Working Smarter (not harder) to Make a Short Film

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About me:
I've been making short films for over 20 years, starting at age 11. I directed my first feature film, Bad is Bad, in 2010. Made for only $6,000, the film went on to reach over 7 million views and garner critical acclaim. More recently, my short film, Will "The Machine", screened and won awards at film festivals around the world. Released online in 2019, it reached over 1 million views in just a month. As an editor, I’ve done work for clients such as Apple, Netflix, and Beats by Dre.
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00:00 Introduction
00:31 WRITING
02:21 PRE-PRODUCTION
03:25 SHOOTING
07:08 VFX
09:20 COLOR
11:33 COST & LEARNINGS
14:38 200K

[@MrFarley2323]

I did Kent's Wrapped in 30 course and it was outstanding! I learned a boatload and shot my first short film. It was a great experience and highly recommended!

[@StandardStoryCo]

Thanks Robert! I loved seeing your film come together 👏

[@howiemccormick]

My Christmas present to myself MIGHT JUST BE making my first short film.

[@companytime]

Do it!

[@travisherman7831]

I am here to say you definitely should. Give it your all. Last year I Quit my job at a gas station, started selling art, but just finished a screening run for my second film since quitting. My advice, HIT THE GROUND RUNNING! Just remember to be a good person and take care of yourself. Best of luck ❤❤❤

[@doityourself949]

Do it! It’s such a learning process so be easy on yourself

[@DrewArt1017]

Same here man 👊🏽

[@KVD-kx5wx]

Nightmare before Christmas 😂

[@ericbielakiewiczvideography]

Dude!! Thank you so much for featuring my comment in the thumbnail! I had to do a double take when I first saw it, I couldn't believe it! This is another really great video, I love these breakdowns that you do for your films and you had a lot of inventive ideas! With the dual strikes, I also kind of had to do a lot of my short films with only a couple of people and speaking from experience, it's crazy what's still possible even with only you and a few friends at the helm. I've been following your work for a while now and it's helped me a lot in honing my skills as a filmmaker and branch out to different areas! I always thought I'd primarily be involved in cinematography, it's something that always came naturally to me. But watching content from D4 Darious and you, I've just learned so much in the worlds of writing and directing and I've fallen in love with doing both. It's definitely done a lot to help me improve! Thanks again, Kent for continuing to inspire and help me through my filmmaking journey! Looking forward to seeing what comes next!

[@StandardStoryCo]

Haha no I should be thanking you. And that's so cool to hear, keep it up!

[@SandyinYoutube]

The thumbnail comment, for which video was that for?

[@counterx6341]

You are truly the only person I trust to teach me how to make short films. Its been a dream of mine for a while. You deserve 200k!

[@AimbyFrame]

"Only 3 people" has 2 fingers up. "Only 3 days" has 4 fingers up. what? 💀

[@AwesomePenguin]

I noticed that too xd

[@Friendly_Squirrel]

I was searching the comments for this to make sure I wasn't the only one 😂😂

[@JohnHarrerHorses]

I love these breakdowns. You make it sound so easy. It's still work, but if you keep working the process and don't get discouraged, you come out with a nice project. Also, it was very cool how your story came together. Thanks Kent.

[@cameroncarroll5703]

Amazing job, dude. Genuinely inspiring. Loved the sound design of it all.

[@MikeMatsuiJr]

I am obsessed with your videos and they are helping me so much

[@hornj388]

I love the breakdowns. The short film was awesome too! Congratulations. Thanks for all the good pointers man.

[@GRUBB-MUDD]

Love how u explain everything

[@DavinciHD_]

Just want to tell you thank your for the amount value that you bring us as filmmakers. I recently just finished my first script for my first feat film. Currently in the preproduction and funding phase. You channel is one of biggest points of reference I use in my planning.

[@topshelfmike]

Made my first short film this year, wasnt the best. But im on my way to my 2nd the top of next year. Excited to see where this takes me… Thank you for your direction !

[@LivinSalty]

Always really appreciate these breakdowns. You've inspired me to start making my own first short film! I just make KZbin videos right now but I really want something that is going to challenge me creatively! I also just bought a Sony A7iii, my first DSLR, and really want to put it to the test! The scripting has already begun...

[@Joakimcomicscenter]

I am so glad that I found your channel Kent!

[@soggybawsmoto]

Super inspiring! Thank you.

[@gedreeves9692]

Great help mate! Im finishing up filming weddings in March, then its time to make some short films 👊

[@deocreates]

Dude your videos are helping me with my first feature film. I’m so glad I came across your channel.

[@StandardStoryCo]

Glad to hear it, good luck on the feature!

[@SuperValidDesigns]

Wish I knew about OCPOS sooner but I will be using it moving forward for sure!

