| name | produce-short-film |
| description | End-to-end short film production workflow from script development through budgeting, crew assembly, principal photography, post-production, and festival distribution. Covers screenwriting, production planning, directing, editing, sound design, color grading, and the film festival submission strategy needed to get your short film seen.
Use when the user wants to produce short film or needs a structured multi-step process for this goal.
Do NOT use when the request is a single-step task or requires professional advice beyond educational guidance. |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| type | workflow |
| skills | screenwriting-coach short-film-director video-editor-guide |
| trigger_phrases | I want to make a short film produce a short film short film production guide how to direct a short film film festival submission make my first movie short film from script to screen |
| metadata | {"author":"foundry-skills","version":"1.0.0","tags":"video-production editing step-by-step planning","category":"creative-project","depends":"screenwriting-coach short-film-director video-editor-guide"} |
Produce Short Film
Estimated time: 2-4 months
This workflow guides you through producing a short film from initial concept to
festival exhibition. Short films are the proving ground of cinema: they
demonstrate your ability to tell a complete story in a compressed format, they
serve as calling cards for future work, and they are the primary currency of
film festivals worldwide.
The workflow covers six phases: script development, pre-production planning,
crew and cast assembly, principal photography, post-production, and
distribution through festivals and online platforms. It is designed for
filmmakers working with limited budgets who want to produce something that
looks and sounds professional.
By the end of this workflow you will have: a polished short film script, a
production plan, a completed film with professional post-production, and a
festival submission strategy.
When to Use
- User wants to produce short film
- User needs a structured, step-by-step process for produce short film
- User wants to make a short film
- produce a short film
- short film production guide
- Do NOT use when: the request is outside the scope of produce short film or requires professional advice beyond educational guidance
- Do NOT use for single-step tasks that one atomic skill can handle independently
Prerequisites
Before starting this workflow, ensure:
- A story idea suitable for short film format (2-20 minutes)
- A camera capable of shooting video (even a smartphone with good technique)
- A computer capable of video editing
- Budget for production (even micro-budget shorts have some costs)
- Ability to recruit at least a small crew (or willingness to wear multiple hats)
Steps
Step 1: Develop Your Script (uses: screenwriting-coach)
develop a production-ready script. Focus
on:
- Input: story idea or concept, Desired film length (target 5-15 minutes for festival viability), Genre preferences and tonal goals
- Output: Properly formatted short film script, One-sentence pitch for the film, One-page story summary for submissions
- Key focus: Use the Screenwriting Coach skill to develop a production-ready script
Step 2: Plan Pre-Production (uses: short-film-director)
Use the Short Film Director and Video Producer skills to plan every aspect of
production before the camera rolls.
- Input:
screenplay from Step 1 (script to break down), Available budget and resources
- Output: Element-by-element production requirements, Line-item budget with contingency, Complete shot list with framing and technical notes
