Here's a process you can use RIGHT NOW to write an “instant short film” based on the tips I laid out in this video (and keep it fun): 1. Pick a location that you can film at for free, and give yourself a couple of rules for writing a story that takes place there (Ex. A genre + A random word or type of character to incorporate) 2. Start a 10 minute timer and GO. Write a story outline in bullet point format, following your set of “rules.” These rules and the timer will turn off the hyper-critical part of your brain and help get the story beats flowing. For now, just think about real concrete situations as the backbone for the story, not intellectual ideas, emotions, or anything else abstract. 3. Early on in this 10 minutes, figure out WHERE your story is going. What's the ending? Is it actually worth going there? Make the ending the strongest part of your film! 4. Once you have an ending you like, work backwards filling in the rest of your story beats knowing your main goal is to make that ending POP. If your other story beats aren’t making the ending work BETTER, they don’t belong in your outline. 5. Simplify the story as much as you possibly can, eliminate any tangents or side-quests or big backstories. Start the story as late as you can, you don’t need a 3 act structure, starting in the middle of a situation is fine, the audience will catch up/figure it out. 6. When you run out of time - evaluate your seed of a story. Do you like it? Keep working on it at your own pace - you’re already out of the woods! If you don’t like it or it’s not going anywhere, simple rinse and repeat this process until a new story clicks. Hope this helps get you started! The Instant Short Film Blueprint makes it even easier to write a compelling short film, guiding you step-by-step with my favorite "rules" and tons of examples along the way. Get it for 25% off and see how fun and straightforward writing a great short film can be! standardstoryco.com/blueprint/ (offer ends this Sunday, so don't wait!)
My super-simple short-film structures for writing practice (1-15 minute films): • *The Two-Act Joke* - set a scene, tighten the screw, end on subversion of expectation (a dramatic reveal or a comedic punchline) • *Foe to Friend* - completely invert a relationship within one conversation. _Adversaries fall in love / partner uncovers adultery / pickpocket hands back mother's purse etc_ • *In Late Out Early* - join a character mid-scene, cut before it's concluded. _Girl in bar toilet debates escaping her date / actor has panic attack backstage whilst practicing lines etc_ • *Rapid Ascent* - a normal scenario becomes increasingly insane. _Librarian uses increasingly large books to attack mouse / competitive co-workers compete to wear increasingly inappropriate clothes to get boss's attention etc_ For 10-60 minute films I tend to go back to a variable version of the 3-act paradigm. I know it's RU-vid comments and not Reddit, but I'd love to hear if anyone else has any writing exercises like mine.
This is crazy! I just posted a video this morning about it being a dream of mine to create short films. This morning, I got your email and the notification of this video. It was a no brainer. My wallet came out immediately. Already started the course. Thank you!!
I did this slightly massive stop motion film that took me too long to make and after that I didn't think to follow up with the next one recently. It didn't even occur to me to make smaller ones and more of them to grow, now I'm doing that...loving the work.
I’ve been making short films for 20 years, but still felt like I haven’t progressed enough. I seriously would purchase this course, despite being one of those tightwads who never pay 😂 If I can raise the funds before Sunday I’ll try and get this course, but if not I’ll keep an eye out for any potential future discount again as it’s a week before payday. My way of making films has always been to rack my brains and still not come up with anything. I usually think of a good idea only about once a year, so I’m intrigued by this course. The only thing I do already that you’ve mentioned is to consider what locations I already have access to before writing the thing.
God forbid anyone make a living off their skills. I didn’t feel cheated by this video at all. The description notes and what was offered in the video for free was worth the watch. I’ll also be purchasing the course.
Great advice. I remember back in my film school. So many people wanted to make these crazy complicated things. But they hadn't learned the basics. One of lecturers simply said. If you want to break the rules learn the rules first. Then you'll know how to break them where it hurts.
Kent, love the channel bro bur disappointed that this was a video for a paid course. My money is pretty tight, I’ll still tune in to your channel, you still provide great filmmaking content.
Good course, I bought it. It's fun. You learn. And, it can even help you if aren't a "filmmaker", but someone who wants to tell better stories. Oh, and it's worth more than the 80 bucks ( I know Kent never reads there's comments)😉
Not gonna lie, I think the course is worth it. I get how people felt it was a bait and switch but you’ve clearly done the work, and gave us a fantastic introduction. Will take a look when I have some more time - you have so many free videos, your emails are fantastic. Most of all: you aren’t required to entertain (or teach!) anyone for free. Really looking forward to checking the course out 💛
Hate to double down on the comment I saw but yes this one in particular felt a bit like a lead up to a sales pitch. Love the channel and your advice is great but I think it was the combination of things you’ve said before and the added mention of leading somewhere… but that somewhere is a course. Also I don’t knock selling a course at all, all for it… I’d do it if I could haha. Maybe just a little tweaking the video to feel less like an ad.
I bought the Short Films course when it first came out, not because I expect to become rich and famous by making films, but as a way of saying, "thanks" to Kent for the hundreds of hours of videos he has uploaded for free. When this video came out, I remembered that I had bought the course, and decided to at least watch the lessons. I have made some videos for my channel, but none of them were fiction. After going through the Short Films course, I realized that I had learned enough to give it a shot. It's worth the money!
One common mistake is also wanting to explain everything from the beginning. You should start "in medias res" which means starting in the middle of the story.
I have this idea for a short film about a talented hardworking filmmaker and content creator who dares to try and make a modest income from his labour, following the publications of hours and hours of free content, but instead takes shots from a bunch of people who want everything for free. Seriously though, ignore these people. You really dont have to reply to them. Or me. Keep going.
Hi kent i live in Pakistan and look forward to becoming an editor also i am only 16 and don't have much money while i still want to learn to edit and earn money as a freelancer. Could you please guide me i am able to do only simple edting like key frames transition , effect etc in capcut dekstop. Suhaib, Please respond 🙏
No one’s stopping you from writing. No one owes you anything. You clicked on the video. There’s a shit ton of free advice on this channel. Stop getting mad at other people when the problem starts with you. If late stage capitalism bothers you so much you can start writing about that
Finally, the secret recipe for success that will make us all into Hollywood ! By a guy who can't even make it into the industry... Comparing the outrageous lying bio on your website and your actual IMDb tells it all. It's hard to make it, I get it, but it's sad to see you treat fellow aspiring writers like yourself as mere cash cows. You used to help them and now you take advantage of them.
It's $60 for something I worked on for months and firmly believe will help anyone write short films. Maybe a screenwriting MFA would be a better deal to you. Also, promos, commercials, corporate videos, online content, etc. don’t end up on IMDB
