short vs feature length

[oz]

Is it just me or is there a new trend toward more shorts vs feature length?

I understand the desire to appeal to the small, indie producer with a short and if you're shooting yourself, but is that what's truly going on around here? Are you all really shooting your own work?

Has everyone given up on the spec possibilities or do you not like to query and market? I'm just curious.

[mscherer]

Donna,

Gotta believe the main reason for the upswing in shorts is the possibility of filming your own short script for little or no money, putting it up on the web (You Tube), and getting discovered.

Also, the popularity of web-isodes has contributed to this trend.

One man's opinion -- mileage may vary -- batteries not included.

[songswithoutwords]

Hi oz,

I think this shooting-your-own-short thing is a temporary distraction from the main purpose of this board, which is clearly screenplay peer review, whether short or feature length.

Just like analysis of others' screenplays can help us each as writers, I think shooting a short can help as well.

When we actually try to shoot what we write, we get an idea of what the actors and production crew will be facing when putting one of our scripts on the screen. And, we get an idea of what works and what doesn't work.

For me this distraction is refreshing. I like to remember that we're just making blueprints here. Screenwriting in itself may be an art, but it's not done for its own sake. Sometimes I get caught up in the screenplay for its own sake, and when that happens I like to remind myself that it's the movie that counts, in the end.

And I get frustrated, thinking that I need someone else's permission to see my movie on the screen. So I take things into my own hands. For some screenwriters, "taking it into your own hands" means writing enough scripts to get noticed. For others, it's approaching production companies every day until someone bites. For me, it's convincing a group of naïve neighbours that we together can make our own movie, anytime we want. We don't need anyone's permission.

On the other hand, I'm not looking for a career here. Just acting out my childhood dream to make movies.

Getting back to my point. It's a distraction. I think the board will naturally move back to its core purpose. Or maybe, another category is needed, to keep this sort of thing out of the way of the completed feature-length drafts.

Andrew

[oz]

That makes sense, Mike and Andrew. I seriously was asking because I didn't know or really understand. I'm not certain I'm good at critiquing shorts because I've never had the filming perspective and too often they seem like they're written more for the filming aspect than for the story aspect. But I understand what you're saying, Andrew.

I don't know if we need another category or if we just identify them. Then again, if I open a short I usually just close it. Just my preference, no judgment. ; )

[LF]

Personally, as a wannabe director, I have a project I'm working on to shoot myself, as well as a feature length one i'm making slow progress on. I'm enjoying developing my writing though. It makes me a better collaborator and I won't have to rely on finding a writing partner

[Deleted]

I think it is a good exercise to write both. I can see how some topics would only fit well as a short, while other needs to be feature length to have the full story develop.

There is one story I have in mind that needs to be a short as it would only be one man in a prison cell with an interviewer. Even then, it may only work as a play. We shall see.

I like the idea of shorts and features broken out into two sections though. There are days I only have time to read a short, and other times when I want to read something that is 110 pages. It would be nice to quickly find what I am looking for.

Just my .02.

[Jeff Messerman]

I hear the voices of my people and obey!

Expect a SHORT FILMS folder in the COMPLETED DRAFTS section by nightfall!

Jeff