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Short change
LFF short film programmer Philip Ilson declares 'Death to Short Film'!
Nov 3 2006
As a short-film programmer for both the London Film Festival and the Halloween Short Film Festival, I've waded through many sacks of short films over the past months. I've watched thousands of DVDs and a few old-school VHS tapes. This is all good. It's obvious that the world of filmmaking is alive and well. But there's a downside: cheaper and easier access to cameras and editing equipment means that the activity is no longer restricted to the select few who have gone through traditional training. These days, it feels like everyone and his dog has a short film inside them, not least because of the proliferation of open-access websites, screening opportunities and film festivals.
It's time to take a cold, hard look at this filmmaking overkill. It's time to do the punk-rock thing and sweep aside the old guard. It's time to stop the onslaught of short film as we know it. In short, it's time for a manifesto. Its intention? To assassinate short film and simultaneously inspire a phoenix-like rebirth.
1) Short films must not be calling cards designed to get work in features or television.
This is the most important point for any discerning maker of short films. There are thousands of media students waiting to break into television to direct soaps, comedy or drama, alongside many film school students graduating and wanting to hit Hollywood and gain Oscar glory. How can anyone compete? Screw 'em all! The only thing that exists for you is your current short film. Harbour no secret dreams of directing 'EastEnders' or walking up the red carpet. Stay focused on the job in hand.
2) Short films must not be about showcasing cinematography, editing or other technical skills.
You are the director. You must make your film exactly as you want. If you need a ten-minute single cloud shot mid-film, that's your choice. You don't need to prove anything to anyone except yourself. If a scene needs a fast complex edit, then do it, but remember it's because the scene needs it and not because you want to show off your new Final Cut Pro skills.
3) Short films must not have an optimum running time; they can last a few seconds or much longer.
Films should exist in their own time-space continuum. No one should tell you it has to fit into a specific slot. Short films are as long as they need to be to tell their story or play out their scenario. (NB Festival programmers may have a problem with this point. Tough luck.)
4) Short films must not have endings that tie everything up, but should feel as though their story could continue after the credits roll.
This is the Raymond Carver rule: think slices of life and powerful scenarios. So many short films think they need a punchline, a final joke or a 'Sixth Sense'-style twist to tie things up neatly and make the audience go away contented. But it's not necessary. How many more times do we have to hear that collective groan in a darkened cinema as the film comes to a close? We want to reflect on a character's life or to think about what move he or she will make next, even though we have no way of knowing. We need to think more and to be kept guessing. We need to have discussion. This is what the best art does.
5) Short films must not be made with an audience in mind. Filmmakers must not believe that an audience needs a cunning twist or a happy ending.
The only audience is the filmmaker who's making the film, and if a few other people like it too, then great! But don't make the film with an audience in mind. They are not important to your vision. You do not exist to make their life happier or richer.
6) Short films must not be restricted by genre.
Is it a comedy drama, a spoof documentary, an animated experimental gallery piece? Who cares? It's a film…
7) Short films must not open with an alarm clock going off and the main protagonist waking up in a brightly lit room.
This is where it gets personal. Do any of us sleep in full bright sunlight? Do our lives only ever begin when we wake up in bed in the morning?
8) Short films must not be accompanied by a slow and poignant solo piano soundtrack.
Plinky-plonky piano music to create a mood? No! Please no one else go there. Unless of course, that piano is integral to your vision rather than it being cheap because your mate has a Woolworths stand-up electric. But please, for the sanity of short film programmers, find another option for your soundtrack.
To sum up: we want original voices, auteur visions, works of art. Of course, this will give us a proliferation of overblown, pompous and arrogant filmmakers who barge their way around Cannes and Sundance. But the true ones will shine through – I promise! It's happened in the past. Since I've been programming shorts, in the UK I've seen the career paths and amazing work of Andrea Arnold, Andrew Kötting, Alison Murray, Shane Meadows, Lynne Ramsay. These are the filmmakers who've transcended the norm, who've bucked the trends outlined above; I could even argue that some of their shorts are far superior to their features. But now it's time to bring on the next generation.
