The Nigerian Mvies

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Thursday, 15 August 2013

An Introduction To Short Student Films

By Essie Craft


A common problem with students is that they need experience to get work and work to get experience. Fortunately in the case of short student films there is something that people can physically see that will give potential employers a taste of what they are capable of as well as giving them an idea of the reality of filming.

The first thing to remember is that a filmmaking project does not necessarily have to be restricted to people studying at college. Equally you can get kids from high schools or even younger involved. The passion for cinema can start from a young age and this is something to be encouraged.

One of the positives with the emergence of video upload sites is that students have more access to videos from classic cinema as well as modern sources. This means that increasingly they are becoming more cineliterate and more open to a variety of influences on their work.

Another thing to remember is that it is not just people behind the camera. You need writers who can create smart scripts, make up artists who can present people well on camera as well as do the gory effects and marketing people to help publicise it. Depending on how you organise it a lot of students can potentially benefit.

In many respects the end result is not hugely important. While it would be great to produce an engaging work that can be exhibited it is more about the process and how they adapt to it. It is also about learning how long the process can take and the importance of checking all the details and ensuring each aspect of the film has been properly thought out.

Once a script is ready casting is the next step. The temptation is to rope in your best friends or people you know. However the best projects will usually be the ones where the film maker has considered who is most appropriate for each role and how it will serve the story.

As well as people involved in media this is also a good opportunity for other creative people. You could involve make up artists, costume designers, animators and any number of other people involved in the project. If someone is part of the business school this may be useful marketing experience for them to put on their resume.

In simple terms short student films are beneficial not only to the people making them but also potentially as a benefit to the community. It is worth looking at getting funding and support to help the students develop. Even if this does not lead to the next big blockbuster it could still result in a happy ending long after the end credits have finished!




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