Short Film Success Can Lead to Great Opportunities
If you’re looking to make it big in the movie business, then you obviously have a long road to hoe. If you’re just attempting to send scripts to producers and agents, then you’re going to find yourself in the slush pile over and over again. This isn’t the way to be successful simply because everyone else is doing it. If you truly want to make it in Hollywood, then you need to have a short film as well as a script.
When you prepare to make your short film, be sure to have everything ready. If you want to do it right, then this means a lot more effort and preparation than you might think. This includes, but is not limited to, lighting, a cast, a script, the right microphone for your camera, a high-quality camera, a location and much more. If all this sounds like too much work, then you can hire an experienced production assistant to help. Sometimes, they will take side jobs for supplemental income.
Once your product is complete, it’s time to market that product. The most obvious first step is YouTube. A second step should be Vimeo. The former offers the most exposure, but the latter is more geared toward filmmakers. After that, bring your product to websites that accept short films for contests. This won’t only lead to exposure, but you will also receive quality feedback from your peers. In some cases, the judges will also offer some feedback.
The most important reason to look for short film sites is that if you win one of those contests, then you can then use that for credibility. If you have a creative approach with an agent or producer, and you mention that you’re a short film contest winner, then your odds of success will increase. If you win two or more contests, then you’re odds of success will increase by a substantial margin. This is especially the case if it’s for the same movie. Short films that climb the ranks on the indie circuit are often the ones the get optioned. Keep this in mind and you’re short film career will have the potential to climb into something much larger.
Take a look at Best Short Films for detailed information on short films and filmmakers who have broken through the barrier and found success.
