Styles of Short Film

Dogma Style This is the pursuit of simplifying filmmaking as a result of a low budget.

This means that they can’t include special effects, post-production modifications and other technical gimmicks. The filmmakers who use this technique only focus on the story and the actor’s performances. It means the audience focuses purely on the acting. Directors Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg produced ten rules to which any Dogma film must follow. These rules are called the “Vow of Chastity”:

Lars Von Trier Thomas Vinterberg

Rules of Chastity1. Shooting must be done on location. Props and sets must not be

brought in 2. The sound must never be produced separately from the images or

vice versa 3. The camera must be hand-held. Any movement or immobility must

be attained by hand4. The film must be in colour. Special lighting is not acceptable5. Optical work and filters are banned6. The film must not be kept superficial action7. Temporal and geographical alienation are banned8. Genre films are not sufficient9. The film format must be Academy 35mm10. The director should not be credited

How will this apply to me? I believe this style of filmmaking will apply to my own film in some degree. This is

because as a student I will have a limited budget and no funds for my own film, this means:

• I will not use authentic props. Therefore, I will need to use my own material and borrow items from others when filming my short film.

• As I am a student, I do not have contacts or expenses to feature professional actors in my short film. This means that my friends or family are going to act in my short film

Avant-Garde and Experimental • Experimental and Avant-Garde film is cinema outside of the film

industry on an artisanal ground. Both of these styles ignore the structures and demands of conventional narrative structure.

Experimental Films• Experimental Films fulfill a large area of practice.• This style ignores linear structures. For example, it often implements

abstract techniques, painting or scratching methods, rapid editing and a soundtrack is rarely used to create emotion.

• The aim of short filmmakers is to produce a more thoughtful and considered media product.

• Experimental films are usually created on a very low budget, self financed or funded by small grants.

• Normally experimental film are produced by a minimal crew, typically there will be a crew of one person or the filmmaker

How does this apply to me? The style of Experimental film applies to my short film because:• I am working by myself for this media product. Although I will need

some assistance from people with the production and post-production stages, my crew will clearly be very small

• I do intend for my audience to enjoy my short film and feel like they are a part of it

Avant-Garde • Avant-Garde style of film is necessarily problematic to define because

it is conclusively an individual’s personal interpretation• Broadly, avant-garde relates to any revolutionary movement. It is

often artistic or social and is led by a small group of people who want to show others what they believe is interesting in film.

How does this apply to me? I believe the Avant-Garde style of Film will not apply to my own short

film because:• Although I do not have an idea of what the story for my short film is

going to be I am not fond of the film noir or any artistic genres which do not have a narrative as they are often hard to follow and create meaning from.

• Whatever genre I choose for my short film, I am going to have to create it following the conventions of my chosen genre. Therefore, I have to abide to the rules and conventions of short film and not overlook it, or then it will be confusing