The journey of a first-time filmmaker through the eyes of a software engineer

if you're aiming for high production values that you might find in a feature length film, then yeah. But you can find things on YouTube that are just a camera and a guy, that qualify as being a "short". Depends on what you want to achieve.

I wish. If it was up to me I would make a movie without ever leaving my apt and with no human interactions. I am an introvert and this industry is not favorable to introverts. As of technology - there have been many technological advancements in every step of the process, which is what allowed someone like me with basically no budget make these two short films. Software and equipment is much cheaper and barrier to entry is low. But good production quality still costs money.

Yes, it's a lot of work, which is one reason, even on a short you'll see a long list of credits (specialization definitely improves the product). You can make a film for nearly nothing and occasionally someone will have the idea and talent to put together a film on a shoestring budget that cuts through (Pi, Primer, This Is Martin Bonner, Paranormal Activity, etc). And shoestring budget has different definitions for different people, everything from couple hundred bucks to low millions. The Duplass Brothers made a short for nearly nothing, whatever camera they had and an answering machine that launched their career (following it up with the micro-budget feature The Puffy Chair). Robert Rodriquez shot El Mariachi for $7500 (couple hundred thousand was poured into after it was bought to make it ready for theatrical release). It's easier now with so many great digital cameras and editing software. But first and foremost, filmmaking is a collaborative art. If you're trying to do it all by yourself, you're doing it wrong (unless it works, then you're doing it right) and people cost money, especially talented well trained people.