Short film can sometimes be very hard to get exhibited and distributed but once that hurdle has been dealt with many shorts are still left with the problem of little or no financial gain. Short films are generally not very lucrative. This is mainly because conventional distribution methods such as DVD sales and cinema releases do not work for shorts because the audience is not there. There is a lack of audiences because a DVD with one short on it is very unlikely to be bought above a full feature film. This is because some features sell for as little as £5.00 and some sell for even less. This means that shorts would have to under cut the extremely low prices, hardly even covering the cost of the DVD case and DVD itself. Cinemas are also very unlikely to show shorts on their screens because consumers come to watch full-length feature films. The majority would not be willing to pay £7.oo or more just to seem a short 10 or 20 minutes long. Another factor which make cinema release near impossible is that shorts are generally made on very small budgets and not backed by the big companies such as Universal, this means that the crucial booker links are not there. This in turn means that the world of cinema is blocked off for the large majority of short filmmakers. Even shorts back by the ‘UK Film Council’ rarely get into the cinema because shorts are not seen as applicable. However shorts can be exhibited and distributed in new ways, which can see a film become more prolific than their feature film counter parts. One of these methods is festivals. Most of the films shown at festivals are shown because the maker has won his/her place on the screen, however festivals are a great way to get some credibility and status within the short film arena. These festivals do however sometime produce DVD compilations of different successful and well-appreciated shorts, which in turn brings some financial gain to the filmmakers. A very popular method of distribution is through the Internet, although many of these shorts are shown for free. The publishing of them on the web is, in many cases completely free, and produces opportunities to make money for ‘Adsense’ and other advertising methods. Some filmmakers make money from their short by making it into a downloadable file, which the audiences will pay for. This new ages of technology has allowed short filmmakers easier ways of exhibition and distribution however the financial benefits are still much lower than those felt by feature film makers.
‘Cinema16’ is a maker of many short film compilation DVDs. The shorts on them are chosen because of their success. There are many different types of DVD from British short films to world short film but all are chosen very carefully. The DVDs contain Oscar winning shorts along side shorts made by famous directors and/or writers. This company is very well known and so is extremely beneficial to the filmmakers whose material is selected.
The ‘BFI, British Film Institute’ is a very large name within the realm of film. They are the organization behind the highly regard ‘Sight and Sound’ magazine, which is considered as one of the best film review magazines out there. However they do also produce DVDs. The DVD ‘Moving Shorts’ has been made a teaching aid for media students ages 12 and above. The shorts on the disc have been chosen because of the ability to widely explore the micro and macro elements as well as the shorts professional look. This DVD is financially beneficial to filmmakers, however the sole purpose is to educate not make money. Some short films will make it onto many different types of DVD. The extremely well received, award winning short, ‘The Most Beautiful Man In The World’, is featured on many different DVDs and websites of high stature, such as the ‘BBC Film Network.’
‘Future shorts’ is yet another company offering short film DVDs. The website claims to be the world’s leading short film DVD supplier, which is evidenced by the highly acclaimed shorts on their DVD. One of these shorts is the BAFTA award winning, ‘September’. This company sources the shorts it uses very carefully and that makes for a very popular product because the content is so good. An extra product that this company offers is ‘Future Cinema’, which is a festival type of event showcases some of the bets short films available.
‘Raindance’ is a site that helps many new talented filmmakers refine their skills but also offers a collection of DVDs that offer shorts from many of the filmmakers that the site has helped. Some of the DVDs are made directly from the content that has been showcased at their festivals. This website is very beneficial for filmmakers as they can get expert support and training in the skills needed to make a good film and then get their successful works published on one of the many short film collection DVDs.
‘Shooting People’ is filmmaker label that helps to distribute features and shorts made by new and exciting writer/directors and is responsible for many different DVDs. One of these DVDs is ‘Best v Best’, which is an anthology of short films that have been shown at very influential film festivals, including some award winners. ‘Shooting People’ is very supportive towards new talented filmmakers. This is shown by the support they provide and the fact that the organization is run by filmmakers.
‘Short Cinema Journal’ is a website that offer the chance to buy a DVD of 13 short films. These short films include award winners such as ‘Mr. Resistor’ and ‘Shape Without Form’. This is yet another website that offer filmmakers the chance of distribution through short film collections DVDs.
The familiar theme with all of the companies and/or organisations mentioned is that only the award winning shorts are ever features on the DVDs. This means that there are many filmmakers still not getting their work fully distributed, however this can be interpreted and a good thing because it means shorts are having to be made very well to make money. Giving the short film world a feel of quality over quantity, a key motif to consider when writing and producing a short film.
DVDs are not the only distribution outlet. Online direct download is proving very popular with short films and features alike. This new way of acquiring film content fits in with the new popular culture of convenience.
‘MUBI’ is a website for downloading films of all different genres and lengths. The short films on this website are sold at the very low price of £1.00 and some are even free. This new way of getting short films into audiences’ home is very quick and easy. It opens up a new opportunity for short films to become big hit just like the big Hollywood features. This expands the potential audience considerably. Even ‘Pixar’ have their own website showcasing their shorts that are available for download. Download ahs huge implications for short films as they may just be seen as a good time filler between paying and waiting for the feature film, however feature films are so large that they often do not download properly or take such a long time so short film has an obvious advantage. Having said that the Internet is expanding and connections are getting faster so this advantage has to be taken before feature films dominate the download market as well.
