Exhausted and needing a break from my feature script I decided to try and tackle a short. I've never written a short, so don't know if there are actually page requirements for what constitutes a good short. This one is 10 pages long and based on an actual personal event. Would be a good little project since it's one location and minimal characters if anyone is interested. It's posted on my page. Title: "Waiting" An unlucky in love waiter sees his childhood crush for the first time in years at his table and must overcome his insecurities to tell her how he still feels or let her walk away forever.
Screenwriting : Finished my first short... by Mike Norman
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Hey Mike, enjoyed your short. Left a few comments on your script.
I left comments as well.
I can't say I'm surprised considering you haven't liked anything I have written.
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I don't expect everyone to like what I write nor my style of writing. I typically stick to a genre that interests me to begin with. I feel I cannot fairly evaluate what someone has written if I know ahead of time that it won't interest me.
@ Mike Norman --- if your 10-min script is in one location and has 2-3 characters, then you could revise it as a stage play and enter it into the prestigious Samuel French contest. My two cents -- I'm a playwright.
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There seems to be varying schools of thought as to how long shorts should be. I've seen a 1 minute short that was awesome. I think the Raindance festival in London allows for 50 minute shorts - which is extreme. But the advantage of a short is that you're not confined by all the rules and regulations that govern a feature. You don't have to have 3 acts. You don't have to create a lot of back story or character development. Just tell your story in a way that reaches the audience. Plain and simple.
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Mike - After having served on a FF board, submitted to festivals and judged films for festivals, I have to concur with CJ and Lisa. When I asked one festival director why my short didn't make the cut, she said length played a part - just over 10 mins run time. But...are you willing to allow FIFO (Fade In/Fade Out) to consider WAITING for production, even if it means some rewriting? Please let me know. Thanks.
Bill - rewriting is not an issue. I'm in the process of that now. The version I posted on my page is a first draft that I wrote in one sitting. I just want to take page length and run time into account when doing the rewrite. I know the page per minute rule of thumb. Just didn't know the specifics as to max for shorts.
Just posted a revised version.