How to Make a Short Film

Co-authored by Gavin Anstey

Last Updated: April 18, 2024 Approved

If you're an aspiring director that wants to start a lucrative filming career, you should start by creating your first short film. While it can seem like a daunting task at first, you actually don't need that much to create an entertaining short film of your own. With the proper pre-production, equipment, and know-how, creating an engaging movie is just a matter of having good ideas and utilizing common filming techniques.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Creating the Script and Storyboard

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1
Think of an idea for a short film. Think of a short story that you want to tell in under 10 minutes. Focus on one core idea so that the short story isn't overly complicated. Consider what kind of tone you want for the film and whether it will be a horror, drama, or experimental movie.^{[1]
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- Think of an interesting event in your own life and use it for inspiration for your script.
- Consider the scope of the story and whether you can convey the story on the budget that you have.
2
Write a short script. If you are an aspiring screenwriter, you can write your own script. Short films should have a beginning, middle, and end. A ten-minute film will only be about 7-8 pages long.^{[2]
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Expert Interview. 27 June 2019.}
- If you don't have a lot of money to work with, you don't want to write a script that includes explosions or expensive digital effects.
- As you write, think about your potential audience and viewers. You should aim to satisfy them and give them what they need to understand your idea and the story you're telling.^{[3]
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  Expert Interview. 27 June 2019.}
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3
Search for scripts online. If you don't want to write your own script, you can search online for scripts that other people have already written. If you plan on shooting your short film to make a profit, make sure to reach out to the screenwriter to get their permission to use it.^{[4]
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- Some screenwriters will sell you their script for a fee.
4
Draw a storyboard. A storyboard is a series of pictures that outline what will happen in each scene. These pictures don't need to be detailed or artistic, but clear enough so that you get a good idea of what each scene will look like and what will happen in it. Creating a storyboard before you start filming will also help you stay on task during the shoot and will save time from having to think of things on the fly.^{[5]
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- If you aren't artistic, you can use stick figures to represent the actors and simple shapes to represent the elements in the scene.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Completing Pre-Production

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1
Scout for locations. Find locations to match the script. Ask small businesses and shops if you can use their locations for a short film. If the film takes place indoors, you may be able to use your own apartment or house. If the shoot is happening outdoors, find a safe and legal place to film.^{[6]
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- Getting permits to shoot on private or public property can sometimes be very expensive.
2
Get actors for the movie. If you have a budget to hire professional actors, you can put out a casting call for the script and then hold auditions for the movie. If you're just trying to create your own personal short film, asking family and friends to act in the film is an easy and affordable way to get a cast for your movie.^{[7]
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- Look for actors that can embody the role in the script. Have them read lines to you to see if you think they would be a good fit for the part.
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Recruit a crew. A crew will help you on the various aspects of shooting a short film like cinematography, production, lighting, editing, and sound. Depending on your budget, you may be able to hire professionals or you may have fill some of the roles yourself.^{[8]
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- If you don't have a budget, ask friends who are interested in filmmaking if they would be interested in working on the movie for free.
Steven Spielberg, Film Director

Learn to appreciate and rely on your collaborators. "Filmmaking is all about appreciating the talents of the people you surround yourself with and knowing you could never have made any of these films by yourself."
4
Purchase or rent filming equipment. To shoot a short film, you'll need a camera, lights, and something to record audio. Select filming equipment that meets your needs and your budget. If you're on a small budget, you can usually find a digital camera for under $100 or you can even use the camera on your phone. If you have a larger budget, you can opt to get a more expensive DSLR camera, which can cost thousands of dollars.^{[9]
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Expert Interview. 27 June 2019.}
- If you want to take steady shots, you should purchase a tripod.
- If you're shooting during the day, you can try to use sunlight for your lighting source.
- If shooting inside, you'll need to get light clamps and flood lights.
- For sound, you can get a more expensive boom mic or you can opt for cheaper external audio recorders or small wireless mics.
- The external mics on many cameras aren't great for picking up actor's dialogue.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Shooting the Film

