Instructor: Vanessa King

On Zoom

Free for Film Co-op members in good standing.

$10 for non-members.

Email info@nbfilmcoop.com to register.

1. Why most short films don’t work (discuss common problems - no real story, overwritten dialogue, no emotional movement, cramming a feature into 10 pages, twist endings do not mean meaning)

2. What is your film actually about?

3. Character: build a human, fast

4. Structure: the architecture of a short film (setup, escalation, collision, emotional aftermath)

5. Emotional Payoff (subtext, silence, image-based endings, unresolved but emotionally complete endings)

6. Industry Reality & Practical Advice (writing producible shorts, festivals, proof-of-concept, actor-driven, director showcase)

7. Final Takeaway & Q&A

In this 60-minute session, screenwriter-filmmaker and story editor Vanessa King will explore the anatomy of a great short film through the lenses of story, character, structure and emotional payoff. The class will examine why many short films fail to resonate, from overwritten dialogue and weak story engines to twist endings mistaken for meaning, and focus on how to build emotionally compelling, producible short films with strong narrative architecture. Topics include identifying what your film is truly about, building layered characters quickly, creating momentum through escalation and collision, and crafting endings that are emotionally satisfying without over-explaining. The session will also cover practical industry considerations including festival strategy, proof-of-concept shorts, actor-driven material and writing within realistic production constraints.