Arise makers of short films! With this eight-point plan as a guide, go and create. Kill off the fakes and scare off the phonies who are fast taking over the world of short film.
The next Halloween Short Film Festival runs Jan 6 to 15 2007.
User comments on this story
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- Singh Style Studio said...
- Nice, eye opener for beginners... Posted on Nov 26 2011 15:39
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- Jean-Paul said...
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Philip has some very valid points and there are some great arguments in this post. Having DoP, camera operated on numerous shorts, and features, the sound bite for 2010 in my experience, and was quoted in the PR material, was "its not just another zombie movie, there is an important message..."
Yes it is. There was a message?
I have experienced very well know film organizations in London pushing filmmakers into submitting films just because they can, not necessarily because they have anything worth submitting rather than advising them on specifics Philip describes for example. Posted on Apr 24 2011 10:46 - Report as inappropriate
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- lanre afod iyiola said...
- i made short movies (music / dance drama) and its making waves in and out of the country(Nigeria) now.'Mr Lecturer,' part 1,2 and 3. at first it was like we were going to watch it all alone, but now i'm glad i got da break from mine not the big dreamy ones from all ready established producers. Posted on Apr 14 2010 21:22
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- Canadian Short Screenplay Competition said...
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Good on you Peter for sticking to your guns. Short film is about telling a story from a strong and committed view point--Being bold in a short amount of time. One film can't be everything to everyone. And a programmer has the difficult task of selecting a roster of films that will hopefully appeal on the whole, while serve to stimulate, entertain and intrigue. I say, good for you Peter for being bold and making strong decisions. One must simply look at the bevy of comments that have been made here to see the conversation it has generated as a result. And that's the whole point... to provoke a response. Job well done!
Just to stir the pot a little before running off... should a short not stick to its namesake and be short? If you're going to make a half hour short, why not shoot for twice the time and make a feature? Posted on Jul 31 2009 07:18 - Report as inappropriate
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- opennick said...
- opennick...m25 Posted on Mar 21 2009 19:12
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- BenL said...
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Seesm like a lot of it makes sense and I agree it's best to make the film for you and hope the audience likes your style and imagination.
I've produced and directed 5 shorts and agree with the other writer's who say that they make great calling cards (now I just make them for fun).
However, the calling card should not be the motivation - telling the story in a unique way should be! Posted on Mar 10 2008 17:07 - Report as inappropriate
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- Luke said...
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I could weep! Just did my first short and guess what, it starts with someone waking up in the morning...It's funny, though, it needs a little bit of setup so now its going to start on a phone call with the other character, then show the film's title. Then show someone waking up. I won't do it again!
PS - at least it doesn't end in a twist.
7) Short films must not open with an alarm clock going off and the main protagonist waking up in a brightly lit room.
This is where it gets personal. Do any of us sleep in full bright sunlight? Do our lives only ever begin when we wake up in bed in the morning? Posted on Nov 07 2007 12:55 - Report as inappropriate
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- philip ilson said...
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Well, it's good to come back to this site a few months later to see some new comments, particually as I will be one of those programming shorts again at this year's London Film Festival. As regards to Ryan's comment about setting up your own film festival, he is refering to the short film festival that I've been running in London for a few years: The Halloween Short Film Festival had it's fourth version at the Curzon Soho, ICA and Roxy Bar & Screen back in January this year, and we're currently planning the next Festival for next January, with a name change to the London Short Film Festival. The original Halloween Festival grew out of short film screenings that I've been organising across London since 1994. So, watch this space....
p.s. shout out to Iain who remembers me from school! Posted on Mar 29 2007 11:36 - Report as inappropriate
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- Stephen F said...
