In the Director’s Chair (in conjunction with the UK Film Council)
How does a promising filmmaker navigate the circuit from graduation short to feature opening weekend?
Do they tune up on more shorts, take a tour of the festival circuit or try to flag down new and unusual funding and distribution avenues? Can they reconcile their creative hearts while dirtying their hands in the greasy pit-stop lanes of TV and advertising?
Three filmmakers whose 20-minute short films showcase their clear feature potential are: self-taught indie writer/director, Esther May Campbell (September), and National Film and Television School graduates, Ian Clark (Outcasts) and Michael Pearce (Madrugada). At the ICA’s Director’s Chair panel discussion these filmmakers considered the tracks and turns, shortcuts and pathways en route to their futures.
On board to steer ideas were Rebecca Mark-Lawson from Lifesize Pictures, who manages the UK Film Council’s short film programmes, and Paul Green, the Skillset Screen Academy Network Talent Scout. What exactly do they look for when deciding which new talent to turn the spotlight on? As well as agreeing that ‘story is key’ some compelling categories emerged:
Tuning in: original voice; strong emotional core – a heart; experimental – seeing the world in a different way; taking risks; engaging and moving; cinematic story-telling.
Turning off: bad acting; cinema clichés – such as ‘red dresses in the woods’ or ‘children with balloons’!
Having worked on indie film productions, music videos, TV series, and projects with other writers and directors, this trio are positive about the future. After all, even with an ever-savvy audience and increasing commercial expectations, technology is making short films cheaper to produce and diversifying distribution. Support from UK Film Council, Skillset and other organisations present at this year’s London Short Film Festival will also ensure that creative talent will be nurtured on the way to the finish line.
For more inspiration, see:
Skillset
UK Film Council
http://www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/shortfilms
- Beth Keehn -