What does Whiplash, The Babadook, Sin City, and District 9 have in common? Unknown to many, all these recognizable and highly successful films were made because they were once just proof of concept short films.

In the history of the film industry, studios generally funded films through a few known avenues. For decades, this process was consistent in the business of cinema. In recent years, however, the proof of concept short film has allowed filmmakers to get studios and their executives to pick up full features in a way previously unseen. In this article, we'll dive into the significant difference between a short film and a proof of concept short film, why new directors should be making their proof of concepts to get their features funded; and, how the proof of concept can even serve as a director's best friend in finding future work. This article will provide a fresh look and valuable information on the always evolving, ever changing world of independent filmmaking.