SHORT FILM INDUSTRY

Research into short film industry – Elliot Brown A2 Media

PRODUCTION COMPANIES

I researched into short films and found a couple of production companies who I felt were particularly advanced in creating short films. This research helped me to come to grips with the structures which are often followed in short films and elements in them which could influence the making in my own.

‘RANDOM ACTS’

There is a short film host program on Channel 4 names ‘Random Acts’. After advertisements, Channel 4 have a segment of air time solely based on promoting and presenting short films and their makers. Being broadcasted on such a popular channel, the films are usually very artistic and will

represent a directors views on

something; much like social realism.

LIST OF PRODUCERS

‘THE MOB FILM COMPANY’

The Mob Film Company are media based; are part of Red Arrow Entertainment Group. They base their purpose on creating lots of high quality quality videos and being professional in their visuals, without having the major funding of a bigger production

company. Considering their size,

they are rather effective in

production.

WHO MAKES SHORT FILMS

There are many different people who make short films and differing reasons for why they do so:

Young people – Younger people make short films generally when they are wishing to pursue a film making career and gain valuable experience from short film making.

Students – Students often make short films when creating portfolio’s – like myself.

People who wish to express their ideas and opinions on current affairs.

Companies in the film industry – Companies will often test the compatibility of two employees working on film via a short film.

Film Companies might also make short films to test out new concepts

Film Companies could also use short film making to test new target audiences.

FUNDING

Funding for short films is very sparse and hard to gather.

Government funding is one form of funding for short films. A popular form of government funding for such films comes through the UK Film Council. However, the most popular funding for short films in the UK comes from the British Film Institution (BFI).

BFI

BFI are the largest public film fund in the UK.

Each year, the BFI invest over £26 million of Lottery funds to support film development, production and distribution activity in the UK and the budget is set to rise to £30 million by 2017.

The BFI give priority to “project and filmmaking teams that can pitch a bold vision and creative excellence, and that are unlikely to be fully financed by the marketplace”.

Anyone is open to apply for funding from the BFI.

FILM-MAKING PROCESS

With all film productions, there are a number of stages which are needed to be gone through to get the film to an audience. The stages vary, dependent on the project but in every production the process is vaguely similar:

Development of the brief

Pre-Production

Production

Post-Production

Distribution

Exhibition

JASON BRUBAKER

Jason Brubaker is an LA film producer.

Brubaker created an informal ‘65 step film production checklist’ which he states is vital in production:

http://www.filmmakingstuff.com/the-official-65-step-film-production-checklist/