father?" "Simba, you have forgotten me." "No, how could I?" "You, you have forgotten who you are, and so, you've forgotten me. Look inside, i-in yourself, Simba. You are more than you ever become. You must take your place in the circle of life."

Amanda:

The Lion King!

Richard:

Very good, now, your turn!

Amanda:

Oh, no. You don't want my voice on that thing.

Richard:

Yes, I do.

Amanda:

Uh, okay. Um..."oh, Betty, the cat's done another whoopsie in my hat."

Richard:

You mean...you mean in your beret.

Amanda:

"In my beret."

Richard:

That wasn't very good.

Amanda:

No, I can't do impersonations.

Richard:

No, but you should have said something about yourself, then. Like... "My name is Richard. I am the most extremely good looking man in the world. All my women and all my girls love me. They're hubba-hubba-hubba and they're hot. I'm, I'm in love." Hey, do you want to record something?

Damien:

No thanks.

Richard:

Too bad! Just did!

Damien:

No thanks.

Richard:

I am what I am. I can't change it. My brother, he doesn't understand. He thinks that he doesn't want to be near me. I always seem to embarrass him. And I don't like to be ignored!

Amanda:

You should tell him that.

Richard:

This is mine.

Amanda:

Oh! Oh, okay. Well, it was really nice to meet you.

Richard:

L-likewise. Oh, a goodbye message before I go?

Amanda:

Oh. Uh, My name is Amanda. I am the most attractive woman in the world. And, what's your brother's name?

Richard:

Damien.

Amanda:

Damien, you have a very entertaining brother.

Richard:

Why, thank you. I've taught you well.

Amanda:

Take care.

Bus Driver:

G'day, mate, how you going?

Damien:

Alright, can I get, um, 90 cents, please?

Bus driver:

Mate? You got anything smaller than 20?

Damien:

No, I just got this outta the ATM.

Bus driver:

Mate, I'm not changing it. I can't change it.

Damien:

Yeah, I know, but I thought, I-

Bus driver:

There's a shop down the road.

Damien:

Yeah, I know, I don't have any other money, mate.

Bus driver:

Well, mate, I'm not gonna change it. You're gonna have to get off.

Damien:

I need to catch this bus.

Bus driver:

Mate. I only get $20 in change. So if I change there, I can't, you know.

Damien:

Yeah, no, I don't have any other-

[Richard pays bus driver]

Bus Driver:

Oh, look at this. Champion. Thanks, mate. Do you know that bloke? Thanks, mate.

[Voice recorder playback - voice over]

Amanda:

Damien, you have a very entertaining brother.

Richard:

Why, thank you. I've taught you well.

Amanda:

Take care.