Hold the explosions: Why smaller is better for your first short film
So you want to make a short film? Congratulations! That’s huge. I’ve had the pleasure of producing several short films in my career and I think it’s a beautiful calling card for any budding filmmaker. That being said, I’ve also read a lot of short scripts… A LOT and I can tell you that most people write their first short film as if they have the budget of a feature. Going too big on your first film can result in overspending, stress and oftentimes doesn’t lead to a great result.
This is why I always advocate for a very contained story for a director’s first short film. By contained, I mean a story that involves 1 location and 2 actors without any elaborate action. Read: No explosions, no car chases and no fight scenes. Just two actors hashing out a problem. I’m sure you’re saying “But Dominique, you’re stifling my creativity”. Quite the opposite. Nothing forces a filmmaker to be more creative than parameters. You have to put your thinking cap on and figure out how to make the sequence interesting without all the frills. I promise this will be the kindest way to start your directing career (particularly for your bank account).
I’ve learned all these lessons the hard way and I’m here to share the benefits of working in a smaller sandbox for your first short film.
Going too big often expands your budget
The very first film I produced was my crash course in film production. I wrote the script without any knowledge of creating a budget and boy did it show when I had to pay the bill. Although I only had two actors, I had so many locations, many of which required permits. That 10-minute short film quickly became an overblown budget of $6000. Looking back, with what I now know as a producer, I could have rewritten that script to be a single location and done the film for less than $1000. Locations add money to a budget very quickly.
Most locations will ask for a fee and if you live in Vancouver, that fee can be pretty high (upwards of $500 a day). I know a few of you reading this are thinking you would go guerilla-style and not get permits for exterior locations. That comes with its own set of risks and allows for very little control over the location itself.
You can comfortably step into your role
By starting small, a first-time director can really sink into their role. If you have a million moving parts, you will feel pulled in too many directions at once. If you have a straightforward story to tell, you can put that time into working with your actors, your DP, your production designer and all other heads of departments. Being able to shot list without feeling completely overwhelmed is a gift and a lesson that you will use moving forward in your career. Now is the time to learn to do that well. That way, when you have a stunt-heavy scene or 100 background actors in future projects, you know the basics like the back of your hand.
You’ll get to know your crew
When running a skeleton crew, you will get to know each member of the production before you even step on set. If your first film has 25-50 crew members, it will be nearly impossible to get to know each one of them as most of the key roles will be demanding your time. Getting to know crew members is invaluable. When you find the ones you love working with, you will want to keep working with them on future projects.
You can focus on performance
Performance can make a short film stand out. You can have the best cinematography, production design, wardrobe and locations but if the performances are flat, that is what people will remember. Working on a small project allows you as a director to connect with your actors in both pre-production and on set as this will be the central point of your film.
It will challenge you to be creative in your storytelling
It can be deceiving to think that great films lie in the grand gestures but a strong film starts with a strong story. By working within the contained model of a short film, you can focus solely on the story between the two characters. What is happening between them? Are they fighting? Breaking up? Making up? The possibilities are endless.
This project can help secure funding in the future
By showing others what you can accomplish on a shoestring budget, you can convince friends, family and if you’re lucky, investors to put in money for your more expensive short. By doing your initial piece justice, you will show others that they can trust you with larger sums of money. If you fundraise for your first short film and people give you a few thousand dollars each and your film doesn’t turn out, they won’t keep giving you money. It’s better to build a high-quality portfolio first and then ask for those donations.
If you are still unsure, follow along as I use this exact model in my directing debut. In my upcoming comedy short “Holy Fib” I am simply telling the story of a couple trying to find daycare for their child. 1 location, 2 actors speaking about an issue. Is it elaborate? No. Manageable? Absolutely. Funny? Hopefully.
The second short film I plan to direct involves stunts and more elaborate set pieces that I hope to raise a sizeable budget for. However, I want to dip my toe in before I have a chance to dive into the deep end. As a producer, I see this as the best way to move forward and sustainably build a directing career. Find your people, build your world, play in the sandbox and make something great. Happy filmmaking!
Ready to make your project? DreamBoard Production House (Inc.) is a female-led, Vancouver-based production company offering services in 1-on-1 consultations, script development and production. Dominique Roy is a lead producer (CMPA) and screenwriter who will make her directing debut in the fall of 2023. Head on over to www.dreamboard.ca or @dreamboardproductionhouse (Instagram) and book a call with Dominique to help get your project to the next phase.
