How To Make A Successful Short Film On Your Own Terms

How To Make A Successful Short Film On Your Own Terms

How To Make A Successful Short Film On Your Own Terms

Brad Raider
Brad Raider
3 years ago

Certain success markers have become so ingrained in our industry that we may be striving for them without knowing there's much of an alternative.

How did your latest film do? Did it go viral? Did it get into festivals? Any good festivals? How about distribution? Did it make a profit?

What’s the Rotten Tomato Score on your feature? How many five-star reviews do you have on Prime Video? Yes, but are those reviews Verified Purchases?

While we’re on the subject, how’s your IMDb ranking?

How many likes, views, shares, and comments are you getting on social media? Are you Insta-famous? Do you have that validating blue check mark next to your handle yet? Why the hell not?

Did the work you produced yourself get you an agent? How many pitch meetings did you take? Did it lead to legitimate paid work? Was that work successful?

These insidious metrics are the default lens through which we view the success of everyone’s creative efforts, including our own.

I’m guilty of chasing that type of success myself. And there’s always a strong impulse to compare ourselves with other filmmakers on either end of the success spectrum to see how we’re doing, which doesn't help.

While many of these metrics are understandable and undeniably worth celebrating, they can also be largely out of our control. But there’s another path if you're willing to truly embrace the creative process, celebrate the wins as you define them, and change how you relate to fulfillment and fear.

This past weekend, I released a five-minute, no-budget short film, B4Q (a satire about cults). While it's still too early to tell if it's traditionally successful, the process has felt gratifyingly successful by an altogether different set of variables.

How To Make A Short Film Successful On Your Own Terms

Niche Down Even Further

We’re constantly asked by others during our creative process: Who’s your audience? Niche down. Who is this for?

I decided early on that instead of thinking of a faceless group or demographic that might enjoy what I put out there, I’d make a list of about twenty people who absolutely love what I do, not "yes-men," but genuine supporters who consistently understand my irreverent sense of humor.

And it doesn’t have to be twenty. It can be five! However many you have, write them down and take comfort in knowing that at the very least these super fans are going to dig what you do.

I knew there was a good chance that my creative collective (dare I say cult) would enjoy my short film about, well, cults.

It gave me the freedom and confidence to embody the kind of creativity that comes with not trying to please everyone, everywhere. The theory was that this niche-ier niche would be a proxy for others who might love the film, as well.

Fundamentally as an artist, you’re creating work for yourself and for your own sensibility (the niche-iest niche of all).

How To Make A Short Film Successful On Your Own Terms

Partner with Like-Minded Artists

Working without proper funding requires enthusiastic partners in the trenches with you that understand the intentions and limitations of working with no budget.

In my case, I didn’t have the resources to pay for much of anything and didn’t necessarily want to crowd-fund during the pandemic. I really just wanted to get on set again after a long hiatus and have a blast. And the five other people that worked with me on this thing felt exactly the same way.

My colorist Jacob Boblitt, for instance, was interning for me through NYU and he was incredibly eager to throw his hat in the ring and color his first professional project. He had everything to gain from the experience and for the credit and absolutely nailed it.

How To Make A Short Film Successful On Your Own Terms

Be Prepared For and Embrace Synchronicity

When I began to really consider shooting the short in LA in March, the right people began to show up. This happened on my feature, Kensho at the Bedfellow, as well, and it’s truly a magical thing to witness.

Sarah Traisman, an extremely funny actress with whom I became friendly (but who lives in New York), was someone who I had been thinking about to co-star with me in B4Q. Returning to the theater for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, I spotted her name listed as an understudy in the Geffen production of Power of Sail with Bryan Cranston. It was an amazing confluence. She was in LA for a month, and I knew it was go-time.

How To Make A Short Film Successful On Your Own Terms

Lean into the Nos

When it came time to make a poster, I was coincidentally teaching meditation at The Refinery – “one of the leading entertainment marketing agencies behind your favorite posters, trailers, and digital campaigns.”

Perfect, I thought. Let’s embrace even more synchronicity (I am one lucky jerk)!

