Making flims
How a 24-minute film gets made in eleven days
A full production diary, from the question to the final cut, with the parts that went badly.
Small timelines demand clarity
Making a 24-minute film in eleven days sounds unreasonable until you break down what actually needs to happen. The secret wasn't working on everything at once. It was deciding what mattered before the clock started and removing anything that didn't contribute to the final film.
The first days were about narrowing the idea. We worked through the story, references, locations, shots, and schedule until there were fewer unknowns. Every decision made before production saved time later when changing direction would have been expensive.
Key points:
Start with a clear story and limited scope.
Make expensive decisions before production.
Speed comes from preparation, not rushing.
Protect the core idea when plans change.
Write before you shoot
The script is where the film becomes manageable. Instead of trying to discover the story while filming, I work through the argument on paper first. This lets me find the weak sections before they become expensive to shoot.
Once the script has a clear rhythm, I know what visuals I need. Some shots explain an idea, some create atmosphere, and others simply give the viewer a moment to breathe.
That preparation makes the production days surprisingly focused. There is still plenty that changes, but every change happens against a structure rather than replacing one.
Edit until it earns time
The edit is where a long film becomes a short one. The first assembly is always longer than the final version because it contains everything I thought might be useful.
Production itself was fast and imperfect. There wasn't enough time to wait for ideal conditions, so we learned to make good decisions quickly. Some shots changed, some ideas disappeared, and certain compromises became necessary but the core story stayed intact.
Editing brought everything together. Instead of trying to make every moment impressive, the goal was to make every moment useful. Eleven days wasn't enough to make everything perfect, but it was enough to make something focused, coherent, and finished.
