SUBJECT written by Vincent Befi
2019 CONTINUE SHORT FILM INITIATIVE WINNER
2019 Continue Short Film Competition Winner
2020 CONTINUE SHORT FILM INITIATIVE WINNER
AMERICAN DIABLO (2021)
“As a filmmaker, my only wish is to see my ideas resonate with others and hope they find an audience. It's not easy to find people who connect to the same things that move you, so when I sent my script to the Continue Short Film Initiative, I decided to submit and forget; I didn't even expect a reply. When I heard I was selected, I was thrilled, not only because there was a group of people somewhere in the world that liked what I wrote, but because I could see myself in them. Continuance read what I wrote and understood what the project needed to move forward. They've provided me with guidance in a time where the entire film industry is re-inventing its self. I'm looking forward to working with this squad of like-minded artists I'm incredibly fortunate to have found.”
Juan Castaneda - The winner of 2020 CONTINUE SHORT FILM INITIATIVE
We are pleased to announce "AMERICAN DIABLO" written by Juan Castaneda is the selected winner of 2020 CONTINUE Short Film Initiative.
We are entering production for POC shoot with Human Pictures in mid-April in Miami starring Jimmy-Jean Louise and Stephanie Nogueras.
We were struck by how much the story popped off the page, and found ourselves drawn in not only by the setting and tone, but by the character of Anita, the protagonist. This was a deaf character that, quite unusually, was given the space to be strong-willed, complex, and a leading character in her own right. Between the story itself, the new approach with the writing and the fresh exploration of characters so often sidelined, we were hooked - and we were certain that we’d never read a story like this before.
We were thrilled how many quality scripts and writers got involved in last year's competition and we are looking forward to continually work with passionate and empowering story tellers out there.
We are therefore excited to announce the 2021 CONTINUE Short Film Initiative submission will open April 10th.
2020 CONTINUE SHORT FILM INITIATIVE
CONTINUANCE PICTURES
short film development initiative program
We are excited to announce that the Continue Short Film Initiative is relaunching in February 2020.
Like last year, Continuance is offering $10,000USD for proof of concept spend.
we have proudly partnered with Final Draft to provide winners with free copies of Final Draft 11, the pinnacle in screenwriting software. The Top 25 finalists will also receive one-on-one consultations with our development team, comprehensive feedback and a certified certificate.The entry criteria is the same as last year.
Simply submit your short film script along with a long form or feature script.
CONTINUE INITIATIVE DEADLINES
Early bird submission:
February 1st - 29th $35 USD (CLOSED)
Regular submission:
March 1st - April 30th $45 USD (CLOSED)
Late submission:
May 1st - 31st $65 USD(CLOSED)
Extended submission:
june 1st - 30th $75 USD(CLOSED)
Please note submission page will only appear on February 1st.
AIM
TO HELP EMERGING WRITERS/DIRECTORS/producers PRODUCE A SHORT FILM THAT HAS A FEATURE FILM OR TV SCRIPT ATTACHED.
The aim of the short being, to screen in a-list film festivals as well as providing A PROOF OF CONCEPT AND TRIAL FOR the BIGGER PRODUCTIOn.
MethodologY
The low budget short, empowering those involved with creative control and bold choices.
Our commitment to film
CONTINUANCE IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING A WORKING RELATIONSHIP, WITH THE END objective BEING THE LONG FORM SCRIPT FULLY FINANCED WITH DISTRIBUTION ATTACHED. WE WILL MAKE USE OF ALL OUR IN-HOUSE FUNCTIONS TO PUT THE FILM IN THE BEST POSSIBLE POSITION TO FIND SUCCESS.
funding
up to $10,000 USD is available for qualified proposals.
Requirements of filmmaker:
To shoot and deliver the film as per schedule.
All fees by Continuance to be put into the creation of the film.
$600 USD investment by film maker to submit half of required a-list film festivals.
Continuance Pictures acquires option rights for the production.
To attend any A-list festivals or media required.
Key dates
Early bird submission:
February 1st - 29th $35 USD (CLOSED)
Regular submission:
March 1st - April 30th $45 USD (CLOSED)
Late submission:
May 1st - 31st $65 USD(CLOSED)
extended submission:
june 1st - 30th $75 USD
* Public announcement on qualified project is only made upon submission deadline dates.
*Registered email addresses and details supplied for submission will only be used for the purpose for which you have provided them.
For more information on submission please contact -
contact@continuancepictures.com
- Submission form to fill in your project detail will appear after making the payment.
- Do not CLOSE submission page until you have successfully completed uploading all required materials.
Things to consider before submitting the script
The ‘Continue’ Short Film Initiative aims to help emerging filmmakers produce a short film with feature film potential.
