69 Short Film Prompts to Jumpstart Your Next Film Project
Are you a filmmaker looking for inspiration for your next short film? Look no further! In this blog post, I've compiled a list of 55 unique and thought-provoking short film ideas to get your creative juices flowing and help you write your next short film script.
From short horror film ideas to funny short film ideas, these short movie ideas can form the perfect foundation to kickstart a good short story and bring your next project to life with your film crew!
Short Film Prompts
Write a short film script about:
1. A group of coworkers is stranded in their office during a snowstorm, leading to unexpected revelations and tensions.
2. A dirty dish ignites a furious argument between two roommates, revealing deeper underlying tensions and secrets.
3. A woman confronts her fear of heights when she gets stuck on a malfunctioning Ferris wheel with a stranger.
4. A nurse has to administer a life-saving injection to a patient within a 5-minute window, but the hospital is facing a power outage.
5. A chef has to cook a 3-course meal for a notorious food critic in 30 minutes, but the restaurant's kitchen is understaffed due to a flu outbreak.
6. A delivery driver is tasked with a last-minute job to deliver an important package across the city within an hour but has to navigate through heavy traffic.
7. Due to an approaching monster storm, a couple has to pack their most important belongings and move out within 2 hours, but they keep getting distracted by sentimental items.
8. A couple on the brink of divorce resolves their heated argument by facing off in a high-stakes chess game.
9. A couple argues over how to spend their last day together before one of them moves away.
10. A bank heist gone wrong, with a tense standoff between the robbers and a lone security guard.
11. A paramedic racing against time to save a patient in a high-rise apartment complex with a broken elevator.
12. A couples' heated argument about whether to have kids or not takes a dark turn when one reveals a shocking secret that threatens to tear the group apart.
13. A young woman must confront her fear of commitment when she runs into her ex at a friend's wedding.
14. A married couple struggles to reconcile their different expectations for their future during a family dinner.
15. During a check-up visit at the hospital, a man is confronted with his own mortality when he receives the news of a terminal diagnosis.
16. A woman must navigate her feelings of guilt and responsibility when she accidentally causes a car accident.
17. Things escalate quickly when a group of friends confronts the toxic behavior of one group member.
18. A father and son must confront the reality of their strained relationship when they go on a camping trip together.
19. A racist woman must confront her own prejudices when she meets her new neighbor, who is from a different cultural background.
20. When a long-lost son returns home, a family is forced to confront the painful truths of their past and the possibility of a new beginning.
21. A young woman must navigate the complicated dynamics of her family when she brings her new boyfriend home for Thanksgiving dinner.
22. After a tragic car accident, a man wakes up without a memory of his past and must piece together his identity before it's too late.
23. A scientist experimenting with time travel must decide whether to use his invention for personal gain or the betterment of humanity.
24. A soldier has to make a life-or-death decision in a warzone within a matter of seconds.
25. A couple's argument over money and finances leads to a shocking revelation about one of their true motives.
26. A young woman discovers her entire life has been a lie and sets out to uncover the truth.
27. A criminal tries to attempt to go straight but is pulled back into a life of crime by an old acquaintance.
28. A couple has to decide whether to go through with a risky medical procedure to save their unborn child, with only a few hours to decide.
29. A hitman begins to question his profession after a job goes wrong.
30. A doctor must race against time to find a cure for a deadly virus outbreak.
31. A struggling artist must confront their inner demons to find success.
32. A group of teenagers discovers a cursed object that repeatedly causes them to relive the same day.
33. A lost time traveler must confront the consequences of altering the past.
34. A young woman must come to terms with her family's tragic past, which comes back to haunt her.
35. A young mother struggles to care for her child alone after her husband is deployed to war.
36. A young couple's relationship is tested when one of them is diagnosed with a serious disease.
37. A group of coworkers are trapped in an elevator and must rely on each other to survive.
38. A small town is thrown into chaos when a meteorite lands nearby.
39. A young girl becomes a surrogate mother to her younger siblings after her parents pass away.
40. A group of friends must survive in the wilderness after their camping trip takes a dangerous turn.
41. A scientist discovers a cure for a deadly disease and must fight against powerful interests to bring it to the public.
42. A woman who lives alone on an island must find a way to survive after a natural disaster.
43. A man becomes a hero after he saves a group of people from a house fire.
44. A young woman is kidnapped and must find a way to escape her captors.
45. A woman must come to terms with her past after her estranged father returns to her life.
46. A man who is falsely accused of a crime must clear his name.
47. A group of teenagers must learn to survive independently after a pandemic wipes out most of the adult population.
48. A couple must navigate their relationship after one of them becomes a paraplegic.
49. A man down on his luck finds a new purpose in life after he starts a charity to help the homeless.
50. A woman struggling to make ends meet takes a night shift security guard job and discovers a dark secret about the building she's working in.
51. A man must confront his fear of heights when stranded on a high-rise building during a storm.
52. A teenager bullied at school discovers they have a superpower and must navigate the consequences of using it.
53. A young couple on a trip to a remote cabin must confront their differences and decide if their relationship is worth saving.
54. A person who stumbles upon a mysterious town that no one else seems to remember or acknowledge.
55. A person wakes up one day to find their body and life swapped with someone else's, with no explanation for how or why.
