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Is there any reason you can't watch it online? (Apologies if you can and I'm missing it.) It's just that you say "exposure is everything", but to see this film I'd have to fly to New York and visit a film festival to see a 10 minute film.

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Usually, festivals require that the movie is not distributed when you apply for a selection. I have yet to discover why, but it's probably because it makes them more attractive.

Yes, if everything was available online, it would take out the exclusivity of the major festivals (which also act as markets for films without distribution). Why brave Park City in January if you can just fire up the web browser and see everything. But this also works into the filmmakers favor if they make it into these festivals; over a week or weekend they can make some very important connections face to face even if their film isn't picked up, as well as gain valuable audience reaction that can be used to revise and tweak before release.

And there's really nothing like spending a week watching 3-5 films a day with enthusiastic crowds.

I enjoyed the article, but part of me was hoping - with her software background - she'd find some new lean approach to film making. I could be wrong, but the process of making a short film seems as cumbersome as making a feature. Pre-production, production, post-production, marketing, distribution. I know this will sound naive, but does making a short film have to be such an, um, production?

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.

very true, as a matter of fact you do not need to spend millions to make a great movie - "Tangerine" is a good example. However, the less amount of money you want to spend the more actual work you need to by yourself and unfortunately one can't know everything about everything.

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.

Absolutely agree! In my case, since there are short films, I am not looking for distributors for them, even though there is a small market for short films. I am looking forward to meeting other filmmakers and being selected to a festival opens a lot of doors.

Festivals make money off the tickets being sold to see the movies, hence this requirement. Some festivals will not show your film if you already premiered somewhere else. It is especially strict for feature films.

I will post online after we hear back from all festivals. While there is no premier requirement for short films, I do not want to lower my chance at being accepted. Festivals prefer to be the first ones to premier films.

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