What is a short film?
A short film, generally, is a small selection of scenes lasting between 5 and 30 minutes. Short films often have minimal dialogue and simplistic plot lines, though this varies depending on the length of the film. Short films are good for new filmmakers because they help to fine-tune skills such as cinematography, editing, camerawork, scriptwriting, editing etc. Generally, short films are independently made, though again this can vary, especially with the Disney and Pixar films shown in cinemas such as Paperman (2012, John Kahrs) and Lava (2015, James Murphy).
Compared to a feature film, short films will often have a smaller budget, smaller cast and crew, less well-known actors, and have much more 'free-reign' when it comes to the moral or message the film wants to portray. Feature films are often held back by industry constraints, although they do often have a much bigger budget, larger cast and crew, more dialogue and are able to run advertising campaigns.
Some short films I have really liked which are not in our set list are Tooty's Wedding (2011, Fred Casella) and Rocks that Bleed (2015, Bertie Gilbert). I love how Rocks that Bleed turns a very typical 'end of the world' scenario and completely flips all expectations of what that should contain. Based on almost every other apocalypse film that has been made, the 'end of the world' is something to be feared, something which causes global mass hysteria, and arguably, as it should. Rocks that Bleed takes this expectation and completely subverts it, making it personal and calm, as if it was always meant to happen and they are completely prepared for it. Tom Rosenthal provides a beautifully sung cover of 'Here Comes the Sun', accompanying the actors as they sit and watch the sun expanding from their living room. The whole film is reminiscent of Do The Right Thing (1989, Spike Lee) in the sense that the mise-en-scene is constructed to make you feel the heat alongside the characters, and this is a technique I really admire.
Compared to a feature film, short films will often have a smaller budget, smaller cast and crew, less well-known actors, and have much more 'free-reign' when it comes to the moral or message the film wants to portray. Feature films are often held back by industry constraints, although they do often have a much bigger budget, larger cast and crew, more dialogue and are able to run advertising campaigns.
Some short films I have really liked which are not in our set list are Tooty's Wedding (2011, Fred Casella) and Rocks that Bleed (2015, Bertie Gilbert). I love how Rocks that Bleed turns a very typical 'end of the world' scenario and completely flips all expectations of what that should contain. Based on almost every other apocalypse film that has been made, the 'end of the world' is something to be feared, something which causes global mass hysteria, and arguably, as it should. Rocks that Bleed takes this expectation and completely subverts it, making it personal and calm, as if it was always meant to happen and they are completely prepared for it. Tom Rosenthal provides a beautifully sung cover of 'Here Comes the Sun', accompanying the actors as they sit and watch the sun expanding from their living room. The whole film is reminiscent of Do The Right Thing (1989, Spike Lee) in the sense that the mise-en-scene is constructed to make you feel the heat alongside the characters, and this is a technique I really admire.
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