Short films demand a different approach to storytelling.

Afterimage is a practical guide to writing short film screenplays that actually work on the page.

Most short films fail because they are written like small feature films. They feel rushed, unfocused, or incomplete. Afterimage shows how to build stories specifically for short films, with structure and techniques designed for the unique constraints of the medium.

In this book, you’ll learn how to:
Identify story ideas suited to short films
Structure stories for momentum and resolution
Write action and description with precision
Develop character and conflict with purpose
Avoid common structural and formatting problems
Present your screenplay professionally
Ans much more!

Find Out Why Your Script Isn’t Working in 15 Minutes

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The Afterimage Short Script Diagnostic helps you identify where your script loses clarity, momentum, or emotional impact on a first read.

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About the author

Dustin Moore is a screenwriter and filmmaker whose work has screened at festivals across North America and internationally. He has received recognition from Killer Shorts, Cineverse Austin, and the Filmmatic Horror Screenplay Awards, and has served as a juror for the Junction North International Documentary Film Festival. He was named one of Canada’s 10 Horror Screenwriters to Watch 2025.