[@OhioFool]

1:53 “and then it hit me!” 👉🏼💡 great use of practicals amigo we noticed that!

[@PrimeAtl]

This is dope as hell !

[@user-xk6oo7vf8v]

Like the camera setup on your back

[@_ZeviL_]

Oooo cool video finally back from the dead

[@darkrehart]

Finally, a new video. You really put in "quality over quantity" Really informative videos. Entertaining as well.

[@Pio_301]

I appreciate the video thanks for the BTS

[@halsinden]

watching the original when you uploaded it, the sequence with the newton's cradle not working as it should gave me a major vibe from oldman's similar moments in stoppard's 'rosencrantz & guildenstern are dead'. not sure if that was intentional, hats off if it was.

[@EDcase1]

Great stuff

[@smokeunderthesun]

5:49 chuckling, laughing, giggling

[@SlamBradley]

Locked in

[@karllautman]

Great bts, Kent. Thanks, and looking forward to 2024. It would be great to know what you would have done differently to speed up the Newton's Cradle shot. You cryptically allude to having figured it out, but then move on without filling us in. Congrats on 200K subs, btw. Don't forget who your friends were on the way up. 😉

[@StandardStoryCo]

Cheers! Buying one without reflective balls, and angling it so the strings don’t overlap would have made the vfx 10x easier. Maybe wouldn’t have looked as nice though

[@MonsterS4R996]

Yet another great video that I watched in my lunch break. I have very little free time, so I really appreciate your videos. (Not too long, not wasting time but full of useful info AND entertaining at the same time!) Choosing the word『脱俗』is, …very interesting. (From a Japanese man (who’s been away from Japan so long)’s point of view.) It fits perfectly, to this film’s atmosphere. Today, I learned “the importance of strategic planning / thinking” ! Thank !

[@StandardStoryCo]

Reading how this brightened your lunch brightened mine 🙏

[@RealMilschmann]

Have u thought about hosting next year maybe a 1-3 min short film contest on your canal and make us compete while u review and give good critism?

[@mtmccornack]

@ 6:30-ish : those little light stopdowns have a purpose ya know... its called stopping down your depth of field so that the gobos is in focus. Also for cutting down the light, but mainly to control depth of field. (Lets just say i work a lot of live audio corporate gigs)

[@mtmccornack]

They love signage!

[@nathanksimpson]

Judging by the sections this was a silent/MOS film? Hahah. 13:21 when you don’t have a budget cut sound.

[@thomastevis8655]

Awesome videos sorry I’m soo late

[@OitaOscar]

You could have pasted the Newton cradle balls together with double surface adhesive tape and saved yourself a lot of post production work.

[@JonnySchaab]

Optimal cat performance is one of the most important and most overlooked aspects of filmmaking imo

[@user-zv7lm8uk7h]

if you are doing some kind of compression eq on your voice it is very grating.

[@CoopBo]

1:30 I guess you could say it was a “sine.”

[@gaia35]

7:45 a magnet could have been used to hold the balls together and prevented vibration when the one ball slams into them.

[@StandardStoryCo]

Ooh good idea

[@WhySteve]

The love robots.

[@James-Tanner]

3 people 3 days classic 😂

[@user-zv7lm8uk7h]

how much did you make from your FIRST MOVIE BAD BAD

[@antonpab9500]

Bro you need some cooler merch fr. Anyways I’m hoping to start making films too so your channel as well as Brandon McNulty will help a ton. Thanks

[@appledhar1482]

Damn, I'm Early.

[@justinstorm]

"focusing on light more than framing"

[@AwesomePenguin]

Did no one else notice his fingers being completely different from the numbers he said at the beginning xd

[@NoShorts]

7:55 With the ball thing why not just overlap a shot of the balls sitting still… was vfx even necessary? Have it overlap at just the last ball so the thing still shows movement and looks natural

[@Sniffingstar]

9:02 :)

[@casey.taylor]

How does the thumbnail have a comment from the video already lol

[@granthiksharma4626]

been shooting a music video. and my dp is a pain in the ass. never gonna work with him again.

[@raphaelguyon1921]

ok but why the guy from you has a filmmaking channel

[@granthiksharma4626]

brah my budget for music video is $100 cant afforde the $1000 light

[@AwesomePenguin]

Then don't buy it

[@Sudip_Sarkar_Charles_Edwards]

You simply could have used a tripod, instead of loading it on your lower back, that would have been smarter, what you did is showcasing foolishness..

[@photorreia]

My cat is named Louie too, and he also is a diva. The same color by the way,

[@lilyloud7777]

Just watched this film called zepotha by Sadub entertainment on youtube and it was insanely good and it was 1 girl who did it alllll