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1
Rehearse the scene. Once the actors get onto the set, have them go through a basic reading of the script. Then, have the actors act out the scene. As they go through the scene, tell the actors what you want them to do, how to interact with the environment, and let them know of any modifications that you want to see in their acting.
- This process is known as "blocking the scene." The read through of the script can be done anywhere, but you should try to do the blocking on set.
2
Dress the actors in their costumes. If the role requires a certain type of clothing or makeup, you'll want to make sure that your actors are in character before you start shooting. After you rehearse the scene, give your actors the clothes or costumes that they need to wear.^{[10]
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- If the actors have to wear a cultural or religious piece, such as a hijab or yarmulke, be sure to study it. Don't just throw the piece on; be as accurate as possible.
- If you are on a tight budget, you can have the actors provide outfits from their own wardrobe, but make sure that what they find meets your vision.
3
Film the scenes in the movie. The storyboard that you created earlier will give you a shot list. Work around actor's schedules and take advantage of days when your filming location is free for filming. If you have access to a certain location, try to film as many scenes as you can while you're there. This will save you time and prevent you from having to revisit shoot locations.^{[11]
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Gavin Anstey
Video Producer

Expert Interview. 27 June 2019.}
- You don't need to shoot the movie in chronological order. You can shoot whatever scenes are the easiest to do, then order them during post-production.
- Plan ahead for outdoor scenes, especially if you have specific weather in mind, such as a gloomy, rainy day or a bright, sunny afternoon.
4
Focus on visuals. Because your film is short, the narrative will sometimes matter less than the visuals that you are showing the audience. Choose locations that are visually impressive and make sure that the lighting complements the overall scene.^{[12]
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- Make sure that the frame is in focus and that there's nothing obstructing or interfering with the shot.
5
Thank your cast and crew once shooting has finished. Once you've filmed all of the scenes in your storyboard, you can send the film to post-production for editing. Thank everyone who worked on the film and let them know that you'll contact them once the film is finished.
- You can thank everyone as one big group, or you can do it in smaller groups, such as: actors, crew, costume and set designers, etc.
- If someone is unavailable that day, be sure to thank them personally, either face-to-face or by phone.
- If you encountered any difficulties, such as unexpected weather changes or taking longer than expected, you could thank them with a pizza party later on.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Editing the Film

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1
Upload the film to movie editing software. Upload the video files into video editing software. Organize each of the scenes into bins or folders so that you have access to the video files quickly. This will help keep you organized while you work. Once the files are transferred and organized, you can start cutting them up and editing them.^{[13]
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Gavin Anstey
Video Producer

Expert Interview. 27 June 2019.}
- Examples of video editing software includes: Avid, Final Cut Pro, and Windows Movie Maker.
- Choose a program that is easy for you to use and that can perform the exact sort of editing that you need.
2
Do a rough cut of the scenes. Start putting the shots in chronological order. Review them as you go along and check for continuity and flow. During the rough cut, you'll want to make sure that the story makes sense.^{[14]
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- Make note of any areas that don't flow as you watch the film. You can then reorganize it later. In some cases, you may have to re-shoot a scene.
3
Add audio. Add the audio tracks of the actor's dialogue and match it up with the video. You'll also want to take this time to add any music or sound effects that you want in the movie.^{[15]
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- Keeping the audio tracks and sound effects separate from the video is important. This will allow you to adjust things like volume without affecting the video.
- Keep the background music and sounds at a lower volume when people are talking. If they are too loud, you won't hear the actors.
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Analyze and tighten up the scenes. Once you have a decent cut of the film, review it with the producer and other editors. Take people's feedback and criticism and then go back and re-edit the film. Concentrate on flow and pacing during the second edit.^{[16]
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- Implement editing techniques like fades to transition scenes.
- If a scene feels like it's staggering or sluggish, you can tighten up the dialogue by adding cuts in between actor dialogue.
5
Review the film and create a final cut. After you've tightened up the movie, review the movie one last time with the producers, editors, and directors. Get final input on any details that need to be added or altered or issues that may have occurred during editing.^{[17]
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- Once all of the people producing the film agree on the final product, you can start showing your short film to people.

Community Q&A

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Question

My ambition is to become a director. I want to fulfill my dream by making short films. I made a good script but I don't know what's next?

Community Answer

Get the equipment(camera,lighting etc.) and get your crew and cast and location. Then you are good to go.

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Do I need any permission to make short film? I don't have a license.

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As there is no set film making license, no license is needed. However, you do need written permission to use the locations you use, as well as from the people who will be in your film (even the ones in the background). You will also need to obtain permission to use any material that has a copyright.

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What are the main needs for making a short film?

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For filming: A simple script; local and easily accessible locations; actors and basic camera and audio recording gear. For editing: Simple movie and audio editing software and royalty-free sound effects and music. Royalty free generally means copyright free, so you can freely upload your short film to social media sites without being slammed for copyright. Depending on the file sizes of footage, you may need reliable external storage device to free up your computer's hard drive. It's also suggested you read this article.

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