Shorts should be kept as short and sweet as possible. They should also be as cost free as possible. The more actors you have, especially kids, and the price goes right up. You can't get child actors for free, unless you know somebody. Also, you have to pay a day's wage to the parents, at least £100 each day. Five days filming is £500 just for the parent to escort their child. Two, three kids and the budget is rising before we move onto paying the actors and everyone else.

I don't normally agree with Jeff (at least, I don't like to)... but on this occasion I do, kinda. If you make your shorts too epic, they may be great, but nobody will want to film them at the short level, unless you get lucky, if the price isn't justified. So if it is an epic short production-wise, make sure it is an epic short story-wise too, else it's all just wasted effort.

In response to Steve, I understand what you're saying...I totally understand.

In fact, many of my shorts are written with a budget that makes them pretty much unfilmable, and I'm completely cool with that.

If that's what you want to write, go right ahead and write that way.  There's nothing wrong with it, especially if you want to experiment or whatever.

My point is pretty much in line with Dustin, who I rarely agree with or enjoy agreeing with...but his post is dead on.

My point to Max is exactly as stated - probably not the best idea to be worrying how to do this and that in a short that probably shouldn't be written in the first place.

Shorts are "short".  You don't have the "time" and space to be writing stories that cover multiple time lines.  The inclusion of characters at various stages of their life can really only be glossed over, as the current time line is where the meat of your story is going to need to be.

Again, as an exercise or whatever, go for any story/topic you want to.  But always keep in mind important things like budget.

You'll have to wait and see Dream...

You understand where I'm coming from aye? I'm not trying to get anything produced, but rather I'm trying to experiment with my writing and utilize the building blocks which will be used in a feature somewhere down the line.

I'm building up to a feature, but I just haven't got the confidence or the drive yet. I'm too busy watching wrestling most of the time anyways, haha

Quoted from Max You'll have to wait and see Dream... You understand where I'm coming from aye? I'm not trying to get anything produced, but rather I'm trying to experiment with my writing and utilize the building blocks which will be used in a feature somewhere down the line. I'm building up to a feature, but I just haven't got the confidence or the drive yet. I'm too busy watching wrestling most of the time anyways, haha

I hear ya, bro.

Forget the wrestling and watch more MMA!  Free fights this weekend and the card looks pretty good.

Quoted from Dreamscale I hear ya, bro. Forget the wrestling and watch more MMA!  Free fights this weekend and the card looks pretty good.

Sorry, Professional Wrestling will always come first for me.  They are two different beasts, so I guess it's all down to what you're after.

You wouldn't believe how much wrestling I watch a week and all the podcasts I listen to.