Storytelling in Short Films

The short film is one of the most fun motion-picture storytelling formats—and one of the most challenging. A short film’s power is in its punch, but its limited length means there is less time for a narrative to unfold, less time to build to a climax.

A good short film needs to have not only great visuals and sound but also a powerful story. The key to that last element is structure. There are myriad narrative approaches, and it’s crucial to determine which one is appropriate for your project.

We employ Keynote or PowerPoint to develop storyboards while also focusing on different types of mics and external recorders, along with specific techniques and exercises for perfecting our audio. You should have basic camera handling, sound recording, and video editing skills, but there are no requirements about which equipment or software to use.

Participants create their own short films over the course of the workshop, engaging in real-time class instruction and group discussion, with one-on-one conversations as needed. Throughout your project’s evolution, you receive ongoing support from fellow participants as we review, analyze, and critique your initial assembly cut, two iterations of rough cuts, and the final cut.

In the process of helping others refine their films, you hone your own storytelling skills, coming away with a powerful short film that boasts a tight and compelling structure.