As you can imagine, there wasn’t much they could do without a budget, so this one became a very compassionate and empathetic "No." I mean, they had just done the poster art for Severance and The Suicide Squad.

But I’ve learned that really leaning into the nos, expecting them and embracing them, gets you closer to the inevitable "Yes." It’s easily a 99-to-1 ratio in every aspect of this business and is in no way exclusive to making a short film.

It means, though, that you have to consistently put yourself out there and be unafraid to reach out to anyone.

Pro Tip: No will usually come in the form of silence and indifference to your outreach. We can’t take it personally because while it’s unkind, radio silence has become yet another default in our industry (and elsewhere, unfortunately).

What we can do is ensure that we don’t perpetuate that indifference towards others. No is always the second-best answer.

I ended up working for a month with Vijay Infant Raj of Fantart Studios and absolutely love what he created.

How To Make A Short Film Successful On Your Own Terms

Work Hard and Have Fun

These two are very much in a cosmic dance with one another.

For most of us, working hard at our craft and creating what we love without fear isn’t like work at all because it’s inherently fun to be creative and play make-believe for a living. It’s also fun to actually make a living doing what we love, too.

However, truly enjoying the creative process is vital because it’s where we spend most of our time on a project. It’s really where we spend most of our lives if we’re in it for the long haul. Even the most traditionally successful filmmakers spend the majority of their time in the process of creation and not basking in an ideal outcome.

I spent the last five months working plenty hard to get my five-minute short where I wanted it (any indie filmmaker will tell you that things take five times as long when you don’t have a budget).

But I reminded myself often to enjoy the ride. In fact, there’s some nice behind-the-scenes footage on my IG as I reminded everyone on set to have fun before our first take. I was clearly talking to myself as much as I was to everyone else.

How To Make A Short Film Successful On Your Own Terms

Success and Fulfillment

I’ve been swimming in gratitude these last few days. Those twenty super supporters did, in fact, love the film and I started hearing from their friends who also got a kick out of it. I’m now hearing from folks I haven’t heard from in years, both in the industry and beyond.

The coolest part? New fans who are discovering the short organically.

Ultimately, success has to be defined by you and can certainly include those default metrics I mentioned at the top. And, of course, I'll continue to push the short out there to move the needle on my career.

We know, though, that true fulfillment isn’t on the other side of any kind of achievement or success. Cultivating internal fulfillment first and then exporting it out through your work is your best bet.

And part of that process is satisfying our own artistic vision unencumbered by what we think our mercurial industry wants. Work as hard as you sustainably can and have crazy amounts of fun while doing it.

I think you’ll find this feels not only gratifying and successful but wonderfully validating (blue check mark or not).

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Emily at emily@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

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About the Author

Brad Raider

Brad Raider

Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter

Raider’s work as an actor, filmmaker and teacher is rooted in a deep fascination with consciousness, creativity, and life purpose. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Raider graduated from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, where he trained at the Circle in the Square Theatre Schoo...

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12 Comments on Brad's Article

