5 Things to Remember When Planning a Short Film
Part of our production team hard at work on the short film ‘How Tall is Jeffrey?’ : Madison Stenner- Director (left), Benjamin Stenner- Co-Producer (middle), Cathy Ye- Director of Photography (right)
Whether it’s your 1st or 7th project out of your film production company, planning a short takes a lot of work. Even with experience, you can get so caught up in the logistics that you might forget a few big-ticket items. Here are 5 things to keep in mind when planning to shoot your short film.
You Will Need More Money Than You Expected
You’ve set your budget. You’ve booked your gear and your catering and… what’s that? Someone in the set department needs candles for the table? The food order didn’t include the 10 vegan meals needed? Better get your wallet out. These kinds of additional budget items happen on every shoot. Ideally, this will be coming from the vault of money you were able to fundraise from hundreds of generous donors but realistically, on an indie short, this will probably come from your pocket. This can feel stressful when you’ve already put so much money into the project but it can also be a moment for learning and creativity.
If you run a film production company or you’re looking to produce or direct your own film, you need to see these asks as opportunities to find a low or no-budget way of handling it- Can you use the candles from another scene? can you add something else to the table that will create dimension? Of course, other areas will require you to pay (food and dietary requirements) and that’s just something that needs to happen. Having extra money in the pool on the day of shooting can help relieve some of these unexpected charges.
2. Personality Matters When It Comes to Crew
Your first few films will be passion projects until you build out your film production company. They require a lot of hard work from people who aren’t always being paid and oftentimes, crew members wear multiple hats. That is where building a cohesive team really pays off. Having crew members that understand your leadership style and respect all other positions on set is imperative. Egos have no place on a short indie set. Everyone is busting their butt and sleep-deprived. The last thing you need is someone who thinks they are above being kind to the Production Assistant (who is most likely volunteering). Choosing people that work hard yet maintain respect for others will make a tough shoot feel a lot smoother. I have been supremely lucky on my last two shorts, ‘How Tall is Jeffrey?’ and ‘Last Day on Earth’, to be surrounded by the coolest humans in the business.
Your job as a producer or director is to create an environment for your crew or cast to speak up if they feel that their boundaries are being pushed in any way. This can be an ongoing process but being open to feedback and tough conversations is a good place to start. Setting up these standards will be key should you one day want your own film production company.
3. Things Will Go Wrong and That’s Okay
You might be like me and you worry about all the things that could go wrong on a shoot. Honestly, I think that’s what makes me a good producer… it’s also the cause of some new grey hairs. Either way, no amount of worrying can predict everything so you need to be prepared to handle situations as they arise. When a crisis happens, it’s your job to help sort it out. Maybe you lost a location, maybe your lead actor is sick. Take a breath, assess the issue in its entirety and start brainstorming solutions. Being a great producer or director does not mean you can anticipate all possible issues (although you will try, believe me). It is having the presence of mind to tackle each problem and find a way to solve it. Sometimes that means knowing who to ask for help, sometimes that means making a million phone calls at 4:55 PM on a Friday before businesses close for the long weekend; it’s all part of the gig.
4. Take Care of Your Body and Mind
Making a film, of any kind, is stressful. Whether you own a film production company or you are getting a group of friends together, it will be top of mind until it’s complete. The stress of planning a short can really disrupt your sleep cycle, exercise routine and general wellness activities. That’s bound to happen but try and prioritize something for your mental health and wellbeing at least once a day. Maybe that means taking your time with a cup of coffee or reading before you go to bed at night. Whatever wellness means for you, make space for that as best as you can. Most importantly, go easy on yourself. You’re doing your best.
5. This Is Supposed to Be Fun (difficult but fun)
I might be biased, but I think making movies is the coolest job on earth. Yes, it can be very challenging but in the end, if you are getting a chance to bring a story to life that you believe in, then it can be really, really fun. I love being on set. As a producer, this is what you work so hard for; to watch all of your pre-development work come to fruition on shoot days. Of course, there’s lots of work to be done afterwards but that time with your crew and cast should be cherished. Take a moment on the first day of filming to soak it all in.
Keep these points in mind as you go forward with planning your short. If you are feeling overwhelmed there are plenty of experienced film producers or crew out there that are willing to answer questions. This is just the beginning of your filmmaking career- be patient, be kind to yourself and enjoy the ride.
