Make It Short (Deep Dive) | Not Your Room
How to Embrace Constraints to Fuel Creativity
Welcome to an exciting episode of Make It Short ! We’ve once again gathered an exceptional panel of industry experts, ready to dive deep into the art of filmmaking and share their invaluable insights on a handpicked short film.
Our mission is as strong as ever: to provide constructive feedback and deliver a rich educational experience through the stories and creative processes of our featured filmmakers. Joining us from our UK studio is the incredibly talented
, seasoned filmmaker and co-founder of CenterFrame. And, together from our studio, we are thrilled to have the veteran writer with us. So, without further ado, let’s jump straight into today’s featured short film, Not Your Room, by writer-director Corey Ringsell.After watching the short film, we discussed some of the aspects that caught our attention, all of them in line with the behind the scenes comments brought to light by the filmmaker Corey Ringsell in our interview during the second part of your episode. Some of these aspects include budgetary constraints, ambiguity, narrative consistency, and sound design.
Lessons Learned:
The Good Side of Budget Constraints
The journey of filmmaking is often marked by creative challenges, unexpected outcomes, and valuable lessons. One such journey is illustrated in Corey Ringsell’s short film Not Your Room. At just four minutes long, this film offers rich insights into the creative process, the challenges of low-budget filmmaking, and the importance of narrative clarity. The short film was created with no budget, forcing Ringsell to make do with what was available. This included using a single actor to play multiple roles, a decision born out of necessity when a cast member had to drop out. This choice, though pragmatic, added a layer of abstraction and surrealism to the film that might not have existed otherwise. The lesson here is clear: constraints can often drive creativity, leading to unique and memorable cinematic choices.
Clarity vs. Ambiguity
One of the central discussions around Not Your Room was the balance between mystery and confusion. The film’s abstract style, combined with its minimal dialogue and ambiguous setting, left some viewers unclear about its central theme. While abstraction can be a powerful tool in filmmaking, this case highlights the importance of giving the audience just enough information to understand the underlying message. For Ringsell, this meant that while the film succeeded in creating a compelling atmosphere, it may have benefited from additional narrative signposts to guide the viewer.
The Importance of Narrative Consistency
A significant point of feedback focused on the differences between the film and its script. The script clearly identified the story as being about refugees and asylum seekers, a theme that was less apparent in the film itself. This discrepancy raises an important lesson for filmmakers: maintaining consistency between the script and the final product is crucial, especially when dealing with complex or sensitive themes. Ringsell’s experience underscores the need to stay true to the narrative’s core message throughout the filmmaking process.
Sound Design as a Storytelling Tool
The review also touched on the film’s sound design, noting that a stronger soundscape could have enhanced the film’s atmosphere and helped clarify its abstract elements. Sound is an often-underestimated tool in storytelling, particularly in short films where every element must work hard to convey meaning. For filmmakers, this serves as a reminder to consider how sound can support and amplify the narrative, especially when working within an abstract or minimalist style.
The Short Film Format
Ringsell’s decision to keep Not Your Room to just four minutes was driven by practical considerations, but it also highlights the power of the short film format. Short films challenge filmmakers to filter their ideas into a concise and impactful story, which can be more difficult than it seems. The feedback emphasized that keeping a film under ten minutes is not only beneficial for festival submissions but also forces the filmmaker to focus on the essential elements of their story.
Final Remarks
Not Your Room is a testament to the learning curve all filmmakers experience, particularly when working with limited resources. From embracing creative constraints to ensuring narrative clarity, Ringsell’s film offers valuable lessons for both emerging and established filmmakers. As with any art form, the key is to learn from each project, apply those lessons to future work, and continue refining the craft of storytelling through film.
And don’t forget—we’re always on the lookout for the next short film to explore and dissect together! We invite filmmakers from every corner of the globe to step into the spotlight and share their creative journeys with our worldwide community of cinephiles. This is your chance to submit your work and possibly be featured on our show, where you can showcase your unique vision and tap into the collective wisdom of cinema experts from around the world. The stage is set, and it’s your moment to shine!