Lisa Lee
Author, Screenwriter
Great post, Brad! I especially loved your advice about making a list of people who absolutely love what you do. I've never looked at it that way, but I will now. I also think leaning into the no's is a great attitude to have. Congrats on your short, I enjoyed it!
2 years ago
Brad Raider
Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter
Thanks so much, Lisa Lee...! Glad it resonated ;D
2 years ago
What's that famous line by the JOKER in the 1st BATMAN - "Wait till thy get a load of me?" https://www.stage32.com/blog/reinventing-the-cinema-screen-3084
3 years ago
Is the short the most underrated tool in Cinema? I mean tool as in a General way to practically and theoretically learn about filmmaking when you start as a Newbie and even later on after you turn into a Hollywood Pro. Commercials are sort of like short films and you've heard about a famous director with that background, I'm sure. This has been extremely helpful. You've touched on Synchronicity, pinpointed what a NO looks like in this business, mentioned people as key and Niche-ing down. Short films rule!
3 years ago
Leonor R. Santos
Filmmaker, Music Editor, Producer, Songwriter
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Brad! You just shared a very valuable information that would actually create an impact to many thriving artists.
3 years ago
Brad Raider
Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter
Thanks for that very thoughtful message, Leonor!
3 years ago
Geoff Hall
Screenwriter, Director, Producer
Well done, Brad! I loved your attitude towards the naysayers - “What we can do is ensure that we don’t perpetuate that indifference towards others. No is always the second-best answer.” Nice one.
3 years ago
Brad Raider
Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter
And to you, Geoff!
3 years ago
Geoff Hall
Screenwriter, Director, Producer
Brad Raider Brad, it’s a great attitude to take forward in our careers. I wish you well in all you do. May your star shine brightly. 
3 years ago
Maurice Vaughan
Screenwriter
Thanks for sharing, Brad. Great tips. I don't make films, but this blog applies to other areas of the film industry because when I read the blog (mainly toward the start), I thought about how screenwriters have to find alternative ways to get their scripts out there and optioned or sold. The poster for "B4Q" looks great! Hope you continue to find success!
3 years ago
Maurice Vaughan
Screenwriter
Wait, does Devs mean DeviantArt?
3 years ago
Maurice Vaughan
Screenwriter
You're welcome, Brad Raider. Chuck Norris’ The Octagon :) I've heard of Mandy, but I don't know if I've heard about Devs.
3 years ago
Tarryn Steyn
Actor, Dancer, Host/Presenter, Producer, Singer, Theatrical Producer
Thank you for this Brad! I am sitting here with a few short film scripts I've written and this blog was the push I needed to get going on getting these films made!
3 years ago
Brad Raider
Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter
Love it, Tarryn. Go for it, you got this...!
3 years ago
Julia Warren
Author, Editor, Filmmaker, Illustrator, Playwright, Screenwriter, Stage Director, Voice Artist
This resonates a lot, in particular the synchronicity (or 'serendipity' as I called it) :- that coming together of people who loved the idea, who wanted to create together, who got the concept and suddenly all the bits and pieces pulled together, in a magical way.
3 years ago
Brad Raider
Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter
Julia! Totally. I've also found that more often than not, serendipity can be a sign that you're aligned with your highest purpose ... so it might not necessarily mean that you need to take a specific action or work with the person who showed up at that very moment (especially if it's not going to be the ideal working relationship), but rather the synchronicity is a validation that things are "synched" and that you're already on the right path.
3 years ago
Joanna Karselis
Music Composer, Musician
Love this story. It's so encouraging. Congratulations on the short.
3 years ago
Brad Raider
Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter
Thank you, Joanna! I'm so glad to hear the story made you feel that way ;D
3 years ago
Haley Mary
Actor, Songwriter, Comedian
I loved the part of enjoying the creative process is the vital and most important part rather than the ideal outcome. it's so true because as someone who shares poetry and stand-up comedy at open mic night events in my city, I've never made any money performing, but it gives me great joy just to be able to share something on-stage and have that artistic community around me. Congrats on releasing your short film!
3 years ago
Brad Raider
Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter
Community is everything, Haley. We're all just one big creative collective of which you're a vital part!
3 years ago
Shellie Schmals
Actor, Film Festival Director, Host/Presenter
What resonates for me is how specific you were in your goal setting, with all the sweat equity and gumption!! All those planning details are so helpful!
3 years ago
Brad Raider
Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter
Shellie, I'm so glad that resonated with you! I've found that setting goals is only as good as the systems, techniques, and practices that you have in place as part of your daily routine (including the practices that you don't do ;)
3 years ago
Emily Jermusyk
Screenwriter
Love this! Can't believe the quality you pulled off with no budget, I guess that's what a lot of passion and determination gets you!
3 years ago
Brad Raider
Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter
Thanks so much, Emily! Passion and determination definitely go a long way and it's also amazing the kind of production value you can get on the cheap. We shot with natural light on a DSLR and used a gimble (seen in one of the photos above) ... it didn't hurt to have a beautfiul location, as well ;D The coloring process, though, was really where the magic happened, I think.
3 years ago
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