Short Films and Video

1. Short Films and Video

2. Short film • A short film is any film not long enough to be considered a feature film. • The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - 40 minutes or less  •  Short films can be professional or amateur productions.

3. Made by independent filmmakers  • Non profit, low budget and no budget at all • Short films are usually funded by film grants, non profit organizations, sponsor, or out of pocket funds. • These films are used by indie filmmakers to prove their talent in order to gain funding for future films. • Short films do qualify for Academy Awards if screened in Los Angeles.

4. Early days • During the early days of cinema short films were shown before feature films. • Buster Keaton • Laurel and Hardy • Charlie Chaplin • Disney’s – Steamboat Willie • By the mid 1950s the commercial live-action short was virtually dead.

5. 1960 & 70s • By the 1960s short film had become the medium of the film student. • 1972 last of the classic animated shorts.

6. The modern era • Pixar - Tin Toy 1988 • The democratization of video-making technology. • The rise of the amateur • The rise of the internet (Youtube and Vimeo) has opened up the world to independent directors and their media.

7. National Film board • 1940 – The NFB starts as a means of creating WW2 propaganda • Norman McLaren – pioneering animator Neighbours (1952) • Telefilm Canada 1967 • Productions for CBC and other broadcasters • Pioneered computer animation – Peter Foldes’ Hunger (1973) • Animated Short Oscar wins – 7 • Most recently The Danish Poet (2006)

8. Types of short films • Animated • Documentary – As I Am • Narrative – plot and story – Victorian Undead • Experimental - Experimental film is an artistic practice relieving both of visual arts and cinema. • Parasomnia • Sugar – Phaseone • Kiss – A Love Story