We like short shorts.

Sorry, I couldn't resist, but at least this forum isn't blank anymore.

I can't say that I've seen a lot of short films. There don't seem to be too many on British TV.

Anybody out there got any favourites that you're willing to talk about or any plans for screnzy that will soon be nominated for a Best Short Oscar (guess that would mean that its only half as tall as a regular one and weighs half as much.)

I like shorts. I've always been a big fan of short stories and short films. In fact most of the screenplays I've written are shorts (and I've actually made one or two as well). You don't get as bored whilst writing them (and by the time you DO get bored - hey - it's FINISHED!), and I think it's actually much harder to write a shorter story and so it's a good storytelling training ground for writers, although yes, they're certainly harder to market and sell, which is sad really.

Although not strictly speaking a short (heck, it wouldn't reach 100 pages, would it?) my SF may be a horror portmanteau/anthology screenplay in the "TALES FROM THE CRYPT"/"CREEPSHOW" tradition (3-5 short "tales" connected by a wraparound story), but I haven't decided yet...

Chris,
UK

I think mine would be considered more of a short film, just because it doesn't really have "stars". It's like an educational film with a bit of a background as a goverment/armed forces-produced civilian how-to video on killing zombies. We're talking full propaganda, too. :)

At least I think "how to" videos are short films....

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Terry, Screnzer/NaNoWrimist

A short film is generally defined as any film under about 30 minutes long. But it's not a strict rule.

Mutt, don't let your lack of star power define your film. We on this side of the camera can't let the cattle bully us. But I think you might actually be thinking of independent film, not shorts.
Your idea seems a lot like the bonus episode of Danger 50,000 Volts, though. http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZnNIs4YKtZM You might want to be aware, so people don't think you're trying to rip of Nick Frost...

i love shorts. especially short shorts. Akira Kurosawa's Dreams is a collection that i really like. my script for SF is probably going to long route, but shorts do rule.

~meredeth.

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http://www.notuboc.com/

Hm... I also enjoy short shorts. But mostly because they're so fun and easy to write about. You don't have to strain your brain, trying to come up with two-hour long material. Instead, you're straining your brain in hopes of writing a short script that makes everyone go, "Ooohhhh!" when they watch it.

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"When you attack, it should be 'I will cut them.' When you defend, it's 'I will not be hit.' When you protect, it's 'I will protect them.'" -Bleach

I'm constantly getting ideas for small, self-contained events or scenarios that'd make (hopefully) interesting short films so I'm wondering if that might be the way forward for me this year? I might do some planning and see what I come up with. I'm so easily distracted, it might be the best way to appease the plot bunnies!

Just to be clear, I'm presuming that writing several shorts, whose total cumulative page count reaches/exceeds 100, is within the rules?

~ Anna
NaNo '06: no win
Screnzy '07: no win
NaNo '07: WIN!

Yep, Anna, within the rules... but of course we're making life a little bit harder for ourselves if we go with several shorts in that we have to come up with several different stories instead of just the one longer one. Okay, so there are subplots in a larger piece but it's not quite the same thing.

So I've decided that if I end up struggling to devise 4/5 original plots for my portmanteau screenplay, I shall adapt (again perfectly legal) a few of the short stories from my collection GRIM RENDEZVOUS. I do have a good idea where the linking ("wraparound") is going, so that WILL be original (I use the word cautiously), but it is possible that one or two of the actual tales will be adaptions IF I suffer the dreaded block within the next few weeks.

Good luck with yours, and why not give the shorts a go if you think you can come up with them? It's a good discipline too as a lesson in conciseness and no excess fat storytelling!

http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/216460
http://clix.to/chrisharveywebsite
http://pc.celtx.com/profile/ChrisHarvey

Ah, of course, adapting prose we've already written, nice. That's a great option if I run into The Block, thanks for that.

I definitely agree re. shorts being a great writing exercise if nothing else. I do often struggle to stick to the plot point! I'll give all my options some serious thought and see where my outlines take me. Who knows, maybe I've got some 180 minute epic waiting to unleash itself in April?!

Thanks and good luck to you too :)

~ Anna
NaNo '06: no win
Screnzy '07: no win
NaNo '07: WIN!

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ML for the Nashville, TN region, but here for everyone!
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I'm looking at the possibility of writing a couple just for practice...
Like not a short movie, but you know that part of a TV show that occurs before they tell you the name of the show? (The hook or whatever.. the name escapes me right now) Well, I was thinking if I need words/have time/whatever that I'd write one or two of those just for gits and shiggles...

It would give me an opportunity to practice this... And since my other planned projects don't include original characters, this would let me make my own peeps...

I think I'll end up doing what ChrisHarvey was talking about 3-5 stories, with a "wraparound". I've started the outline, and to my surprise, it's becoming a novel all on it's own. It's hit a huge number of words, and I'm hoping it gets "done" by April 1... In any case, it'll be a collection of "Shorts" -- maybe even short shorts...

--
Hope “Or worry, but know that worrying
is as effective as trying to solve an
algebra equation by chewing bubble gum."
- Mary Schmich