Where does a young filmmaker begin? With the right short-film concept and this book!
The right short can be a filmmaker's "business card" in Hollywood. Here's the authoritative handbook by one of Hollywood's most connected insiders that offers a step-by-step guide through the entire creative process of shooting a short film, as well as expert advice from established filmmakers, and a final game plan for promoting and selling the film once it's in the can.
Topics covered include:
€ Concept
€ Budget
€ Finding equipment
€ Assembling a crew
€ Casting
€ Arranging for location
€ Locating festivals and ancillary markets
€ Working with the unions
€ Film vs. digital video
Plus:
€ A list of film schools
€ Oscar-winning shorts and nominees
€ A selection of short-film festivals
€ Actual short-film budgets
€ Sample scripts and shooting schedules
€ A helpful short-film glossary
Short Films 101
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Getting Started: Why Make a Short Film?
Episode 1 · What Is a Short Film? · What Makes a Great Short Film? · Making a Short Film · The Calling Card · Getting Started · The Case for (and Against) Film School · The Purpose of This Book
2. Concept: Telling a Great Story
George Lucas in Love · Format · Genre · What's the Big Idea? · Amazing Stories
3. Budget: How to Spend the Money
Discount Filmmaking · From Zero to Fifty Grand · The Beg and Barter System · Choose Where to Spend Your Money · Choose Where Not to Spend Your Money · Don't Forget Post-Production · Show Me the Money · Short Budgets Revealed
4. Equipment: The Tools You'll Need
How Real Movies Are Made · Well Equipped · Visual Formats · Film Versus Video · Bargain-Basement Prices · The Least You Need · Hello, Dolly · Lighting · Sound Off · Cut · Compromise
5. Crew: The Pople Who Will Help You Achieve Your Vision
Shoot to Kill · The Power of One · Friends · Looking Beyond the Director's Chair · Ten Things I Love About Crew · Master and Commander · Best Crew Money Can Buy · Party of Two, Table for One · Creative Crewing
6. Cast: Finding Actors to Bring Your Script to Life
Before They Were Stars · Cast Me If You Can · The Star · Star Search · Working with SAG Actors · Will Act for Food · Rehearsal of Fortune · Understudy · A Star Is Born · How to Win an Actor in Ten Days
7. Action: The Set Comes to Life Once the Camera Rolls
Shoot for the Moon · Scheduling for Dollars · Bargaining for Locations · Anatomy of a Scene · Attention to Detail · Setting Up a Shooting Schedule · The Long and the Short of It
8. Post-Production: Everything After Wrap!
Post Haste · Editing · Visual Effects · Sound · Music · Transfer · Pick-Ups · The Moral: Plan for Post
9. Marketing: Coming Soon to a Theater Near You
If at First You Don't Succeed... · Marketing · Word of Mouth · Be Ready When Opportunity Knocks · Critical Recognition · Coming Soon
10. Distribution: Getting Your Film to the Right People
Release · Ready for Distribution · Self-Distribution · Internet · Film Festivals · Ancillary Markets · Profitability · George Lucas in Luck
11. Landing the Deal: Let the Hard Work Pay Off
Something in Common · Proceed with Caution
Conclusion: Famous Last Words
One Last Piece of Advice · The Meeting
Appendices
Film Schools · Oscar-Winning Shorts · Short Film Festivals · Software · Additional Short Film Scripts · Budgets
Glossary
Index