- Reading through these comments, I would have to say the debate was pretty rational until Ryan's contribution. And his suggestion to 'go make your own festival' was silly. As if Phillip Ilson made the London Film Festival. He wasn't even born when it began. I believe a programmer, like a critic, should not be so indulgent of his/her personal tastes, or should work hard to develop their appreciation of film, certainly beyond the level of 'it was a bit stilted' - understatement with regard to the pititfully inept WALKMAN - 'but it made me feel warm.' Posted on Mar 03 2007 20:41
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- iain said...
- I remember Philip from school Posted on Jan 10 2007 23:51
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- Ryan Phillips said...
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I would like to second Jim’s comments above. I believe Phillip’s manifesto is born out of watching vast amounts of shorts, which tread the same path, and as a programmer it must be very frustrating to watch the same thing over and over. All Phillip is trying to do with the manifesto is shake things up a bit, make filmmakers think out of the box, experiment a little.
Secondly and just for the record I would like add that my film BLOOD AND CHIPS was shown in the NUGGETS programme at the LFF. I was proud to have it shown with the other films and I am saddened that the Death to Short Film debate has turned into an argument about Phillips personal taste. I thought the programme was varied enough that there was something for everyone. There seems to be an air of elitism about the attacks on the programme, to be frank I have seen enough polished turds to know that production values don’t make a film good, its how it resonates with the viewer. For example I disliked the multi award winning CUBS which for me despite having amazing production values said nothing to me about my life and felt complete soulless. CUBS was loved by many others and scooped the best independent short award so it was obviously a question of personal taste. If you didn’t like Phillip’s programme then quit bitching and make your own festival, which reflects your tastes. I hope that clears things up and we can now return to a rational debate about the manifesto… Posted on Dec 03 2006 15:08 - Report as inappropriate
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- jim hosking said...
- i am a film maker. i applaud phil for furthering the debate. as far as i am concerned that is nothing but a positive. why should so many people be so critical and defensive? this encourages thought and debate and hopefully a bit more self-criticism. there are not enough people doing their own thing. i like seeing films that make me jealous. and there are not enough. i am sick of worthy slice of life sketches though. where's the imagination! let us reach for the skies brethren and sisterthren! i am not sure what the female version of brethren is. but i am pleased with my stab in the dark. Posted on Dec 02 2006 18:37
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- philip ilson said...
- It's strange that the DEATH TO SHORT FILM arguement / programme has turned into a discussion about the NUGGETS programme. When asked to programme at the 2006 LFF, I was looking out for lower budget shorts, but this turned into low budget shorts AND very short shorts within a single programme. A film like BLOOD AND CHIPS within that programme was clearly a 'professional broadcast standard' film which I would not consider low budget, but in meeting the filmmaker it turned out he had pulled a lot of favours and it was made for a small amount. But clearly the mock-doc A LOOK AT COOK was a throwaway sketch that cost very little, and I was pleased to hear audiences members in hysterics. Two other other titles WALKMAN and EAST SIDE STORY may have been been slightly stilted, but when I first saw them they left a warm feeling inside. Ultimately I was pleased with the programme, even though there were a number of films I had to leave out which I really loved too. Posted on Dec 02 2006 16:27
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- Mary said...
- I would like to know how you determined, Phillip, that a short-film was low-budget. What worries me is that you based that on poor production values. What if someone were dedicated and talented enough to do thier own post-production to an exceptional standard or were persuasive enough to bring in other skilled talent, or secure great locations? Reading between the lines, Phillip, I'd say you'd assume that such films were not low-budget. You might not afford them the indulgence you clearly did with many of those selected for the NUGGETS programme. Posted on Nov 27 2006 12:29
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- Kramer said...
- Phillip, don't you feel that a festival as prestigious as the LFF should have a quality threshold? They may have been short and very low-budget, but too many of the films in the NUGGETS programme were also poorly scripted, or badly acted, clumsily staged, or hackneyed, or just plain 'show it to your friends and relatives' daft. I have to ask, will your programming for next year's festival be consistent with your manifesto, or will you further dilute the status of the festival with more of this amateurish dross? Posted on Nov 27 2006 11:35
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