Where short films could hit the big time

JUST as short stories are sometimes considered to be the novel's poor relation, so short films are often thought of as second best in an industry where the full-length feature is king.

This attitude has led to the genre being somewhat marginalised but with advances in technology and the resulting prevalence of "bite-size" entertainment, short film is making something of a comeback.

A new project launched by Leeds-based company Propeller could be about to revitalise the genre further.

The team behind Propeller TV – a pioneering short film channel set up and launched with the support of Screen Yorkshire and Yorkshire Forward on Sky channel 195 in 2006 – has developed a website enabling short film makers to gain access to all funds for which they could be eligible. The TV channel was sold to Chinese Broadcasting Company Xiang Group in July last year and the revenue from the sale has been redirected into developing Propeller4Film, an online service linking up film makers with potential funders.

Simon Couth is one of the people behind the project and a champion of the short film. Propeller TV, which was his brainchild, provided a showcase for aspiring directors, producers, scriptwriters and animators, showing the work of more than 2,500 film makers over the past three years. The online service was launched at the 32nd Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival with a catalogue of around 250 of the very best of those films and a target of adding a further 50 each month. Simon explains the motivation behind the new venture: "There were two main reasons for setting it up. Propeller TV was always about supporting short film makers and we wanted to know what more we could do for them, so around six months ago we did some consultation work with film makers in Leeds and London.

"They said that it would be great if we could put something together that would provide them with exposure and income. The other reason was adapting to the shift in viewing habits – people, especially younger people, are viewing more and more online and we felt that the internet was a more appropriate channel for our expanded range of services."

Once the consultation period had ended, and with the film makers' requests in mind, the team then put out the development of the site to tender. "What the film makers were asking for was a beautifully curated, bespoke and professional-looking site," says Simon . "We

got some really good submissions from around

the UK and eventually we chose Endemol."

Best known as the makers of Big Brother, Endemol were able to offer cutting-edge technology that provides the audience with a high-quality viewing experience. "We've already had fantastic feedback from people within the industry both at the BBC and ITV," says Simon.

The main purpose of Propeller4Film is to give film makers the opportunity to air their work. They can put up their archive on the site and create their own page with an online profile which will be looked at by industry professionals. Every few weeks, the film collections will be refreshed, so that film buyers, for example, will be constantly seeing new work.

"Opinion-makers in the industry will be reviewing what's on the site, with a regular selection of guest picks from producers, critics and broadcasters," says Simon. "There is also a password protected online digital sales hub and we have around 80 different buyers with access to that area – from broadcasters, to Telecom companies. It is a large database and every month those buyers can look at films for sale."

In addition to the valuable exposure that this gives to the film makers' work, the site also offers very practical help in a section devoted to the more mundane but equally important side of creative endeavour. As well as a fully searchable database of a 125 different funding organisations, there are downloadable guidelines on how to make an application and details of the paperwork required to protect their intellectual property along with information regarding performing rights and contracts. For access to very specific funding information, film makers pay 9.50 for a three-month subscription.

From a viewer's perspective, the site is free and extremely user-friendly. A viewer is able to select films by genre – comedy, horror, drama, documentary, animation – as well as, uniquely, by mood; categories include "scary", "ambient", "dreamy", "quirky" and"'experimental".

Simon says the feedback from industry professionals, film makers and viewers has been "fantastic". Within a week of launching at the end of January the site had 1,500 hits. One film maker who is delighted with the new site is Tony Ryan, whose film The Wedding Day – a charming, quirky comedy – has been picked up by Fox TV.

"I made a series of six short films in 2005," he says. "They went around a few festivals and I was quite pleased with the reaction to one of them in particular – The Wedding Day. When Propeller TV was set up in 2006, I sent it to them and they showed it a few times.

"Then when they were launching the website they asked me if they could feature it." Fox TV very quickly spotted the film and bought the rights to it. "So after five years, I have actually made some money out of it," he laughs. Like many who make short films, Ryan has a feature film script that he has been developing and would now like to make.

He describes it as "an uplifting tale of hope over experience" set at Christmas time involving an abandoned baby found by a dustman. Former EastEnders star Anita Dobson has already agreed to star. "The great thing is that, now I have sold one of my films, it will give me credibility as a film maker when I take people my script. And I am hoping that through the exposure The Wedding Day has had on Propeller4Film, I will be able to get some funding."

There is a phrase on the site which describes the venture as "a service for people who love film – whether they love watching it or making it" and Simon agrees that it sums up the sentiment behind the project. A former short film maker himself, he is wholly committed to giving the people who make short films the best opportunity to air their work as well as providing a stepping stone to feature film makers of the future.

"There is a fantastic amount of talent out there; I am pleased that through Propeller4Film we are able to share that talent with so many people."