Conventions of a short film.

Limited characters

Short films usually consist of 2 - 3 characters. A main protagonist who is on the screen most of the time, and one or two secondary characters. For example, the short film This Is me, shows the main character, his wife and his son.



Short films don't have the time to create a backs story for characters or for detailed character development, therefore character numbers are kept low. This allows the audience to build a satisfactory relationship to the characters in the short amount of time provided. In Dystopia we definitely plan on following this convention. We want the audience to really connect and build a relationship with the single protagonist, this means when a disruption occurs involving him they will have more of an emotional response to it. 

Twist

Short Films often contain a 'Twist'. Twisting the storyline makes the short film more interesting as they are so short, and little is able to happen during them. Without a twist a short film storyline would be fairly uninteresting and predictable. 

Budget

Short films will usually have a low budget. This is because short films are usually directed by independently without sufficient funding. Short Film Directors are able to keep their budget down by using few locations and actors. However, with the run time of short films being so short some actors will offer to work for free if they like the storyline.

This short film, The Black Hole, is very low budget using only one location and one actor. What sells the 2:49 long film is the concept, and this is achieved using camera tricks and video editing software such as Adobe After Effects.

Length

For a film to be considered 'short' they are usually a maximum length of 35 minutes.; typically, they are around 5 - 10 minutes. Upon watching different short films in preparation for creating my own, I have not seen any over 10 minutes long. I feel between 5 and 10 minutes is enough time to understand the characters, plot and purpose of the film.


Situation

Short Films are often based around normal, everyday situations that have been altered in some way to make them more interesting. This allows the viewer to relate to the film in the short space of time provided, and will also help keep the audiences attention. The Black Hole is situated in a regular office, with the alteration being the supernatural powers of the 'black hole'.

Todorov

Todorov's theory of equilibrium is often applied to Short Films. 
Equilibrium - The Start of the film when everything is normal.
Disequilibrium - A Problem Occurs, this is the majority of the film and what gives it narrative.
New Equilibrium - The problem is solved and everything returned to the original state of equilibrium, except change is noticeable. 


To farmiliarise myself with short films I have watched the following:

• This Is Me.
• The Art Of Drowning.
• Noodles.
• Some Static Started.
• Saw.
• Seconds.
• Blood and Chips.
• The Black Hole