The increasingly rare term "short subject" means approximately the same thing. It is an industry term which carries more of an assumption that the film is shown as part of a presentation along with a feature film. "Short" is an abbreviation for either term. Short films are often screened at local, national, or international film festivals and made by independent filmmakers for non profit, either with a low budget or no budget at all. They are usually funded by film grants, non profit organizations, sponsor, or personal funds. Short films are generally used by filmmakers to gain experience or prove their talent in order to gain funding for future films from private investors, entertainment companies, or film studios. If someone were to make a short film, there are 7 rules that must be followed. 1. The shorter the better 2. Keep the practicalities of writing in mind 3. make it visual 4. find single moments 5. tell a story 6. Engage the reader 7. Beware of clichés.