The codes and conventions of short films is what makes up the basic structure to which everyone follows to create a successful outcome. When analysing short films in class we discovered they all followed the same codes and conventions as each other, with each using the structure in interesting and imaginative ways. To thrive in our coursework we as a group all need to follow the set codes and conventions.
- A short film will more often than not start with a situation that needs to be helped or solved; this will help to engage the viewer more quickly
- Only a few main characters will be used as there is not enough time to introduce a lot of main characters, however some lower key extras are used to help the progression of the film
- The budget for the film will not be as high as when a Hollywood film company creates a film (especially as they don’t tend to produce them) and as the short film industry does not have as much funding and they also lack in conglomerate backing
- Short films rarely include the use of CGI (special effects), this probably stems from the lack of funding
- The main key feature of a short film is the length of the film, each one will normally last around 3 to 10 minutes
- Short films may start with disequilibrium or on the other hand they could follow a completely different idea, but what is clear is that short films don’t have to follow a structure like having a beginning, middle and ending
- Locations are vital in short films to the narrative as they provide representations to the audience about certain characters
A short film will primarily consist of one main plot; this is because of the length of the film and to help the audience understand the plot and reduce the confusion between 2 or 3 plots happening in the space of 3 to 10 minutes. This means a short film cannot develop and lead to a sub plot meaning that the whole of the short film is leading up to the final climax. Flashbacks can be used in short films as a positive impact, they can help keep focus on the protagonists story and relate to less main characters and explain their meaning for being in the film. Although the most important and crucial feature of a short film is keeping the plot as simple as possible, although adding some complexity which does not cause confusion. A basic structure with cleverly added complexity will eventually lead to effective enigmas.
Stereotypes in short films are vital as they aid the audience simplified conceptions of specific individuals/ or social groups. The stereotypes of a character also contribute to the elements of mise en scene around them. If a character has dialect then he or she will portray to the audience what social class they originate from, and provide more background knowledge. The iconography, lighting and decor of the environment the story is told in also have a way unfolding the story.
Distribution of short films is largely different to that of ‘blockbusters’. Feature length films are produced on a high budget and then distributed globally to main stream cinemas; short films however mostly put across a stern point and sometimes educate the audience. They are largely distributed on the internet through the popular site YouTube, film festivals, independent cinemas, and on television (BBC, Film 4).