56. A young boy discovers that his toy box can transport him to different worlds.
57. It is a story about a future society where everyone is assigned their profession at birth.
58. A man struggling with addiction must accept his past and make amends before it's too late.
59. A man must make it to a job interview on time, but his PTSD from a car accident keeps him from driving.
60. A group of friends reunite for a trip to a cabin in the woods and must confront unresolved issues from their past.
61. A man paralyzed from the waist down struggles to learn to live differently after a tragic accident.
62. A woman who has been blind since birth gets the opportunity to regain her sight and must decide if she's ready for the changes it will bring.
63. A young girl's family is torn apart when her parents are detained by immigration, and she must navigate life alone.
64. A group of coworkers band together to overthrow their corrupt and abusive boss.
65. A soldier returning from war must readjust to life as a civilian and deal with PTSD.
66. A woman who has been in a coma for years wakes up and discovers she has a new family and must make a difficult decision about her future.
67. A teenager must choose between saving their friend from a dangerous situation or protecting their reputation, with only a few minutes to decide.
68. A woman discovers that she is a character in a book and that the author is rewriting her story.
69. A woman races against the clock to make it to her son's graduation, but new obstacles keep crossing her path.
Conclusion
Wrapping up, I hope these short film ideas can help spark your creativity and help you create your own short films!
I know firsthand that writing short films can be a challenging act. So, if you need some more writing prompts for your short films, you can try looking at using an AI story generator.
These artificial intelligence tools can help you generate an entire story for your short movie or write a great script in a matter of minutes. Simply pick one of the short film ideas from the list above, insert a command like "Write a short film script about [include one of the ideas above]," and the software will generate an entire story from scratch in the blink of an eye.
Frequently Asked Questions About Short Film Prompts (FAQs)
What is a short film prompt?
A short film prompt is a brief idea or concept used to inspire a short film's creation. It can be a single sentence or a couple of paragraphs and is intended to provide a starting point for the writer, director, and other production team members to build on.
How do I use a short film prompt?
Once you have a short film prompt, you can develop a story, create characters, and visualize scenes. From there, you can write a script, storyboard the film, and begin pre-production.
Remember that a short film prompt is just a starting point and that you should feel free to add your ideas and creativity to the project as you work on it.
Are there any good resources for finding short film prompts?
Yes, there are many resources for finding short film prompts. Some popular options include screenwriting websites, film school databases, and social media groups dedicated to filmmaking.
Can I use a short film prompt for a school project?
Yes, short film prompts can be an excellent resource for school projects, and they can provide inspiration and structure for your film while also helping you learn the basics of storytelling and film production.
Can a short film prompt be used for any genre?
Short film prompts can be used for various genres, including drama, comedy, thriller, experimental films, etc.
The prompt may not specify a genre, but you can use it as inspiration and make it fit any style or movie genre you want.
Is there a limit to how long a short film should be?
The length of a short film can vary, but it is generally considered anything under 40 minutes. However, the typical range for a short film is around 5-15 minutes.
Can a short film prompt be used multiple times?
While a short film prompt can be used as a starting point for a good story, each interpretation and execution will be unique to the filmmakers using it. So various films created using the same prompt will be different from one another.
What is a Short Film?
A short film generally has a duration ranging within certain minutes. Anything shorter falls into the category of short movies or short films.
They are a wonderful way to get the creative juices flowing and can encapsulate an entire story in a brief moment of time.
Where Can I Find Ideas for Short Films?
a. Short Horror Film Ideas
Here, the scope is quite interesting. From twisted and macabre concepts to a young woman discovering something unsettling in her basement, the terror and suspense for horror film ideas are the main drivers.
b. Funny Short Film Ideas
Tickle your audience's funny bone with funny short film ideas like a conversation between inanimate objects or a late-night coffee shop dialogue gone awry.
c. Short Film Ideas
You can explore different genres and themes for your next short film.
How Do I Write a Short Film Script?
Writing a short film script takes some drafts typically. The process includes:
Understanding your main character.
Sketching the entire story in scenes.
Building the middle, night, and end points.
Finalizing the dialogue and characters.
A film school could provide more in-depth guidance.
How Do I Make My Own Short Films?
Creating your own short films requires an idea, writing skills, a film crew, production money, and hope. You can take inspiration from real-life events or even dream up entirely unique worlds.
What Makes a Good Short Film?
A good short film needs a great script, engaging characters, and compelling scenes. The best friend of a filmmaker is a script reader who can provide feedback.
Where Can I Find More Ideas?
Looking for more ideas? Visit online forums, watch movies, read short stories, or engage with friends over a late-night conversation.
Can I Use Short Ideas for a TV Pilot or Feature?
Yes, short ideas can be expanded into a TV pilot or a feature film. A single moment in a short can be the starting point for a longer story.
What About a Film with One Character?
A film with one character can be powerful. The entire focus is on this single character, driving the story forward. A great idea might be a woman discovering a hidden secret that changes her life, all within the confines of a coffee shop.
Any Tips for My Next Project?
For your next project, focus on what resonates with you. Whether it's a great short film or a full-length movie, your passion and creativity will shine through.
