ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses a case study on a short film, namely Whiplash. More and more amateur filmmakers are turning to short films as a way to either showcase their talents, or provide proof of concept toward a more expansive story idea, or both. A short film, the method of raising funds through rewards-based crowdfunding platforms has become part of the mainstream. An example of a writer/filmmaker who implemented the strategy of filming a short as proof of concept toward a larger story idea is Damien Chazelle. Chazelle wrote and directed Whiplash. Chazelle originally pitched his idea as a feature. Chazelle submitted the film and was accepted into Sun-dance, where it won the Short Film Jury Prize for the Best Fiction Short Film of 2013. While in post on Sheila Scorned, Mara and her team took turns reaching out and responding to not only their crowdfunding supporters, but the bloggers and other supporters they had gained through the entire journey. Their teaser videos played well.
