One thing you should know about short student films is that they are not solely beneficial for people who study the media or who want a career in cinema. There are a lot of other students and people that can benefit from the experience involved as well as the broader community. Knowing how to get the most from this can help benefit a lot of people.
Most people when they watch a film think that they could do a better job. It is very rare that they actually do so. Students can have the chance to back this up and by doing a short film they can learn the mechanics of creating work without the amount of effort required to do a full length film.
It is also a good opportunity for them to demonstrate putting theory into practise. While you may be able to discuss the difference between high and low key lighting in an essay it is even more impressive if you can then show you know the difference in a practical context. As they become more confident they are more likely to want to make their own films away from their study in order to further develop their skills.
Another thing to remember is that it is not just people behind the camera. You need writers who can create smart scripts, make up artists who can present people well on camera as well as do the gory effects and marketing people to help publicise it. Depending on how you organise it a lot of students can potentially benefit.
In many respects the end result is not hugely important. While it would be great to produce an engaging work that can be exhibited it is more about the process and how they adapt to it. It is also about learning how long the process can take and the importance of checking all the details and ensuring each aspect of the film has been properly thought out.
Once a script is ready casting is the next step. The temptation is to rope in your best friends or people you know. However the best projects will usually be the ones where the film maker has considered who is most appropriate for each role and how it will serve the story.
Naturally this also gives opportunities for other young people as well. If they study at a local business school this gives them the chance to organise a screening and promote it with amateur reporters submitting pieces to the local paper. This is worth considering when you organise projects to see how many people you can get involved and help them benefit from it.
For local communities showing short student films is also a way of showing a commitment to the arts at a relatively low cost. Equally there is nothing to stop the students themselves hiring out rooms to arrange their own screenings. In short while there is no guarantee these projects will lead to a Hollywood career the experience is something that any ambitious person interested in this medium ought to attempt.
Most people when they watch a film think that they could do a better job. It is very rare that they actually do so. Students can have the chance to back this up and by doing a short film they can learn the mechanics of creating work without the amount of effort required to do a full length film.
It is also a good opportunity for them to demonstrate putting theory into practise. While you may be able to discuss the difference between high and low key lighting in an essay it is even more impressive if you can then show you know the difference in a practical context. As they become more confident they are more likely to want to make their own films away from their study in order to further develop their skills.
Another thing to remember is that it is not just people behind the camera. You need writers who can create smart scripts, make up artists who can present people well on camera as well as do the gory effects and marketing people to help publicise it. Depending on how you organise it a lot of students can potentially benefit.
In many respects the end result is not hugely important. While it would be great to produce an engaging work that can be exhibited it is more about the process and how they adapt to it. It is also about learning how long the process can take and the importance of checking all the details and ensuring each aspect of the film has been properly thought out.
Once a script is ready casting is the next step. The temptation is to rope in your best friends or people you know. However the best projects will usually be the ones where the film maker has considered who is most appropriate for each role and how it will serve the story.
Naturally this also gives opportunities for other young people as well. If they study at a local business school this gives them the chance to organise a screening and promote it with amateur reporters submitting pieces to the local paper. This is worth considering when you organise projects to see how many people you can get involved and help them benefit from it.
For local communities showing short student films is also a way of showing a commitment to the arts at a relatively low cost. Equally there is nothing to stop the students themselves hiring out rooms to arrange their own screenings. In short while there is no guarantee these projects will lead to a Hollywood career the experience is something that any ambitious person interested in this medium ought to attempt.
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