Whether it’s the cinematic, inspirational reels or personal YouTube documentaries, short films offer a breath of fresh air, as opposed to the typical movies that would be aired in the local Marcus or AMC theaters. The “indie” genre comes from the idea of a short film’s individual aspect. With a smaller budget than corporate films, these bite-sized films are made as independent projects, relying more on the creative minds of producers.
“I really like horror short films,” sophomore Jocelyn Hart said. “I think that they’re really creative. A lot of horror movies have the same concept over and over, but with short films, they’re a lot easier to get new ideas out.”
Something special that comes from the indie film community is personal documentaries. Meshing together personal experiences and visuals together in a beautiful stream of video and art, these types of creators use film to embrace the world as something to appreciate every day, sharing their life experiences in a way that’s intimate and relatable. One of these instances is YouTube star Natalie Lynn’s series, “Borderless.” At the age of 18, Lynn gave up comfort to travel the US in a camper van while meeting different friends along the way. With nothing but a camera, she captured this adventure through a series of vlog-style films she calls “video diaries”. Her way of scrapbooking these adventures takes the viewer along to experience the journey of a lifetime. Artists like Lynn show the world that sometimes the experience of a lifetime can be one van trip away.
“People don’t realize how much creativity plays into everything you do in life,” drama club director Kim Sulzner said.
While something as drastic as recording living in a van may not be in everyone’s comfort zone, taking the time to capture memories and create through videos offers a chance to appreciate life and express ideas that would have otherwise remained dormant. Whether it’s bringing an old camera along or pulling out one’s phone more often, short films offer a way to connect with not just the world, but oneself. Take the chance to make something new this summer.
“You don’t need anything super expensive, and it’s a lot easier to get people involved for shorter projects,” Hart said.
