Short films are one of the fastest ways to get noticed, if you approach them the right way.

In this episode of Directing Dread, working director Justin Harding and up and coming filmmaker Jacob Phair break down how to actually make a short film that gets programmed, gets seen, and moves your career forward.

We cover festival strategy, where to premiere, when to go online, and how to position your short depending on your goals. Proof of concept or standalone film. Festival run or YouTube launch. What actually makes sense and what is a waste of time.

We also pull from our own films and some of our favorite shorts to break down what works, why certain ideas land, and how to build something memorable in a short format.

You can check out Justin's Short films here:

Kookie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTshCCwo5Tw

Latched - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flW_alXzCXU

Point of View - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn9e83Ojc0

Carved - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0BvhGhkuvI

And Jacob's short film here:

Lure - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClBA_sWTE9w

Other Films Discussed include:

Meat Puppet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3oLGASdXYE

The Robbery - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gdiPSnfVgk

Lights Out - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUQhNGEu2KA

Vicious - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d0ggz0aibg

Panic Attack - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dadPWhEhVk

Mama - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcrM74s7tm4

If you are trying to make a short film that does more than just sit on a hard drive, this episode gives you a clear path forward.