Crafting an impactful ending is one of the biggest challenges when making a short film. As the final moments of your story, the ending leaves a lasting impression on the audience. This is your chance to deliver a memorable payoff after building narrative tension and suspense.
In a short film, every second matters. You don’t have the luxury of drawn-out plot points or excessive dialogue. The ending needs to wrap up your story arc clearly while also having an emotional impact. This requires thoughtful planning and execution.
Follow these tips to learn how to successfully end your short film.
Understand Your Story Arc and Character Journey
Before deciding precisely how your film will end, you need to understand the core elements of your narrative:
- What is the theme or message you want to convey?
- How does your protagonist change from beginning to end?
- What dramatic questions does your story raise?
- What tone are you trying to achieve overall?
Your ending should connect back to the beginning of your short film and bring your protagonist’s inner journey full circle. Review your story beats and analyze if your ending properly resolves your lead character’s arc.
For example, if your film is about a shy girl gaining enough courage to make a speech, your ending must show her finally overcoming this fear. If your story is about two siblings repairing their relationship, the ending may show them rediscovering their bond.
Make sure all of the plot threads and questions raised during the film get sufficiently addressed or answered by the climax. You don’t want viewers left confused or unsatisfied.
Brainstorm Potential Ending Scenarios
Once you understand your narrative goals, ideate different possible ending scenarios. Consider the following:
Open-ended or closed-ended? An open-ended finale leaves some things unresolved to keep the audience guessing. This provokes discussion and debate. A closed ending neatly answers all key questions and resolves the conflict clearly.
Surprise twist? An unexpected plot twist flips the story in a new direction at the very end. This shocks the audience but can feel gimmicky if not set up properly.
Come full circle? Many short films end by coming back to something seen at the very beginning like a location, object, or line of dialogue. This creates nice symmetry.
Is the ending sad or happy? Does your protagonist succeed or fail in their quest? Do they learn a lesson or come out much the same?
Think about your set-up and overall tone. Does the ending align? An ultra-bleak movie probably won’t have a cheerful, upbeat conclusion.
Once you’ve brainstormed several options, evaluate which ending fits your particular story best. The right choice should be consistent with the narrative while also providing a satisfying payoff for viewers.
Choose Visuals that Reinforce the Ending
Great endings use striking visuals to accentuate the final impact. As the saying goes, “Show don’t tell.” Impactful visuals burn into the audience’s memory, reinforcing your storytelling goals.
Some elements to consider:
- Colors: Do certain colors represent ideas or emotions in your film? Reinforce those connections at the end. For example, star-crossed lovers may meet against a red backdrop signifying passion.
- Symmetrical framing: Symmetry in your final shot composition can convey a sense of completion. It brings visual balance as the story comes full circle.
- Motifs and objects: If certain objects or motifs carry meaning in your film, make them central to your ending. For example, a lost hat finding its owner would tie up that motif.
- Locations: Return to a key location from earlier in the film to make the ending feel like a bookend moment. This gives a nostalgic feeling.
- Focus pulls: If one character is losing focus on life’s true path, literally pull focus to sharpen their priorities in the final shot.
The final shot itself also requires meticulous planning. This single image lingers on screen as the credits roll, cementing your film in the audience’s mind. Pick an image with emotional weight and visual impact.
Add the Right Sound and Music
Sound design massively amplifies the ending of any film, especially shorts. Use diegetic and non-diegetic sound strategically to embellish your final moments.
Diegetic sounds
- Voiceover for internal monologue
- Important sound effects like a door closing
- Ambient background noise
Non-diegetic
- Swelling dramatic music
- Subtle sound effects like echoes
- Loud punctuation like glass breaking
Silence at the right moment also carries power. Contrast a long hushed pause after dialogue with a sudden loud cue.
The musical score needs to support the emotional beat you want to land on. Upbeat music conveys a happy or whimsical feeling. Somber, sparse piano notes reinforce a melancholy ending.
You can also use leitmotifs and musical motifs that have played throughout the film to evoke nostalgia as the story wraps up.
Reprising the main theme song instrumentally (no lyrics) during the end credits also nicely bookends your storytelling.
Pace the Final Moments
The pace of your ending sequence affects how viewers perceive the final impact. Some questions to consider:
Should the ending feel slow or quick? Slow motion for an emotional beat works well. But a shocking twist may call for a speedy, jarring sequence of shots.
Is there dialogue or is it pure visual storytelling? Long monologues usually don’t work at the very end, but a few choice lines could resonate.
How long should the final shot linger? Holding the last impactful image for a few long beats cements it for the audience.
Does the camera move or is it a static shot? A slow camera push-in heightens the significance of a moment.
The way you cut between shots also affects pacing. Faster editing accelerates the sequence. Long takes build anticipation.
Whatever the pace, the ending sequence must feel intentional. Don’t rush or drag out your climax. Find the timing and rhythm that maximizes impact.
Conclusion – Short Film Endings
A short film’s ending has immense power to either leave viewers satisfied or disappointed. This culminating moment will color how the audience perceives your overall story. After working so hard to craft your narrative, don’t neglect to stick the landing with a great finale.
By properly resolving your protagonist’s journey, incorporating great visuals, enhancing the mood with sound design, and pacing for maximum impact, your short film can truly soar when it counts most. The ending should feel connected to the beginning but also deliver something unexpected.
Whether your last scene ends with a bang or a tragic whimper, make sure it feels justified and brings your story full circle. Audiences will remember the feeling your final moments evoke long after the credits stop rolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should a short film end?
A short film should end by resolving the main conflict or question raised in the story, completing your protagonist’s arc, and leaving a strong emotional impact through visuals, sound, and pacing. Avoid abrupt or confusing endings.
What makes a good ending to a film?
A good film ending connects back to the beginning, provides a satisfying payoff, aligns with the overall tone, resolves character arcs, answers key questions, and lingers impactfully after the credits roll.
What do you say at the end of a film?
Some common text at the end of films includes “The End”, the final quote or line of dialogue, or poetic text encapsulating the theme. You can also dedicate the film to someone.
How do I end my script?
End your script by briefly describing the final emotional story beat rather than writing excessive detail. Leave the audience with a strong visual that sums up the essence of your story.
Is 5 minutes too short for a short film?
5 minutes is not too short. Many acclaimed short films are under 5 minutes long. Focus on telling a concise story that delivers emotional impact in the limited runtime.
What makes a powerful ending?
A powerful ending often includes surprise, strong emotion, beautiful visuals, motivated camera moves, meaningful resolution, an impactful final shot, poignant music, and deliberate pacing.
How do you stand out in film?
Stand out by having a unique voice and vision, taking risks with story and style, featuring diversity and inclusion, leveraging striking visuals, and encouraging audiences to see the world differently.
What makes a film stand out?
Films stand out through innovative cinematography, excellent acting performances, an original score, exploring uncharted territory, sparking conversation and controversy, or excelling in a specific genre.
