MFA Program Application - Can I Go Over the Short Film Length Limit?

[Plainview]

Hi everone, this is a post to discuss how to deal with the required length of the short films which most MFA programs require one in the portfolio.

I have bumped into a problem that I cannot cut my short film from 10-min down to 5-min without seriously lowering the quality of the film. There is very little time for me to come up with another project specifically designed for the 5-min time frame. Does it mean I have to give up on all the schools with a 5-min limit?

I read that in earlier years some applicants just uploaded the first 5 minutes and attatched a link for the admission officers to see the rest. I noticed that some succeeded and some failed. Just curious what everyone thinks!

Thanks!

 

[Chris W]

I have bumped into a problem that I cannot cut my short film from 10-min down to 5-min without seriously lowering the quality of the film.

Hmmm. As an editor for 20 years I know there's always a way to get a film down to 5 minutes. It's a good story and editing exercise. "Babies" may have to be tossed out but it can be done and get it down to the essential elements of the story.

Is this for a directing program? Which program's have the 5 minute limit? I can't remember off the top of head.

There is very little time for me to come up with another project specifically designed for the 5-min time frame. Does it mean I have to give up on all the schools with a 5-min limit?

Shooting an under 5 minute short would also be another good story and filmmaking challenge for you to do for the programs that have a 5 minute limit. Try to see this as a storytelling exercise and almost one of your first projects at film school. To me this may be a better option than editing it down. You have a short amount of time. How creative can you be? This is something else that will happen a lot at film school and in the "real life" film business so this is a good opportunity to practice your chops at that.

I read that in earlier years some applicants just uploaded the first 5 minutes and attatched a link for the admission officers to see the rest. I noticed that some succeeded and some failed.

You could do this but honestly I think schools will see it and think you can't follow directions and didn't want to challenge yourself to make a shorter film so your chances of acceptance will be much less. Also they'll never watch the rest. They get so many submissions.

If you send half of your film they'll never see the conclusion of your story and not know that you can tell a story. They won't watch past five minutes and your application may even be disqualified. Some programs allow excerpts of a film and a description of the rest but that's usually for longer films.

Send the 10 minute film to the programs that allow 10 minutes and then edit down or shoot a new short for the others. Personally I'd lean towards a new short. Heck this could even be more material for your most challenging moment essay.

Good luck! Sorry that this may not be what you wanted to hear.

 

[Chris W]

Heck this could even be more material for your most challenging moment essay.

I was kind of kidding about this part but who knows. It all depends on execution. Good luck!

 

[Plainview]

Hmmm. As an editor for 20 years I know there's always a way to get a film down to 5 minutes. It's a good story and editing exercise. "Babies" may have to be tossed out but it can be done and get it down to the essential elements of the story.

Is this for a directing program? Which program's have the 5 minute limit? I can't remember off the top of head.



Shooting an under 5 minute short would also be another good story and filmmaking challenge for you to do for the programs that have a 5 minute limit. Try to see this as a storytelling exercise and almost one of your first projects at film school. To me this may be a better option than editing it down. You have a short amount of time. How creative can you be? This is something else that will happen a lot at film school and in the "real life" film business so this is a good opportunity to practice your chops at that.


You could do this but honestly I think schools will see it and think you can't follow directions and didn't want to challenge yourself to make a shorter film so your chances of acceptance will be much less. Also they'll never watch the rest. They get so many submissions.

If you send half of your film they'll never see the conclusion of your story and not know that you can tell a story. They won't watch past five minutes and your application may even be disqualified. Some programs allow excerpts of a film and a description of the rest but that's usually for longer films.

Send the 10 minute film to the programs that allow 10 minutes and then edit down or shoot a new short for the others. Personally I'd lean towards a new short. Heck this could even be more material for your most challenging moment essay.

Good luck! Sorry that this may not be what you wanted to hear.

Hi Chris, I just want to start by saying what a tremendous job you and the rest of the staff have done in managing this site. It has so much useful information and saves so much time for many people. Thank you so much!

To answer your question: The 5-min short film is a part of USC's and AFI's requirements for the directing programs. Since I do have much background in film, I don't think I have that much of a chance to get into AFI, so I basically have to create a 5-min film for USC only.

