In order to research this question, I have read the two articles, 'The Long History of Short Films' and 'Short Films that Launched Big Names' from the Daily Telegraph website.
The article, 'The Long History of Short Films,' as the name suggests, writes details of the history of short-film making, and explains the development of short-film making as the years have progressed. It states that to begin with, all films viewed by an audience were actually short-films, and gradually started to become longer during the 20th Century. This is because during the 1900's, "improvements in recording and editing technology allowed film makers to produce longer, multi shot films."
As far as the audiences were concerned, the article states that the short films were often "one-shot 'actuality' or 'interest' film depicting celebrities, royal processions, travelogues, current affairs and scenes from everyday life". Therefore, it is apparant that audiences seemed to enjoy films which they could connect to, and preferred films about everyday life and current affairs going on in the world around them, and used these films as a way of finding information out.
Therefore, I can see how and what short films were used for during the 20th Century and before, and we shall make our short film for a similar reason; to explore attitudes towards homosexuality in a modern day, British teenage culture.
Who is our target audience?
From research, we found that our target audience would be young adults from 16-25 years of age, both male and female. Another potential target audience would be people who have an interest in the French New Wave, and are interested to see our take on it, and how we could put a modern spin on the style of these films. Additionally, our film will be of the gay-interest genre; therefore, it could appeal to those who have an interest in this genre too.
How are short films distributed?
The vast majority of films are distributed at Short film festivals such as Encounters International Short Film Festival, the London Short Film Festival and the LA Shorts Fest - the largest film festival in the world.
These festivals have an endless variety of different genres and sub-genre films as they have no reason to stick to the conventional genres which Hollywood Studios would choose to. For example, independant short films can explore 'taboo' issues which Hollywood style films never would, such as social realism.
However, in this modern day and age short films are sometimes distributed using the internet, and dominantly the website YouTube.
Using YouTube, we have watched 3 short films which are of the gay-interest genre, and discuss social realism issues of being homosexual in modern day society.
What genres of short films are popular?
According to Short Films Hub.com, the top three most popular short film genres are Romance, Comedy and Drama. Therefore, we will aim to produce our piece within at least one of these genres.
All of the successful, award-winning British short films which I have looked at (for example, 'September' and 'Jade') have been in a social-realism style, and deal with ideas which are present in a modern day British culture. Therefore, as myself and our group are British, we shall aim to also create a social-realism short-film.
How long are the films?
From research, I have found that in order to be categorised as a 'short-film,' our product must be no longer than 40 minutes.
However, in North America, short films generally have a duration of between 20-40 minutes, but in Europe and Latin America, films which have a duration of between 1-15 minutes is considered to be a short film.
The films which I have analysed on YouTube, made by students of a similar age as myself, and British films which I have analysed all seem to be no longer than 15 minutes. Therefore, we shall make a short-film which is shorter than longer.
How are the films structured?
Because many short films are produced by independant companies or directors, they often break conventions of Hollywood Studio style films, i.e. films which abide by Todorov's equilibrium theory. Although many of them flow in a chronological order, most do not have a narrative resolution, and many leave a lot of answered questions and 'loose ends.'
For example, the short film, 'Tender' which I previously analysed ends on an enigma, and leaves the audience wondering what it was/ what he was going to do with the weapon he was holding.
Extra Independant Research:
Cinema 16 - A British Short-Film DVD.
I have purchased this DVD and have watched several of the award-winning short films on it for inspiration. This includes the film 'About a Girl' which I have talked about in a previous post.
I have found this DVD hugely benefitial as I can see some common features which these films have, for example, many of them are of the drama genre, and dull lighing is used quite reguarly. None of the films appear to be glamorous, and well lit like a typical Hollywood style film would be, but are instead give a social-realism, dull and bleak appearance.
I can use this research to aid myself and my group when talking about technical details within our short film.
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