Produce a Short Film
14 weeks · 3 milestones
Script, shoot, edit, and screen a short film.
Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Write a completed script for a short film of 5–15 minutes (approximately 5–15 pages of formatted screenplay) and complete a pre-production package covering the four essentials: locations confirmed, cast identified, shoot schedule written, and equipment list finalised. Pre-production is not optional preparation — it is the primary determinant of whether the shoot goes smoothly. Films that enter production with an incomplete pre-production package consistently run over schedule, over budget, and over the director's original vision. The script does not need to be perfect before pre-production begins, but it must be complete in the sense that every scene exists and has dialogue or action; no 'we'll improvise this bit' gaps are acceptable. Format the script using free software — WriterDuet (free tier), Celtx (free online), or plain Fountain markup in any text editor.
Proof required
Submit: (1) the completed script (PDF or link, formatted in screenplay format), and (2) the pre-production package — a document covering: locations confirmed (with permission where needed), cast list (name and role for every speaking part), a shoot schedule listing each scene, location, and cast required per day, and an equipment list. The package can be a single document or a short-form checklist.
What gets checked
- Script is complete in screenplay format — INT./EXT. scene headings, action lines, character names centred above dialogue; a prose outline or treatment is not a script; the script must have a clear beginning, middle, and end; 'we'll figure out the ending on the day' does not pass; WriterDuet and Celtx produce correctly formatted PDFs automatically
- Pre-production package covers all four essentials with specifics — 'locations TBD' does not pass for locations; 'my friend Alex as the lead' passes for cast; a shoot schedule that lists 'all scenes on Saturday' without scene numbers and estimated times does not pass; each element should be specific enough that a crew member could execute the day independently
- Script runtime is in the 5–15 minute range — one page of correctly formatted screenplay equals approximately one minute of screen time; a 3-page script targets a 3-minute film, which may not demonstrate sufficient creative and technical depth for this outcome; a 30-page script targets a 30-minute film, which is unlikely to be completable in the remaining production window
Resources
Enroll free to unlock learning resources →Mastery
No Film School — Pre-Production and Short Film Guides
Free — search 'short film pre-production'; the articles cover the specific decisions that separate productions that finish on schedule from those that do not: realistic schedule padding, shot list discipline, and how to handle day-of changes
Unlocks after completing Foundation + Depth