Codes and conventions of short films/mainstream films.

Experimental, Micro shorts – under 5 minutes
Low budget, less financial pressure
Small cast
Niche audience – not mainstream
Tell stories
Young, aspiring directors make short films – experience, portfolio, style calling-cards represent style of cinematography, style, genre, script etc
Amateur
Realistic, grainy look and feel, have underlying message
See them at film festivals, art galleries, YouTube, TV - (Channel 4) prelude to feature

Short Film
Feature Length / Mainstream
Under 50 minutes
Over 50 minutes
More visually captivating
Clean cut, edited to a mainstream standard
Low budget, less actors
High budget, big cast, props, scenery etc
Used to display capability or creative style, script etc
Usually already established capability by progressing o feature length
Short production length
Long production length
People are less knowledgeable of them, small marketing – niche audience
Mass audience / mainstream

Feature Length / Mainstream
Over 50 minutes
Clean cut, edited to a mainstream standard
High budget, big cast, props, scenery etc
Usually already established capability by progressing o feature length
Long production length
Mass audience / mainstream

Catherine des Forges: - “Spare economic narratives, interesting storytelling, well structures work, which draws in the audience quickly.”

Gareth Evans: - “Short films are long films that finish earlier.” “A good idea, succinctly Told, less is more.”