Comments on: The Short Film is Dead: Time for the Emerging Filmmaker to Get a New Calling Card http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/ NoFilmSchool is a site for DIY filmmakers and independent creatives. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:26:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Adele http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-3/#comment-136626 Adele Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:12:23 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-136626 I was not going to waste my time commenting on this article, but it made me so angry that I could not leave without putting in my two cents. First of all I am a FIRM believer in short film making! The short film is alive and well. There are many companies online including Ouat Media that specialize in the distribution of short film. You could say that the short film is a separate form of artistic expression all to itself, just as theater is different than film. There is no reason to put down the short film! I believe that the standard method of feature film and TV production is riddled with inefficiency and wastes time and money. Notice that the author of this blog has not listed any feature films or television shows that he has directed or produced. So I think what we have here is someone who just writes and thinks and has little to no experience in the actual field of film production or distribution. He is probably too busy playing video games to produce any films himself! In short this blog is a list of personal opinions which may or may not have real world relevance. I am sure the web series has many possibilities, but the traditional ways of making films are antiquated and with all the new technology the entire way films are made will be changing. So this author would spend his time better actually MAKING MOVIES instead of just making up unfounded and arrogant opinions if the film industry! I was not going to waste my time commenting on this article, but it made me so angry that I could not leave without putting in my two cents. First of all I am a FIRM believer in short film making! The short film is alive and well. There are many companies online including Ouat Media that specialize in the distribution of short film. You could say that the short film is a separate form of artistic expression all to itself, just as theater is different than film. There is no reason to put down the short film! I believe that the standard method of feature film and TV production is riddled with inefficiency and wastes time and money. Notice that the author of this blog has not listed any feature films or television shows that he has directed or produced. So I think what we have here is someone who just writes and thinks and has little to no experience in the actual field of film production or distribution. He is probably too busy playing video games to produce any films himself! In short this blog is a list of personal opinions which may or may not have real world relevance. I am sure the web series has many possibilities, but the traditional ways of making films are antiquated and with all the new technology the entire way films are made will be changing. So this author would spend his time better actually MAKING MOVIES instead of just making up unfounded and arrogant opinions if the film industry!

]]> By: Gabriel http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-2/#comment-128124 Gabriel Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:45:13 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-128124 Hey Mike Jones, I see why you are making the argument, and I understand your points and I even see the strength in them but I disagree with the thought that a Webseries could replace a short film as a calling card. I'm not saying it isn't possible, because there have been a few web series that have done well. I don't know what the filmmaking culture is in Australia, but as someone that went to film school in LA and lives in Hollywood and works in the business, every single man, woman, child and actor that gets off a bus is shooting a web series in LA. Most are about a couple of roommates that live together and the hijinks they get up to when they run out of money. Or there is the every popular "The Office" meets: meter maids, airport security, gym workers...whatever. It feels like every single person is shooting a web series and yet there is no one I know that watches them with regularity, knows about them or has found a way to monetize them. I'll also say that the vast majority are complete crap (which is true of short films as well). They are with bad acting, poor production value and just cheap knock offs of cheesy sitcoms. With all that said, let me say that the majority of young filmmakers getting from Talent Agencies, Management firms or production companies are still from their short films. Granted, it's not always what obscure festival they were in but instead how many hits the website got. That is still what's forwarded around amongst the industry. I will also say that most of the talent representation doesn't give a shit what it is for the online market, if your short / feature / webseries has a lot of hits, then they are interested. So i think rather than encouraging people to make one format or another, people should think about what stories they have to tell. To do a web series properly, you need to make many episodes. So let's say you make 5 x 4 minute episodes. thats 20 minutes of content. So if you have $10K to make a 10 minute short or 20 minutes of a web series, which is going to look better? Lastly, I would ask that Mike Jones points out his top 5 dramatic web series that aren't' funded by a large studio. So, THE GUILD is disqualified. He has advocated that dramatic web series are worth making, yet most research as well as pure viewership data has shown that VERY FEW people watch dramatic webisodes. They prefer to tune in for non-serialized episodic comedies where they can have a quick laugh, forward it if they like it and move on. If a young filmmaker has a short story they want to tell that's dramatic, do not turn it into a web series because you think more people will watch it. Don't cheapen your vision and extend your idea and simply have 3 guys with Canon 5Ds' running around trying to make too many webisodes. This film just went viral and got attention in Hollywood: http://vimeo.com/32397612 as did this: http://www.arev.ca/ This went viral a bit over a year ago , the director got signed and now they are making the feature version of it: http://vimeo.com/11099712 anyway, there is more evidence that the short film is not dead. Please, if anyone has examples of Web Series that have launched directors, or that are getting crazy hits, please start them. Hey Mike Jones,
I see why you are making the argument, and I understand your points and I even see the strength in them but I disagree with the thought that a Webseries could replace a short film as a calling card. I’m not saying it isn’t possible, because there have been a few web series that have done well. I don’t know what the filmmaking culture is in Australia, but as someone that went to film school in LA and lives in Hollywood and works in the business, every single man, woman, child and actor that gets off a bus is shooting a web series in LA. Most are about a couple of roommates that live together and the hijinks they get up to when they run out of money. Or there is the every popular “The Office” meets: meter maids, airport security, gym workers…whatever. It feels like every single person is shooting a web series and yet there is no one I know that watches them with regularity, knows about them or has found a way to monetize them. I’ll also say that the vast majority are complete crap (which is true of short films as well). They are with bad acting, poor production value and just cheap knock offs of cheesy sitcoms.