This guide will help you develop your script to give you the best chance of selection. When developing a film script, it’s important to consider how your final product will stand out among the thousands of short films produced every year.
The Selection Criteria
The team at Continuance Pictures don’t want to restrict your creativity. We want you to feel free to explore wild ideas and come up with imaginative premises. But unfortunately, there are limits to what we can help you to bring to life as a part of this initiative.
Remember, the Continue Short Film Initiative aims to create a short that will act as a proof of concept. When selecting short films, Continuance Pictures looks to see if your script fits in with our criteria. The criteria doesn’t dictate whether your script is good or not, it will just tell us whether it is the right fit for this initiative.
Long form into Short Film
As a part of the application process we will first be assessing your feature film or tv script. We do accept treatments or partly completed works however preference will be given to finished scripts.
Adapting your long form script into a short film concept can be done in many ways. You could use one scene from the film that has a substantial enough arc like the short film version of Oscar-nominated feature film Whiplash. Alternatively you can condense several plot points of your long-form script to produce a shorter sequence, like Netflix’s Cargo. You could also use the same characters to tell loose adaptation of your story that fits the short film format.
Creative and abstract writing to abbreviate
Sometimes it can be hard to adapt a long form story into a short so we suggest researching other short films and techniques they use to tell the stories. You can find examples by searching for short films from Cannes, Sundance, SxSW, Toronto, Berlinale, Fantastic, Stiges, Tribeca, and Venice film festivals on Vimeo.
“If you give an audience all the answers they’ll forget you as soon as they leave the cinema. But, if you ask the right questions, they’ll think about you for days.”
Asghar Farhadi (two-time Academy Award winner)
Some useful techniques include:
Using voice over to fill audience in of necessary exposition
offscreen sound/action for those trickier scenes
Ellision or abstract ideas that encapsulate many ideas or metaphor.
What makes your film special?
Exploring your film’s point of difference could be what makes the difference. Making a low budget film means there are limitations. You may not be able to book an A-list star or the busy location you need, and the budget for post-production effects could be limited. Some of the best films don’t have these things; they are instead successful because of their high-concept ideas, originality and creativity.
Originality
A wholly original story the likes of which hasn’t been seen on screen before will certainly make your short film stand out. We look for scripts that are different.
Writing about experiences that are underrepresented in film might be a good place to start. Or try to find an exciting, new hook for a tired premise.
High Concepts
High concept narratives are the ones that get audiences excited to see what happens. Blockbuster films often have high concept ideas, like what if apes took over the planet? Or what if we could clone dinosaurs?
But high concept ideas also exist in low budget films, and in many cases become cult hits. Take Primer (2004), made for just $7K and now considered one of the best time travel films of all time.
Have you considered diversity?
Continuance Pictures are strong believers in diversity and inclusivity in film. Including diverse characters will not only limit underrepresentation in film but will attract diverse audiences.
Try using variations of the Bechdel test to see if you have written a realistic portrayal of the wider community. Diverse writers, directors and producers should not be afraid to write about their own lived experiences.
How polished is your script?
Your script should have a clearly defined inciting incident, with dramatic tension, a midpoint, a climax and an ending. Our favourite characters have well-defined arcs and stakes, and dialogue is best when it is interesting and fits the characters.
Try to avoid being too expositional, remember that film is a visual medium; exposition can be shown instead of verbalised. If your idea is good, but your dialogue is a bit clunky, your structure slightly scattered, we can provide feedback to help you fix it.
How marketable is your idea?
The global market makes it easier to find a place where your film will work. There are film festivals all over the world looking for impactful short films that will inspire and delight.
Try to consider the type of audience who will most enjoy your film. Is it unique enough to play at Sundance? Does it tell an interesting Australian story that Australians will love? Is your story based on a Korean graphic novel that already has a fan base in Asia and around the world?
Figuring out whether your script is marketable is our job. But it’s still a good idea to think about who will flock to the cinema to see it.
Will it fit the budget?
The choices you make in your script provide the first indicator of budget. You may be spending big without even realising it.
Consider whether there are things you can do in your script that will keep the budget down. Treat limitations as challenges, and let your creativity shine through.
Script choices that will often affect the budget include:
Creating too many characters
Too many characters will inflate your budget. There are plenty of award-winning films with just a few characters. The critically acclaimed film Locke (2014) had only one character on screen.
Wanting to film in Popular and Busy locations
Clearing public places and booking extravagant venues is expensive and may be unnecessary to your story. Pontypool (2008) was shot in a single location and has since become a cult hit.
Requiring top of the line equipment
Expensive equipment isn’t a requirement in making a quality film. The use of iPhones to shoot Tangerine (2015) added to the story and became an impressive point of difference.
Needing a lot of CGI