5 Common Mistakes That Ruin Your First Short Film 🎬

🎬 Want to make a short film next month?
I’m running one final live cohort of WRAPPED in April. I’ll be making a film alongside you + giving weekly feedback.
50% off this week only → https://standardstoryco.com/wrapped/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=wrapped_launch_2026_03&utm_content=allvideos-desc-cold_wrapped
(Doors close March 31st)
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. If you're writing / directing your first short films, don't make the same mistakes I did! These are the 5 worst beginner filmmaking traps.

📬 Make stronger films in a few minutes every week (my free newsletter): https://www.standardstoryco.com/

✍️ Learn to write no-budget short films that work: https://standardstoryco.com/blueprint/

🎓 Join my practical 30-day film school: https://wrapped.school

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My desk setup- https://kit.co/kentlamm/kent-s-desk-setup

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About me:
I've been making short films for 20 years, starting at age 11. I directed my first feature film, Bad is Bad, in 2010. Made for only $6,000, the film went on to reach over 7 million views and garner critical acclaim. More recently, my short film, Will "The Machine", screened and won awards at film festivals around the world. Released online in 2019, it reached over 1 million views in just a month. I also work as a video editor, cutting ads for clients such as Apple, Netflix, and Beats by Dre.

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0:00 DON'T DO WHAT I DID
0:12 USING YOUR FIRST IDEA
1:23 MAKING A LONG SHORT FILM
2:53 BAD AUDIO
3:32 LOSING FOCUS ON ENTERTAINMENT
4:54 TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH