Short film ban

[MoviePropMaster2008]

Originally Posted by funkychinaman

I saw that rules have been amended to ban all short films, regardless of quality. How are we defining short films though? The AMPAS standard is 40 minutes or less, including all credits. Can we just go with that?

The current LEGAL definition of a FEATURE is a mininum of 84 minutes prior to credits. This came from a legal case in the 1990s where indie films getting funds from pay channels like HBO and Cinemax were ripping off their investors by putting out movies with 60 minutes of film and 20 minutes of credits.....

[funkychinaman]

Originally Posted by MoviePropMaster2008

The current LEGAL definition of a FEATURE is a mininum of 84 minutes prior to credits. This came from a legal case in the 1990s where indie films getting funds from pay channels like HBO and Cinemax were ripping off their investors by putting out movies with 60 minutes of film and 20 minutes of credits.....

Does anyone know how IMDb records running time then? It is total or without credits?

And that's a pretty big gap between short film and feature. I don't even know what it'd be called.

[funkychinaman]

I looked up the short film threshold for various festivals (which you would think is where most people watch them), but it was not very helpful. Sundance allows up to 50 minutes, while Cannes caps it at 15.

[MoviePropMaster2008]

Originally Posted by funkychinaman

And that's a pretty big gap between short film and feature. I don't even know what it'd be called.

It's called "you're not supposed to make something like that" hahaha. People in the industry routinely disparage projects that fall into the "neither fish nor fowl" category. It's ill advised. Either do a SHORT or do a FEATURE. but there is always those guys out there who have to push the envelope. thankfully they're rare.

Shorts are okay in festivals. In fact they are the only thing allowed in many festivals. But features is what we chronicle.