Writing, Making, and Distributing Your Short Film: How the Short Film Can Advance Your Craft and Career

By: Chris Easterly

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Synopsis: This book is a concise, practical guide to writing and making a successful short film. In an accessible and relatable tone, the book covers the filmmaking process from plot ideation to film distribution, without getting bogged down in the complicated details. Written by an experienced writer and filmmaker, the book shows you how to create content, from script to screen, that can connect with an audience. It does so by considering classic storytelling templates like Aristotle’s Three-Act Structure and Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey”, as well as examining a variety of successful short films—analyzing what makes them work, or not, and why. To support learning, it also provides a list of recommended short films to study, with brief background information on each. This is supplemented with the author’s personal experiences of writing and making films, along with exclusive insights from successful Hollywood and independent writers and producers. There are also questions and prompts at the end of each chapter, uniquely designed to guide the reader through the step-by-step process of writing their own short script. Students and professionals alike who want to craft and perfect their short films will find this to be an invaluable resource and a one-stop guide to success.