I completely understand what you're saying about taking this opportunity to challenge myself on cutting the film down, and I have been trying to do that. Yet, I believe you must know better than I do, sometimes a story is written for a specific pace. Not that I can't cut out certain elements in the story, but cutting down would result in a much faster pace which would be quite problematic for the story as a whole. I feel like the 5-minute limit sort of forces the students to go for a few particular types of narrative, and the slower and more methodical type of narrative is not one of them.

Of course, complaining is no use. I think I'll have to make another short film then. Thank you for your detailed reply!

 

[Chris W]

Hi Chris, I just want to start by saying what a tremendous job you and the rest of the staff have done in managing this site. It has so much useful information and saves so much time for many people. Thank you so much!

Thanks for saying that! It means a lot. We put a lot of work into it.

I completely understand what you're saying about taking this opportunity to challenge myself on cutting the film down, and I have been trying to do that. Yet, I believe you must know better than I do, sometimes a story is written for a specific pace. Not that I can't cut out certain elements in the story, but cutting down would result in a much faster pace which would be quite problematic for the story as a whole. I feel like the 5-minute limit sort of forces the students to go for a few particular types of narrative, and the slower and more methodical type of narrative is not one of them.

Yes I get it. If you feel it will damage the film then don't and just shoot a new film. But one thing I've learned over the years trying to cut a super long rough cut into exactly 41:30 so it can be aired is that there are a lot of stuff that you think are essential at one time and then realize they aren't as essential. Now do I wish I didn't have to get it to a certain time... Of course. Is it better shorter? Sometimes. Learning to be able to take an ax to scenes you love is unfortunately something to get used to.

Since I do have much background in film, I don't think I have that much of a chance to get into AFI, so I basically have to create a 5-min film for USC only.

Is this true? I could have sworn in our AFI interview they said they have people with all backgrounds. Don't write yourself out yet.

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Of course, complaining is no use. I think I'll have to make another short film then. Thank you for your detailed reply!

No problem. Good luck!

 

[Alexa P.]

Hi Chris, I just want to start by saying what a tremendous job you and the rest of the staff have done in managing this site. It has so much useful information and saves so much time for many people. Thank you so much!

To answer your question: The 5-min short film is a part of USC's and AFI's requirements for the directing programs. Since I do have much background in film, I don't think I have that much of a chance to get into AFI, so I basically have to create a 5-min film for USC only.

I completely understand what you're saying about taking this opportunity to challenge myself on cutting the film down, and I have been trying to do that. Yet, I believe you must know better than I do, sometimes a story is written for a specific pace. Not that I can't cut out certain elements in the story, but cutting down would result in a much faster pace which would be quite problematic for the story as a whole. I feel like the 5-minute limit sort of forces the students to go for a few particular types of narrative, and the slower and more methodical type of narrative is not one of them.

Of course, complaining is no use. I think I'll have to make another short film then. Thank you for your detailed reply!

Thank you for the all the positive feedback! I'm so glad you're enjoying our content.

Never say never re: getting accepted to AFI. It's highly competitive, sure. But so are many popular film schools. I also second what Chris said about AFI selecting students without extensive film backgrounds; that point was reiterated and underscored at the summer info session. If you can afford to apply to multiple film schools (especially if you're eligible for application fee waivers), I would go for it.

Take a look at our guide on how to apply to AFI. The USC SCA application guide will be published in early October 2022.

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[scaldwellkerson]

Hi Chris, I just want to start by saying what a tremendous job you and the rest of the staff have done in managing this site. It has so much useful information and saves so much time for many people. Thank you so much!

To answer your question: The 5-min short film is a part of USC's and AFI's requirements for the directing programs. Since I do have much background in film, I don't think I have that much of a chance to get into AFI, so I basically have to create a 5-min film for USC only.

I completely understand what you're saying about taking this opportunity to challenge myself on cutting the film down, and I have been trying to do that. Yet, I believe you must know better than I do, sometimes a story is written for a specific pace. Not that I can't cut out certain elements in the story, but cutting down would result in a much faster pace which would be quite problematic for the story as a whole. I feel like the 5-minute limit sort of forces the students to go for a few particular types of narrative, and the slower and more methodical type of narrative is not one of them.

Of course, complaining is no use. I think I'll have to make another short film then. Thank you for your detailed reply!

I had an almost 10 minute short that I used 5 minutes of for my application.