Film Festivals & Uploading To A Web Cinema

How to get short films broadcasted and distributed via the web or film festivals

The exhibition of short films is so diverse and different compared to mainstream films, you can't go to any cinema to view a short film. The cinema's they do play short films are specialised for doing so, short films are kept underneath the hype of mainstream cinema needless to say that there are loads of festivals, awards and different categories in which short films fit in. This proves that the popularity of short films still exists but is hidden from mainstream filmmaking.

Short films in general have hugely benefited from the convergence of technology. Phones and gaming consoles now have the ability to surf the web allowing users to then find and discover short films.

If a short filmmaker wants to show their film at film festivals they have to pass several requirements and entry legal conditions. Filmmakers need to have permission which is known as "artistic property" you will only be able to show your film to the public at festivals if the film is cleared. To have a film classified as being cleared you would need written permission to use everything and everyone that appears in your film. Big companies are against aspiring filmmakers who use there logo or product in their film as it could influence the audience not to use their product. If a filmmakers has not got permission from the company and have gone against the rule they are highly likely to get sued.

DeplicT!

DepicT! is a unique filmmaking competition, part of Encounters film festival, which challenges filmmakers from across the globe to come up with a compelling, imaginative idea and distil it into 90 seconds of cinematic originality.

And the Red Man Went Green

This short film was the 2006 DeplicT! winner, it shows an old woman’s world turned upside down as she navigates through London. At first we see the busy streets of London, these visuals are shown mostly through wide shots. We hear diegetic sounds at this point these sounds include conversations and cars driving. We immediately notice an innocent women making her way through the busy streets eventually coming to a crossing. The camera shots are high profile making her seem small, nervous and innocent. Meanwhile a young athletic male skates towards the same crossing at the opposite end. The shot changes are fast paced with this male however when the women is shown the shot changes less frequently at a slower rate. Tension is built as the "red man changes to a green man" and we see the old lady starting to cross, from a distance we see the skater coming towards the woman. As he gets closer the sound of the wheels on his roller blades increase this adds to the tension and suspense. As an audience we panic and think that the skater is going to bump into the old lady, we prepare for the collision however to our surprise the young male picks up the lady and spins her around almost asif he is saving her. During this time the lighting has changed, all is very bright now and colours become more vibrant, this could show her dream of becoming young again. The film ends quite comically as the male gently puts the lady back on the ground and she is waiting yet again at another crossing.

Referencing:

http://www.depict.org/

http://www.sohoshorts.com/?#/1

http://www.sohoshorts.com/?#/79

http://www.shortfilms.org.uk/2010-sponsors-partners/

http://www.encounters-festival.org.uk/

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2741118991835569666&ei=Oe5hS7iwKdbB-AaMpqnCCA&q=And+the+Red+Man+Went+Green+Ruth+Meehan&hl=en&client=safari#