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Short films by emerging filmmakers typically exhibit several pitfalls such as a confused point of view or a lack of a dramatic turn. This is a brief compendium of the most common storytelling mistakes that I see in short film.
Table of contents:
A man on the moon ........................................................................................................... 3
Everyone speaks what is really on their mind ......................................................... 3
Use contrast to show abstractions ............................................................................... 3
Relationships are not clear ............................................................................................ 4
Everyone is nice to each other ...................................................................................... 4
No decision to make, no dilemma ................................................................................ 4
Flashbacks, collages, dream sequences ..................................................................... 5
Overreliance on the late reveal. .................................................................................... 5
No change, no forward thrust ........................................................................................ 6
No reaction shots ............................................................................................................... 6
First line counts .................................................................................................................. 7
The seduction of dialogue ............................................................................................... 8
Chasing ghosts .................................................................................................................... 8
Wrong vantage point ........................................................................................................ 9
Wrong entry point .......................................................................................................... 11
Jumping someone else’s train ..................................................................................... 12
Coffee table conversations .......................................................................................... 13
Good actors, bad performance ................................................................................... 14
Photographing thoughts ............................................................................................... 14
Beware of symbols ......................................................................................................... 15
Generic characterisation .............................................................................................. 15
Political and other statements ................................................................................... 16
Short films by emerging filmmakers typically exhibit several pitfalls such as a confused point of view or a lack of a dramatic turn. This is a brief compendium of the most common storytelling mistakes that I see in short film.
Table of contents:
A man on the moon ........................................................................................................... 3
Everyone speaks what is really on their mind ......................................................... 3
Use contrast to show abstractions ............................................................................... 3
Relationships are not clear ............................................................................................ 4
Everyone is nice to each other ...................................................................................... 4
No decision to make, no dilemma ................................................................................ 4
Flashbacks, collages, dream sequences ..................................................................... 5
Overreliance on the late reveal. .................................................................................... 5
No change, no forward thrust ........................................................................................ 6
No reaction shots ............................................................................................................... 6
First line counts .................................................................................................................. 7
The seduction of dialogue ............................................................................................... 8
Chasing ghosts .................................................................................................................... 8
Wrong vantage point ........................................................................................................ 9
Wrong entry point .......................................................................................................... 11
Jumping someone else’s train ..................................................................................... 12
Coffee table conversations .......................................................................................... 13
Good actors, bad performance ................................................................................... 14
Photographing thoughts ............................................................................................... 14
Beware of symbols ......................................................................................................... 15
Generic characterisation .............................................................................................. 15
Political and other statements ................................................................................... 16