How To Make A

Short Film
• Come up with an idea for your film.
• You can take inspiration from anywhere, good places to
start are often real life stories.
• Make sure that your idea is achievable on your timescale,
budget and resources.

Concept
• Create a storyboard and script for your film.
• When scripting it is useful to write about:
• Character development
• Plot development
• Inciting incident
• Character arch
• Get friends and family to look over both to see if it makes
sense and looks good.

Storyboard & Script

• Source cast and crew.
• Advertise at schools, drama theatre, drama and film clubs
/ societies etc.
• Find people who actually want to do it, otherwise you’ll
have even more problems.

Cast and Crew

• You need to decide what you need for each scene, this is
called a breakdown sheet, it will be very useful.
• Also your production may benefit from a call sheet, that
way you don’t have bored actor there that aren’t actually
needed!

Breakdown Sheet
• Find where you want to shoot your film.
• Get any permission needed to shot there this could vary
from the local council to private home owners.
• Sort out any insurance need to shoot your film and health
and safety forms.

Scout Locations
• Find an equipment you need
• The basics you will need is:
• Sound kit
• Tripod
• Camera
• Laptop

Source Equipment
• Get all the footage for your film
• Shot one scene more than once to help at the editing
stage.
• Record sound separately to the action as well as together.

Shot The Film

• Get a decent computer
• Upload your footage
• Edit it together
• Most computers come with a free editing software so
anyone can edit a film!

Edit The Film

• Upload it to YouTube, it is a lot cheap than sending out
hundreds of DVDs
• You could also submit it to film festivals and send it to
film agencies.

Distribute The Film

SCRIPT WRITING
 WHAT IS A SCRIPT?
• A written work that is made
especially for film
• Includes dialogue and
description of character and
set
• Screenplay
 FILM
• It is crucial to keep in mind
that film is a visual medium
• You don’t want to tell the
audience a story, you want to
show them a story
 WHAT MAKES A GOOD SCRIPT?
• Memorable characters
• Underlying theme
• Dialogue
• Pacing
• Character arc
OTHER IMPORTANT ASPECTS
• Conflict (person vs. person,
person vs. self, etc.)
• Obstacles that stand in the
character’s way
• Conflict and obstacles can be
physical or emotional
 PROPER SCRIPT FORMAT
• Scripts have to look a certain
way
• 12 pt font, Courier New
• Character names over dialogue
always in CAPS
THINGS TO REMEMBER:

(As the Story Writer)

• A source for writing scripts to use is just
around us:
• Real life experiences:
• Out of town trips
• Educational Retreats/Camps

Sources:
• Novels / Novelettes:
• Books that you have read
• Short Stories:
• Stories told or head from someone

Sources:
• News:
• Based on actual events
• Based on Historical Facts

Sources:
• Make your character come alive in
your story:
• Make them talk, cry, laugh and other
notable emotions or even gestures thru the
use of words
• Make them run like the speed of light or
the strongest man in the world.

Characters:
• Give them names as if they are a real
family with their given names.

Characters:
• Describe who or what your character will
look like:
• Write what your character is wearing, colour of
his eyes or skin, likes and dislikes.
• Include what power your character will have if
he will be the hero of your story

Physical Description
• Describe where your characters are:

• Write the setting as vivid as you can by

describing the place or location or time /
period. Every small detail will help at lot.

Physical Description
• Provide details that could stir the
imagination of the readers using the
various senses:
• Touch / Feel
• Hear
• See

Physical Description
• Your story can be started in
various ways:
• Beginning
• Middle
• End

Story Plot
 THE STORY BOARD

The Story Board helps you to:

 Gain a better idea of how each shot will look by showing the effects that the
different angles and types of shots will have on your story.

 Create a linear story progression that aids with planning that will in turn,

 Ensure a smooth, well thought out shoot day with no surprises…

EXAMPLE OF A
STORYBOARD

• Pictorial version of
the script

• Communicates
clearly what is
needed in each shot

• Eliminates
confusion and mis-
understanding
Story Board
Psycho

Gone with the Wind