With all that said, let me say that the majority of young filmmakers getting from Talent Agencies, Management firms or production companies are still from their short films. Granted, it’s not always what obscure festival they were in but instead how many hits the website got. That is still what’s forwarded around amongst the industry. I will also say that most of the talent representation doesn’t give a shit what it is for the online market, if your short / feature / webseries has a lot of hits, then they are interested.

So i think rather than encouraging people to make one format or another, people should think about what stories they have to tell. To do a web series properly, you need to make many episodes. So let’s say you make 5 x 4 minute episodes. thats 20 minutes of content. So if you have $10K to make a 10 minute short or 20 minutes of a web series, which is going to look better?

Lastly, I would ask that Mike Jones points out his top 5 dramatic web series that aren’t’ funded by a large studio. So, THE GUILD is disqualified. He has advocated that dramatic web series are worth making, yet most research as well as pure viewership data has shown that VERY FEW people watch dramatic webisodes. They prefer to tune in for non-serialized episodic comedies where they can have a quick laugh, forward it if they like it and move on. If a young filmmaker has a short story they want to tell that’s dramatic, do not turn it into a web series because you think more people will watch it. Don’t cheapen your vision and extend your idea and simply have 3 guys with Canon 5Ds’ running around trying to make too many webisodes.

This film just went viral and got attention in Hollywood:
http://vimeo.com/32397612
as did this:
http://www.arev.ca/
This went viral a bit over a year ago , the director got signed and now they are making the feature version of it:
http://vimeo.com/11099712

anyway, there is more evidence that the short film is not dead. Please, if anyone has examples of Web Series that have launched directors, or that are getting crazy hits, please start them.

]]> By: Sadash http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-3/#comment-127155 Sadash Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:39:47 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-127155 Hi I come back to this site once again because it makes me think outside the box. There is a whole idea that just by making shorts, or even just shooting any kind of films, a filmmaker will become a regular feature film maker. I don't think that happens usually. Short films as a form are not really the gate way to making long features. Whats more self funding can only work so much. At the end of day what is required is to learn to negotiate financial matters for a project. Whether its a short or feature or even a documentary, a filmmaker should try to involve more partners both for creative, financial support and ultimately distribution. Thats the crux of becoming a filmmaker making films which will be screened and distributed. The more one learns to cooperate, the more it becomes possibile to make bigger and bigger projects. Hi I come back to this site once again because it makes me think outside the box. There is a whole idea that just by making shorts, or even just shooting any kind of films, a filmmaker will become a regular feature film maker. I don’t think that happens usually. Short films as a form are not really the gate way to making long features. Whats more self funding can only work so much. At the end of day what is required is to learn to negotiate financial matters for a project. Whether its a short or feature or even a documentary, a filmmaker should try to involve more partners both for creative, financial support and ultimately distribution. Thats the crux of becoming a filmmaker making films which will be screened and distributed. The more one learns to cooperate, the more it becomes possibile to make bigger and bigger projects.

