Short Film Mistakes

Writing short films is exceptionally difficult. In recent years, many film festivals have started to prioritise short films that are ten minutes or under. Telling a story in such a short timeframe is a big challenge.

As a script editor, I’ve spent a lot of time in the world of short films. In the past 20+ years I have been …

• Involved with numerous produced films, including award winners & nominated ones
• A judge for Shore Scripts’ Short Film Fund
• A mentor on numerous screen agency short film schemes, including BFI New Voices
• Part of the steering committee for the Exeter Phoenix Short Film Commission 
• A judge for various film festivals, 24 hour filmmaking challenges and other schemes

One of the reasons I love short films so much is because they are unique storytelling vehicles. They can act as fantastic showcases of what screenwriters and writer-directors can do.

I have seen many filmmaking teams advance in their careers thanks to their short films. They can also act as proofs of concept and greenlight features and entire franchises.

I’ve been privileged to work with many talented creatives on short film. However, even talented people can fall into these traps – here are the top 5 mistakes to avoid. Ready? Let’s go …

Mistake 1: Trying to Do Too Much!

When writing short films, you need to get right to the heart of the matter. Overstuffed stories don’t work in this medium.

The biggest issue I see here is when writers try to cram a full-length feature into ten minutes. Yet if we study previous shorts, we will see they often showcase one key idea, theme or emotional journey. 

This is most obvious in Saw 0.5, the original ten minute short. Adam tells a police officer about his traumatic kidnapping and what he was forced to do. It showed the iconic ‘reverse bear trap’ and didn’t even have a saw!!

Instead, the short asked: ‘What wouldn’t you do to survive?’ This is the key fundamental underpinning the feature and the rest of the entire franchise.

MORE: Saw o.5 – The Short Film That Launches A Billion Dollar Franchise

Mistake 2: Weak or Vague Concept

In all storytelling in the 2020s, your premise must hook quickly. The shorter your story is, the harder it has to hit the ground running.

This means your short needs a clear, compelling concept that’s instantly understandable. You simply do not have the time for lengthy set-up upfront. Audiences should immediately grasp the stakes, conflict or character goal.

This is where the logline can really help. So, test it – if it doesn’t make sense in one sentence, simplify.

Also make sure you are focusing on the concrete events of the story and character’s journey. Don’t focus on intangibles like thoughts and feelings or thematics.

Mistake 3: Samey Stories

I have read thousands of short film scripts – literally. I have sat through thousands more produced shorts at film festivals or watched via screeners. Here are the recycled ideas that turn up over and over again …

• A character has a terrible life and wants to die (usually via suicide)
• Two characters meet on a park bench and discuss their lives together
• A character is on a coming out, transition or other personal journey about their sexuality or relationships
• Two characters go on a date and learn something about themselves
• Locked in a room, a character is under siege from monsters or people outside & leaves their last video diary
• Two characters are trapped in a lift
• A character is in an interrogation room and is being questioned by the police
• A pet goes missing and looking for it, a character realises something important

Now, none of these stories are inherently ‘bad’ at grass roots level. Many are low budget (always helpful), plus they’re tried-and-tested because they can feel authentic and relatable.  I have also been involved in some shorts that have used these starting points too.

However, these stories are very familiar. Standing out is half the battle. Writers and filmmakers must find a unique angle, personal experience or subvert expectations to make their shorts really pop.

Mistake 4: Ignoring Visual Storytelling

Like so all spec screenplays, the average short film frequently falls back on dialogue to tell the story.

This is a mistake. Not only because ‘show, don’t tell’ is so important, but because short film is a visual medium.

Writer-directors and screenwriters are effectively ‘auditioning’ with shorts. It becomes ‘LOOK at what I can do’ – not ‘HEAR what I can do.’ Relying too much on dialogue weakens potential impact.

Like all screenwriting, short film is about character behaviour and visuals. We also have a lot less time to do it. This means visual writing is paramount.

So, instead of having characters explaining feelings and motivations, show them through actions or images. Think in images, symbols and cinematic moments.

Mistake 5: Weak Ending or Lack of Resolution

When writing short films, our endings really need to stick. Its ending needs some kind of emotional punch – without it, the story can fall flat. That’s why I am such a fan of what I call ‘the gut punch ending’.

Abrupt, ambiguous or  incomplete endings can confuse viewers. We don’t want them to just think, ‘Is that it??’ 

This means we need to end with clarity, emotional impact, or a thought-provoking twist … But we need to make it intentional. As I always say, we mustn’t write anything by accident.

However, we also need to realise our endings might date, or won’t please everyone – and that’s okay!

Bonus Mistake: No Strategy for Your Short Films

Writing short films is just half the journey. We also need to plan beyond the script and its production. Writing short films without thinking about its purpose or distribution limits its potential. Areas to consider …

• Film Festivals: Which specific festivals suit your story and target audience?
• Creating Buzz: Social media, press, and networking to maximise exposure.
• Proof of Concept: Using shorts to pitch feature films or TV series

No need to stress. Just have a plan for what happens after your film is finished. It’s part of being a professional filmmaker.

Good Luck!