How to Write a Short Film

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"Before you can break the form, you must first master it." - Picasso

"You are letting your procrastination take control of you...It's time to write." After months of watching great YouTube videos like this one and occasionally jotting down my story or character ideas I now get the feeling that it's time for me to change gears. Thanks, I needed this kick in the pants!

Perfect. I worked in film for 30 years. This is no fluff. No bull. No wasted time. All good information for beginners and more. Very well done.

i’m 14 and trying to write a short film with my friends for the summer just because we can and i really want to be a director. i know it’s gonna be rough as it’s my first and i’m still young, but your videos are helping me get a rough idea of what i’m doing ! (if anyone has any advice please share!)

Man said "if you're finding it hard maybe story writing Isn't for you" wow just WOW

Great video. I would also add that the whole "change" part of the structure, does not have to mean "a character changing their philosophical beliefs". It could also act as a confirmation of just how far they are willing to take those beliefs. If Morty, say, decided not to kill Fart, one could build upon that philosophical conflict further. Presumably, Morty would then try to save all those lives that Fart has come to kill (and maybe even changing Fart's mind). K.M. Weiland writes about something called "the flat arc" in her book on character arcs. This is a character who does not change, but rather acts as a catalyst for change to the world around them. Just felt like throwing that in there.

Man your lessons are really helpful Your videos are great

Tyler, I wanted to let you that I recently completed my fifth script and I really cannot emphasize how much I’ve learned from you! Thank you, Tyler. Thank you for being such a source of inspiration for so many people! Keep up the incredible work and your videos are a beautiful source of enlightenment! Take care. :-) Sincerely, Sumeer

How to find ideas ? - My personal method Ideas are like people, they are like girls and boys they are everywhere around us you just have to look at them and check out and just talk to them... Think about ideas 24/7, same as you think about something all time (u know what i mean)....Ideas will automatically pop in your head !!

We dont need to go for film school cuz weve got Tyler helping us out ! Thanks Tyler for your amazing teachings.

I needed to hear that ending. It helps when you always aim for perfection and end up doing nothing.

Philosophical Conflict: Almost done with the first draft of a novel and already I feel there are some weaknesses in the story. The philosophical conflict of my protagonist is that he's a tender-hearted man and a peacemaker, and he believes anyone can be redeemed. However he must kill his demon-possessed brother to break a curse and to save others, but he knows his brother's soul will be swept into hell the moment he dies. Most of Act II is his learning to become a warrior, quickly make tactical decisions, and to kill when necessary. While under the curse he is a beast, and not human. He cannot speak, and communication is difficult. So, while he is at war with himself, he can't really have any arguments with other characters. He is periodically released from his "beastness" and can communicate then, but it's not always at a convenient time. Middle of Act III is one of those times when he's human, and he's finally able to reveal his true self to the heroine and try to explain things. She has a warrior's spirit (a two-spirit she consulted called it "the heart of a man") and is instantly on board for killing the brother by any means necessary. While writing this note I realized I could have the hero still not be cool with killing his brother by that Act III scene with the heroine, on account of not wanting his brother eternally dammed. The heroine could give him a good talking to about free will and that the brother's soul was lost when he accepted the demon's offer and became possessed. He realizes the truth of her words, and is finally mentally ready for the final showdown.

I have no problems writing or creating a 10 pages story. They come to my mind and I just writing them up. New, interesting and creative. Help is what I need. Thanks.

He dragged me at the end, but he was right. I was definitely about to watch a movie right after this to "study" it or test this structure lmao. But I'm going to write now.

On the topic of procrastination, there's something I heard recently which has helped me form a new perspective on it. The act of procrastination is to avoid, as creatures with thousands of years of survival tactics, the last thing we want/what we've learned is best for survival - is to not do anything new or out of your comfort zone. This is where the emotional mind comes in and vulnerability can be the key to creating a space for yourself where you and your survival modes feel safe enough to be creative and become personally involved in the story so the audience can. Remind yourself of the beating heart of story - the burning and essential reasons why you love this and get personal with it.

This come at the right time, I've been struggling to write a short film. Thanks a lot for the help, your videos are amazing.

Thanks so much Tyler. So far I have written 6 short films, one of which is a Western.

this course has been so helpful to me. i want to be an actor mainly, but more recently i've wanted to make my own stories too. i feel like this is helping me in both aspects because i am learning how to formulate my own story and share my ideas with the world as well as getting a deeper understanding of what a characters wants, needs, and beliefs are when i start doing roles. thank you so much for this, i am ecstatic!!

I have a YouTube where I talk about the comic book industry but I'm interested in writing original stories and making writing my primary career. Finding Tyler's channel is a Godsend to help give the ideas in my stories structure and I appreciate his tutorials