]]> By: Cal Nguyen http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-3/#comment-126733 Cal Nguyen Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:32:07 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-126733 I happen to be in agreement mostly here with Mike's article. I started with a short film but my intention was to do my web series which of course came next (Day Zero the series). My pilot (here: http://blip.tv/dayzerotv/day-zero-episode-101-lethal-pilot-blipnew-5624752) is 23 minutes long, which sets the course of our episodes, of which we have 10 for season 1, so it'll clock in at around 220+ hours total (bang for your buck!). We're drama and sci-fi, giving us an edge, so character development is important to us, that's why it fits the half hour TV slot unlike most web series. But I started it because of the sustaining factor, as we get a lot more experience than one short :) I happen to be in agreement mostly here with Mike’s article. I started with a short film but my intention was to do my web series which of course came next (Day Zero the series). My pilot (here: http://blip.tv/dayzerotv/day-zero-episode-101-lethal-pilot-blipnew-5624752) is 23 minutes long, which sets the course of our episodes, of which we have 10 for season 1, so it’ll clock in at around 220+ hours total (bang for your buck!). We’re drama and sci-fi, giving us an edge, so character development is important to us, that’s why it fits the half hour TV slot unlike most web series. But I started it because of the sustaining factor, as we get a lot more experience than one short :)

]]> By: Sadash http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-3/#comment-121262 Sadash Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:19:57 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-121262 I think Mike is right. Most short films cannot reflect the elements needed to make a feature. Sustaining charaterisations, structure over 90min. or more is quite a different pie.One cannot learn these by making only short films. You need to make feature films to be a feature film maker. I use shorts as means of exploration of themes and ideas.Not for festivals or showcasing in a formal manner. Eventually some of these explorations feed into my feature film stories and screenplays. I think Mike is right. Most short films cannot reflect the elements needed to make a feature. Sustaining charaterisations, structure over 90min. or more is quite a different pie.One cannot learn these by making only short films. You need to make feature films to be a feature film maker. I use shorts as means of exploration of themes and ideas.Not for festivals or showcasing in a formal manner. Eventually some of these explorations feed into my feature film stories and screenplays.

]]> By: adambein http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-2/#comment-118665 adambein Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:56:00 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-118665 Thx for writing & posting this, 'helps me alot. Thx for the comments/responses everyone. Lotsa food for thought. Thx for writing & posting this, ‘helps me alot. Thx for the comments/responses everyone. Lotsa food for thought.

]]> By: Marc http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-2/#comment-111833 Marc Wed, 19 Oct 2011 06:30:05 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-111833 BTW, Thanks for posting this as a guest post- great idea, and I for one am looking for more. Cheers, M. BTW, Thanks for posting this as a guest post- great idea, and I for one am looking for more. Cheers, M.

]]> By: Marc http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-2/#comment-111832 Marc Wed, 19 Oct 2011 06:29:11 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-111832 Nice post, Koo. Happy to see you've got in on the site- thoughtful, provocative. Thanks also for stepping in and adding some light to eh growing dark setting in on the commentary. Egad. -M Nice post, Koo. Happy to see you’ve got in on the site- thoughtful, provocative.

Thanks also for stepping in and adding some light to eh growing dark setting in on the commentary.
Egad.
-M

]]> By: Montreal Film Schools http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-2/#comment-110490 Montreal Film Schools Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:05:11 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-110490 Over here you have shared about the film making course and the information about the institutes. According to me this article has many points which are very helpful for us to know more about the film making courses and career. Over here you have shared about the film making course and the information about the institutes. According to me this article has many points which are very helpful for us to know more about the film making courses and career.

]]> By: Vincent Galiano http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-2/#comment-95918 Vincent Galiano Thu, 25 Aug 2011 06:47:22 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-95918 NOT a good article. He's only talking about advertising and audience. That's stupid, a filmmaker shouldn't think of it. A real filmmaker should be an artist, not a seller. NOT a good article. He’s only talking about advertising and audience. That’s stupid, a filmmaker shouldn’t think of it. A real filmmaker should be an artist, not a seller.

