Writing and directing a short film is a possible entry point to producing a feature film.
Aspiring directors use this medium to create a proof of concept with a minimal budget that can win short film festivals and be snapped up by investors, leading to bigger projects and paving the way for a career in Hollywood.
It is not uncommon for shorts to be created as a proof of concept for a feature film, especially by aspiring directors. Multiple Oscar-nominated actor Bradley Cooper had to prove to the studio bosses that he could direct A star is bornalso starring Lady Gaga in 2019 by making a short film.
The till hit to smile, directed by Parker Finn, is a contemporary success story of how a short film can launch a career. Finn’s short film for to smile initially titled Laura didn’t sleep was selected by Paramount+ after winning the Special Jury Award at the 2020 SXSW Film Festival.
Famous and award-winning directors such as Wes Anderson, Quentin Tarantino and Paul Thomas Anderson all started with short films and went on to create their respective cult classics bottle rocket, Reservoir dogs and boogie nights early in her career.
Even the cult classic by Sam Raimi The bad death began in 1978 as a 32-minute low-budget film, Within 7he Woods, with Bruce Campbell influencing the film. It became one of the highest grossing horror films in the genre, spawning a trilogy and television series.
Below is a selection of inspirational short films for you to watch, including those related to Jared Hess’s Napoleon’s dynamiteMockumentary by Taika Waititi What we do in the shadows and Damien Chazelle’s Best Picture Oscar nomination whiplash.
Marcel the shell with shoes, 2022
Marcel began in 2010 as a trilogy of short films directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp and voiced by Jenny Slate. The charming fake documentary, released in 2021, followed Marcel’s strange life as he tries to unravel the mystery of how their community disappeared and sparked public interest in finding out where they ended up.
Brian and Charles, 2022
In 2017, director Jim Archer made the 13-minute short film about a lonely Welsh farmer who creates an excited robot named Charles, and eventually released the full film in 2022.
Shiva baby, 2020
Director Emma Seligman directed the 2018 short film starring actress Rachel Sennott who goes to a Shiva with her parents and awkwardly meets her sugar daddy, leading to a hilarious film about unlikely family members at family gatherings.
Thunder Street, 2018
Director Jim Cumming’s 13-minute short film premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival and won the Grand Jury Prize for Short Films. Cummings wrote, directed and starred in the 2018 SXSW Grand Jury Award-winning film of the same name.
Thunder Road by Jim Cummings on Vimeo.
Pixels, 2015
Pixels is a 2010 French animated short film written and directed by Patrick Jean. It is about an invasion of New York City by classic 8-bit video game characters and was to be directed by Chris Columbus as a 2015 film starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Michelle Monaghan.
Whiplash, 2014
Damien Chazelle directed the 2013 18-minute short that originally starred actor Johnny Simmons, who was replaced by Miles Teller in the 2014 feature film.
What we do in the shadows, 2014
The short film from 2005 What we do in the shadows: interviews with some vampires, became the inspiration for the mockumentary film made 9 years later, directed by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement. The 28 minute short film is accurate in portrayal and inspiration for the full length film of 3 vampires living together in a shared flat in Wellington, New Zealand.
The Babydook, 2014
The short film monster was released by Jennifer Kent in 2004 and would be a hit at the film festival, allowing the story to be expanded and developed into a feature film. The Babydook is now considered a cult, strange figure and icon of horror.
This is the end, 2013
Jay and Seth against the apocalypse is the short film released in 2007 that would eventually become a star-studded feature film, This is the end 2013 stars Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride and Craig Robinson trapped in James Franco’s house as the world around them descends into apocalypse.
Frankenweenie, 2012
Tim Burton’s original abbreviation for Frankenweenie has been published. 1984 with Shelley Duvall, Daniel Stern and Barret Oliver playing Victor whose dog Sparky is hit by a car and he decides to bring him back to life. The film was released as an animated film in 2012 with a new cast featuring Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara and Martin Short.
District 9, 2009
Neill Blomkamp directed the 2005 mockumentary-style short film about an alien species that inhabits a South African slum reminiscent of the apartheid era. The short caught the attention of Peter Jackson, who later produced the film. district 9, and starred Sharlto Copley, David James and Jason Cope. The film was nominated for 4 Oscars in 2010, including Best Picture.
Inland Empire, 2006
David Lynch released the short film Rabbits 2002 about three rabbits living the terrifying secret of a monotonous existence in an unnamed city overrun by constant rain. Lynch uses his classic style to build tension with mechanical sounds and handmade sets in the 42-minute short that would inspire the feature film Inland Empire with Laura Dern, Jeremy Irons and Justin Theroux.
Napoleon’s Dynamite, 2004
The short film from 2003 Wig on which Napoleon’s dynamite is based on a day in the life of super nerd Seth starring Jon Heder as he plays hooky with his two friends, wins a lottery ticket and thrift shops. Director Jared Hess created the proof of concept for what would become a cult classic.
Saw, 2004
Director James Wan directed the 2003 10-minute short film about a male law enforcement officer who told his horror story of being kidnapped and forced to play Jigsaw’s twisted survival game. The film was scheduled for release in 2004 and will span a franchise of 9 hit Saw films.
Boogie Nights, 1997
Paul Thomas Anderson based his feature film boogie nights in his short mockumentary, The Dirk Diggler story which he wrote and directed as a 17-year-old in high school. Mark Walhberg was set to star as Dirk alongside Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, John C. Reilly, Don Cheadle, Heather Graham and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Hard Eight, 1996
Another short from Paul Thomas Anderson Cigarettes & Coffee Released in 1993, the film tells the story of five people connected by a $20 bill. Anderson later used it as the basis for his directorial debut film hard eight in 1996.
Bottle Rocket, 1996
Wes Anderson made the 14-minute short in 1994 as a proof of concept for dysfunctional characters Dignan and Anthony who plan a heist with their marijuana-growing friend Bob.
True Romance, 1993
True love directed by Tony Scott and written by Quentin Tarantino was originally inspired by Tarantino’s amateur film my best friend’s birthday filmed in 1987. Partially destroyed by fire, the film originally ran for 70 minutes and was cut to 36 minutes and tells the story of Mickey and his friend Clarence as they try to make his friend a birthday to remember. The full length film in 1993 would continue with Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette.
Reservoir Dogs, 1992
The 12-minute short film, directed by Quentin Tarantino, was made with the help of the Sundance Film Institute and served as a proof of concept for the feature film.
Deadly Attraction, 1987
In 1979, James Dearden wrote and directed the short film detour which tells the story of a married man who has an embarrassing one night stand. The short film, renamed Fatal Attraction, starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close, became a cult classic and earned six Oscar nominations in 1987.
Author: Robert Long
Source: Deadline
Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
