There is no official consensus or definition for the length of a “short.” Any film shorter than 50 minutes qualifies as a short film for the Sundance Film Festival, while any film with a run-time under 40 minutes is eligible for the shorts categories at the Academy Awards. The longest of the ten movies nominated […]
What is a feature film?
A feature film (or just “feature”) is a full-length film, the kind you buy a ticket for at your local theater. The term is also used to distinguish between films that are first shown theatrically versus those made for television. A modern feature is typically between 80 and 180 minutes long, but different groups have […]
How many acts does a movie have?
A typical movie is said to have three acts, but this is not a steadfast rule. Film acts are not defined as strictly as play or TV show acts, which are set off with act breaks. The [johnaugust.com glossary](http://johnaugust.com/glossary) explains that “Since screenplays never show act breaks, an ‘act’ is really a theoretical concept. Screenwriters […]
Why is the last “w” of WGAw lowercase?
The “w” refers to “west,” as in “Writers Guild of America, West.” There are two Writers Guilds, East and West. They are separate unions but work together on many issues. Usually when writers refer to “the WGA,” they mean the West. Presumably the w is lowercase because it is not part of the WGA’s name, […]
What is the WGA?
The WGA is the Writers Guild of America. [In their words](http://www.wga.org/uploadedFiles/who_we_are/fyi09.pdf): > [The WGA is] a labor union composed of the thousands of writers who write the content for television shows, movies, news programs, documentaries, animation, and Internet and mobile phones (new media) that keep audiences constantly entertained and informed. Most movies and scripted network television shows in […]
What does a manager do?
In brief, a manager manages your career. This includes tangible acts, like setting up meetings, giving notes and feedback, and assisting with deal negotiation, as well as the more abstract, like helping steer your career’s direction. Managers, unlike agents, are not required to be licensed by the state. They usually have fewer clients than agents, […]