]]> By: Sexy Filipina http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-2/#comment-91593 Sexy Filipina Thu, 11 Aug 2011 06:57:45 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-91593 I keep enjoying good news share getting online for free grant applications therefore i happen to be looking around for the very best site to obtain one. I keep enjoying good news share getting online for free grant applications therefore i happen to be looking around for the very best site to obtain one.

]]> By: Steffan Schulz http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-2/#comment-80044 Steffan Schulz Fri, 10 Jun 2011 02:15:06 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-80044 Well said HenryK. Where can I see your web series? I agree with the backlash. When AFM, Cannes, MIPCOM, and the like, have a web series market, then you might have some credibility. I can shoot a short in 2 to 3 days. A web series takes considerably longer. They are not a fair comparison. A short, music video, or similar are still viable. I can show 2 minutes of this type of work and I have credibility. A web series does not have that clout yet. And audience viewership metrics mean nothing, Rebecca Black's Friday video has 161 million views. Well said HenryK. Where can I see your web series?

I agree with the backlash. When AFM, Cannes, MIPCOM, and the like, have a web series market, then you might have some credibility. I can shoot a short in 2 to 3 days. A web series takes considerably longer. They are not a fair comparison. A short, music video, or similar are still viable. I can show 2 minutes of this type of work and I have credibility. A web series does not have that clout yet.

And audience viewership metrics mean nothing, Rebecca Black’s Friday video has 161 million views.

]]> By: david hoyle http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-2/#comment-71914 david hoyle Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:30:03 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-71914 A good piece. The vitriol of the comments it provoked suggests that it is right and timely to discuss this. It excites the innate conservatism of creative people, and must be good for that reason alone. More still could be said on the common introversion of the short, and their tendency to the solpicistic. It may be unfair to expect most 18- to 21-years olds to have much to say about the world, yet its does seem slightly wasteful to encourage them to use one of the most powerful media ever developed to produce, and aspire to produce, just short fictions. There are serious limitations - as is well argues here - to the short as both teaching tool and exemplar: but a more serious reservation seems to me to arise from its confirmation that our new media practitioners should aim for nothing beyond fiction. Film, and TV more so, can do so much more than that. A good piece. The vitriol of the comments it provoked suggests that it is right and timely to discuss this. It excites the innate conservatism of creative people, and must be good for that reason alone. More still could be said on the common introversion of the short, and their tendency to the solpicistic. It may be unfair to expect most 18- to 21-years olds to have much to say about the world, yet its does seem slightly wasteful to encourage them to use one of the most powerful media ever developed to produce, and aspire to produce, just short fictions. There are serious limitations – as is well argues here – to the short as both teaching tool and exemplar: but a more serious reservation seems to me to arise from its confirmation that our new media practitioners should aim for nothing beyond fiction. Film, and TV more so, can do so much more than that.

]]> By: Sarah Levinson http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-2/#comment-69857 Sarah Levinson Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:27:35 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-69857 Mike lectures at an institution, AFTRS, the premier media production training school in Australia. They are offering short courses on Webisode production. This is an expensive 'film school' education exercise, which is ironic for this blog site called 'nofilmschool'. If Mike's article is an attempt to generate marketing publicity for the course, then his writing is a massive fail. LMAO. I hope the standard for the institution is higher than what is revealed in Mike's misguided argument. If people criticize him for his boastful, bloated and arrogant attitude, then he has only brought it on upon himself. I wonder if he calls himself an academic. I hope his ideas, and his statements are not a reflection on AFTRS, because if it does, then it is shameful and disgraceful. We all look forward to short films created by Mike Jones, or maybe not. Mike lectures at an institution, AFTRS, the premier media production training school in Australia. They are offering short courses on Webisode production. This is an expensive ‘film school’ education exercise, which is ironic for this blog site called ‘nofilmschool’. If Mike’s article is an attempt to generate marketing publicity for the course, then his writing is a massive fail. LMAO.

