NOFC Community Short Lab

Script Workshop is still the main place where people can share pages, ideas, scenes, concepts, and works in progress. You do not need to be part of a community short to come to Script Workshop, and not everything shared at Script Workshop needs to become a NOFC production.

We want people to keep writing, sharing, meeting collaborators, and making their own work outside of Film Club too. NOFC can’t produce every idea, but we can help create a space where people meet each other and get projects moving.

For anyone interested in being part of the next NOFC community short, we’ll have a focused development conversation after select Script Workshops. You don’t need to be invited separately. If you’re showing up, interested in collaborating, and want to help build the next project, you’re welcome to hang back and be part of the conversation.

This will be a more focused group conversation where we start building the next community project together. The first step will be deciding what kind of short feels realistic and exciting for the group to make.

That may include talking through things like:
• Genre
• Tone
• Possible locations
• Available actors
• Crew interest
• Production needs
• Schedule
• What we can realistically shoot over a few weekends

The goal is not to come up with the biggest idea possible. The goal is to find the strongest idea that fits what we can realistically produce, finish, and release. As the project moves forward, cast and crew roles will be shaped around the needs of the script, people’s availability, reliability, experience, and what the production actually requires. We want to keep the process open and collaborative while still making sure the project stays realistic, safe, and possible to complete.

Once the group has a general direction, we’ll start narrowing the project into something more specific. This may include choosing a genre, talking through possible characters, figuring out what locations we have access to, and shaping an idea that can work as a short film.

This part of the process will be collaborative, but NOFC will still help guide the conversation so the project stays realistic, safe, and manageable.

A good fit will usually be something with:
• A focused story
• A small cast
• Limited locations
• Simple scheduling
• Realistic production needs
• A clear beginning, middle, and end
• A scope that can be shot over 1–2 weekends

Once the foundation is locked, we'll open a window for treatments. A treatment is the whole story of your short told in plain prose on one page, and anyone in the club can write one. We'll hand out a simple guide with what it needs and a clear deadline.
Everyone who writes one brings it to the workshop, reads it to the group, and gets feedback. Then the community votes on its favorite, and the producer gives the final sign-off. That last part is mostly a reality check, making sure we can actually pull it off with our gear, our people, and our weekends.
The winning treatment then gets developed into a full script. The writer can drive that process or lean on the group as much as they want, and in-progress drafts are always welcome at the club email for notes before they hit the room.
The writer brings the script back to Script Workshop for feedback, table reading, and further development. The goal is to shape it together while making sure someone is responsible for getting an actual draft written.

After the first draft is written, we’ll continue workshopping it as a group.
This may include table reads, feedback, story notes, production notes, and practical conversations about what needs to change to make the project shootable.

At this stage, we may adjust characters, locations, scenes, or production needs so the short fits what we can realistically pull off.

Once the script feels ready, we’ll move into pre-production.

This may include:
• Shot listing
• Storyboarding
• Casting
• Location planning
• Scheduling
• Crew assignments
• Props
• Wardrobe
• Makeup
• Lighting needs
• Sound needs
• Production design

Casting may happen through a traditional casting call, through people already involved in Film Club, or through a mix of both depending on the project.

Once the script and production plan are clear, we’ll start locking in crew roles.

This may include:
• Director
• Producer
• Director of photography
• First AC
• Sound
• Gaffer
• Lighting
• Makeup
• Production design
• Script supervisor
• BTS
• Editor
• Color
• Sound mix
• Music

Not every project will need every role, and some roles may overlap depending on the size of the production.

The goal is to give people real opportunities to learn, contribute, and be credited, while still making sure the production has the support it needs to be completed.

Once the script, cast, crew, locations, and schedule are locked in, we’ll choose shoot dates and move into production.

The goal is to keep these projects realistic enough to shoot over a few weekends and finish properly.

Everyone who works on the project will be credited.

NOFC-produced community shorts are produced under New Orleans Film Club.

Post-production will stay centralized through NOFC so the project can be finished, organized, and released properly.

Directors, writers, actors, and collaborators may be involved through feedback and review, but final delivery, footage management, and use of the New Orleans Film Club name or branding will require NOFC approval.

This process will probably evolve as we learn what works. The goal is not to make a perfect system right away. The goal is to create a clear and welcoming path for people who want to help build a short film together, learn by doing, and be part of a finished community project.

If you’re interested in being part of the next NOFC community short, come to Script Workshop, share ideas, meet people, and hang back when we announce a community short development session.