Why We Make Multiple Short Films

Father's Blade

For our Animation and VFX students at Escape Studios, creating multiple short films in a limited timeframe is a powerful way to develop skills, discover unique visual styles, and build a portfolio of polished work.  

While a longer year-long project might seem like an ideal opportunity to polish one film to perfection, here is why producing several short films can be a much more valuable learning experience:

Practice, Practice, Practice

Little Pirates

With each short film, students practice the essential skills of filmmaking—writing, directing, shooting, editing, and sound design.  Each project provides a chance to refine these skills quickly.  

After the conclusion of several film projects, students will have a much stronger grasp of the animation pipeline than if they worked on just one project over a year.

Freedom to Experiment: 

With shorter projects, students have more flexibility to try different genres, styles, and techniques.  Each short film allows students to explore their creative voice in diverse ways.  This experimentation not only keeps the process innovative but also helps students discover what kinds of stories they’re passionate about telling.

Faster Feedback Cycles: 

Love, Mum

When students work on multiple short films, they can receive feedback on each project, learn from it, and apply it to the next.  This rapid iteration cycle helps filmmakers avoid getting stuck in a creative rut and pushes them to grow. 

 
It’s far more productive to get multiple rounds of feedback on different films than to wait a year for comments on one project.

Building a Portfolio: 

In the film industry, versatility and a strong body of work show flexibility and range.  Multiple short films allow students to create a portfolio that showcases a diversity of visual styles  Potential employers can see that the graduate students is adaptable and able to work in different visual styles.

Learning to Work Efficiently: 

VOID

Shorter films force students to work within time constraints, which are real-world challenges they will face after graduation. 

This environment encourages resourcefulness and decision-making, learning how to get quality results quickly (and fix mistakes) —an invaluable skill in the film industry.

More Opportunities for Collaboration: 

Each project brings a new opportunity to collaborate with different people, from actors to crew members. Working with diverse teams on multiple projects not only enriches the creative process but also expands students' networks, which can be instrumental in their future careers.

The Escape Studios Animation Blog offers a personal view on the art of animation and visual effects. To apply for one of our courses, follow this link.