I hope the standard for the institution is higher than what is revealed in Mike’s misguided argument. If people criticize him for his boastful, bloated and arrogant attitude, then he has only brought it on upon himself. I wonder if he calls himself an academic. I hope his ideas, and his statements are not a reflection on AFTRS, because if it does, then it is shameful and disgraceful. We all look forward to short films created by Mike Jones, or maybe not.

]]> By: filmmaker http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-2/#comment-69281 filmmaker Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:04:53 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-69281 mike jones you know what they say, those who do, do. those who can't, teach - and in your case, write waffle like this. as for 'personal attacks', it's jones who excels at thinly veiled ranting about his own students, i'm sure if they actually read this stuff they would find his assertions quite negative and hypocritical. if you position yourself as intentionally provocative, you should wear the consequences. the day you make a film worth more than 10 seconds of my time, you can start criticising mike jones you know what they say, those who do, do. those who can’t, teach – and in your case, write waffle like this. as for ‘personal attacks’, it’s jones who excels at thinly veiled ranting about his own students, i’m sure if they actually read this stuff they would find his assertions quite negative and hypocritical. if you position yourself as intentionally provocative, you should wear the consequences. the day you make a film worth more than 10 seconds of my time, you can start criticising

]]> By: Frants Combrink http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-2/#comment-68460 Frants Combrink Wed, 29 Dec 2010 13:06:43 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-68460 Oh and the short film is a great way of saying things in a different way. Highlighting aspects of life in a different way. Like another said here, some things just can't be said any better in 180minutes as in 5 to 10 minutes. Short films..yes another thing I just thought about...short films is a way of true artistic expression. It allows those who love story telling a means to tell those stories...as oppose to those who want to be Spielberg or Blomkamp. Oh and the short film is a great way of saying things in a different way. Highlighting aspects of life in a different way. Like another said here, some things just can’t be said any better in 180minutes as in 5 to 10 minutes.

Short films..yes another thing I just thought about…short films is a way of true artistic expression. It allows those who love story telling a means to tell those stories…as oppose to those who want to be Spielberg or Blomkamp.

]]> By: Frants Combrink http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-2/#comment-68458 Frants Combrink Wed, 29 Dec 2010 12:35:58 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-68458 I think the short film has a definite place. I am of the opinion that the short film is a showcase of potential capabilities, not so much of expanding on the short film into a full feature movie or tv series. I'm working on a short film that will be only that, a short film. It will hopefully show my capabilities of telling a story by means of finding base with the character, feeling the story, seeing growth, and finally, carrying a message to the audience. As artists we should...IMO...tell stories that either ask questions about our current situation (be it political, social, those little things that are actually just funny but we take it way to serious, or just some life wisdom) with the use of stories. Just a thought, my opinion for what it is worth. Thanks Mike, I did not know about the web-series option. Might investigate it at a later stage. I think the short film has a definite place. I am of the opinion that the short film is a showcase of potential capabilities, not so much of expanding on the short film into a full feature movie or tv series. I’m working on a short film that will be only that, a short film. It will hopefully show my capabilities of telling a story by means of finding base with the character, feeling the story, seeing growth, and finally, carrying a message to the audience. As artists we should…IMO…tell stories that either ask questions about our current situation (be it political, social, those little things that are actually just funny but we take it way to serious, or just some life wisdom) with the use of stories. Just a thought, my opinion for what it is worth. Thanks Mike, I did not know about the web-series option. Might investigate it at a later stage.

]]> By: Choosing an Online Video Platform: YouTube Pt. 1 - NoFilmSchool http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-2/#comment-67372 Choosing an Online Video Platform: YouTube Pt. 1 - NoFilmSchool Sat, 27 Nov 2010 19:18:42 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-67372 [...] me the classic filmmaker’s struggle of spending ten months making a short film that hardly anyone sees (festival plaudits are great, but what do they really get you?) before making a feature film that [...] [...] me the classic filmmaker’s struggle of spending ten months making a short film that hardly anyone sees (festival plaudits are great, but what do they really get you?) before making a feature film that [...]

]]> By: Jeff Dolan http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-2/#comment-66981 Jeff Dolan Thu, 18 Nov 2010 04:41:59 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-66981 Mike, Don't listen to these folks slamming you. Your post inspired me. I'm sure everyone has opposing stories to backup their views, but film - like many creative fields - lacks one single best way to "make it" to use a phrase from music. I have been coming to the same conclusions as you as I watch what is happening out there, and there is a big difference between getting a short optioned and launching a sustainable career as a filmmaker. The web series will appeal to those who: 1) Don't want to play the studio games and wouldn't know where to start. 2) Want to run and control their own business. 3) Don't have quite enough money or fame to pull off $25,000 indie films (Ed Burns) 4) Want to have regular, direct relationships with their audience. 5) Do not see the odds of being the next District 9 in their favor. With the Internet converging soon with TV, popularly voted web series will show up right next to LOST and 24 level shows. Staying power and audience power will count more than that movie a few years back that did OK. Mike,

Don’t listen to these folks slamming you. Your post inspired me. I’m sure everyone has opposing stories to backup their views, but film – like many creative fields – lacks one single best way to “make it” to use a phrase from music.

I have been coming to the same conclusions as you as I watch what is happening out there, and there is a big difference between getting a short optioned and launching a sustainable career as a filmmaker.

The web series will appeal to those who:

1) Don’t want to play the studio games and wouldn’t know where to start.

2) Want to run and control their own business.

3) Don’t have quite enough money or fame to pull off $25,000 indie films (Ed Burns)

4) Want to have regular, direct relationships with their audience.

5) Do not see the odds of being the next District 9 in their favor.

With the Internet converging soon with TV, popularly voted web series will show up right next to LOST and 24 level shows. Staying power and audience power will count more than that movie a few years back that did OK.

]]> By: Michael Liuzza http://nofilmschool.com/2010/07/the-short-film-is-dead-time-for-the-emerging-filmmaker-to-get-a-new-calling-card/comment-page-2/#comment-66916 Michael Liuzza Wed, 17 Nov 2010 22:03:18 +0000 http://nofilmschool.com/?p=5234#comment-66916 I found this post interesting because regardless if the short film is dead, or no longer useful or whatever, I believe quite strongly that the "mini-feature" is a new format that will in-fact become "very" popular in the coming years. This would be a feature length story told in roughly 60 minutes -or- told in two 60s minutes chunks. The reason I believe in this stems from the the rapidly changing way people will consume movies and video content. When a good chunk of the audience begins watching on say, tablets (iPad) for example, the min-feature just makes perfect sense. All it needs is some good marketing behind it. I think it's inevitable, actually and has real potential as an attractive new format. Additionally, you want to talk about how Short Films are outdated... Film Schools in general on a mass scale are failing to keep their students up to date on the real trends taking place in what is now becoming and will soon be a very volatile and changing industry. 10 years from now the motion picture landscape will not look as it does now. All kinds of new businesses will and already are emerging that have "coped a clue" on what's really going on out there and many of these new motion picture businesses will have nothing to do with the Big 6 Studios in Hollywood. I wonder how many film schools are telling this to their students? I found this post interesting because regardless if the short film is dead, or no longer useful or whatever, I believe quite strongly that the “mini-feature” is a new format that will in-fact become “very” popular in the coming years. This would be a feature length story told in roughly 60 minutes -or- told in two 60s minutes chunks. The reason I believe in this stems from the the rapidly changing way people will consume movies and video content. When a good chunk of the audience begins watching on say, tablets (iPad) for example, the min-feature just makes perfect sense. All it needs is some good marketing behind it. I think it’s inevitable, actually and has real potential as an attractive new format. Additionally, you want to talk about how Short Films are outdated… Film Schools in general on a mass scale are failing to keep their students up to date on the real trends taking place in what is now becoming and will soon be a very volatile and changing industry. 10 years from now the motion picture landscape will not look as it does now. All kinds of new businesses will and already are emerging that have “coped a clue” on what’s really going on out there and many of these new motion picture businesses will have nothing to do with the Big 6 Studios in Hollywood. I wonder how many film schools are telling this to their students?

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