Short Cinema Journal

Short Cinema Journal, commonly presented under the shorter title SHORT, was a DVD magazine centered on independent short films and related film culture. Rather than functioning as a conventional print periodical, it used the DVD format to package curated moving-image programming with editorial material, including interviews and documentaries. Its proposition was to give short-form and independently produced work a dedicated distribution channel at a time when DVD offered a practical way to circulate film collections beyond theatrical exhibition and traditional broadcast schedules. The first three issues were released through PolyGram Filmed Entertainment. Following changes associated with PolyGram's corporate reorganization, the title was taken up by Warner Bros. Home Video. Warner subsequently reissued the first three issues during 1999 and 2000 and used SHORT as the principal title for the publication. Later releases also included international editions, identified as Short International Release. The broader publishing concept was connected with other online or adjacent content initiatives, including Circuit: A Music Journal and Young Cinematographer, although the available reference material does not establish the precise corporate or editorial relationship among all of these properties. Beginning with issue 4, the magazine incorporated commercial advertisements into its DVD programming. These advertisements could not be skipped or fast-forwarded, making the later issues materially different from the earlier releases in their presentation and viewing experience. The change illustrates how a niche DVD editorial product attempted to support distribution and production through advertising while retaining a curated, magazine-like format. Reference material also connects the parent organization of SHORT with venture-backed media and technology activity involving East West Capital, Allen & Company in New York, QuickBand Networks, and On2 Technologies. It further mentions a later renaming of the parent company to 2014, associated with a Pacific Avenue address in Venice, California, and describes 2014 as an early content start-up to receive venture funding in Venice. The available information does not clearly identify the legal ownership chain, the exact dates of these corporate changes, or the current operating status of Short Cinema Journal. Accordingly, the brand's present status, corporate parent, headquarters, and commercial availability remain uncertain, although the title has been described as available online.

Short Cinema Journal emerged as a specialist DVD publication for independent short films. Its format combined a collection of short-form moving images with the editorial conventions of a journal, including interviews and documentaries. This distinguished it from a single-film home-video release: the product was designed as a recurring or issue-based platform for presenting multiple works and surrounding them with contextual material. The first three issues were distributed through PolyGram Filmed Entertainment. PolyGram's subsequent reorganization changed the title's distribution circumstances, after which Warner Bros. Home Video acquired or took over its release. Warner used the name SHORT and re-released the first three issues in 1999 and 2000. The Warner period also expanded the concept through international release issues, referred to as Short International Release. The reference material indicates that the title remained available online, but it does not provide enough information to establish a complete publication run, a definitive end date, or the precise relationship between physical DVD distribution and later online availability. The content scope extended beyond narrative short films. The magazine included interviews and documentaries, supporting a broader interest in independent filmmaking and the people involved in production. Related properties named in the source material include Circuit: A Music Journal and Young Cinematographer. These titles suggest an associated interest in music and filmmaking culture, but the available evidence does not specify whether they were separate brands, editorial sections, or formally integrated products. A significant format change occurred with issue 4. From that issue onward, commercial advertisements were embedded in the DVD experience and could not be bypassed through fast-forwarding or skipping. This introduced a more conventional advertising-supported media model into the product while also changing how viewers experienced the programmed material. Corporate references associated with the title mention investors East West Capital and Allen & Company in New York, the sale of QuickBand Networks to On2 Technologies, and a later parent-company renaming to 2014. The material links 2014 to an address on Pacific Avenue in Venice, California, and characterizes it as the first content start-up to receive venture funding in Venice. These references are insufficient to reconstruct a reliable ownership timeline for Short Cinema Journal, and no current parent, executive roster, financial information, or confirmed website is available. The brand should therefore be treated as historically documented but of uncertain present status.

• 2000

  Completion of the first-issue re-release cycle

  [1]Short Cinema Journalen.wikipedia.org

  The Warner re-release program for the first three issues continued through 2000.

• 1999

  Warner reissues the first three issues

  [1]Short Cinema Journalen.wikipedia.org

  Warner Bros. Home Video began re-releasing the first three issues, with the reissue activity spanning 1999 and 2000.

• Initial release through PolyGram Filmed Entertainment

  [1]Short Cinema Journalen.wikipedia.org

  The first three issues of the DVD magazine were released through PolyGram Filmed Entertainment.

• Warner Bros. Home Video takes over distribution

  [1]Short Cinema Journalen.wikipedia.org

  After PolyGram's reorganization, Warner Bros. Home Video picked up the title and used SHORT as its principal release name.

• Introduction of mandatory advertising from issue 4

  [1]Short Cinema Journalen.wikipedia.org

  Starting with issue 4, commercial advertisements were included in the DVD program and could not be skipped or fast-forwarded.

A niche screen-media and home-video brand positioned around curated independent short films, filmmaker-focused editorial content, and documentary programming distributed in DVD magazine form.

• DVD magazine

  SHORT DVD magazine

  The core product was an issue-based DVD magazine presenting independent short films together with interviews and documentary material. It treated the disc as both a programmed collection and an editorial publication, offering a dedicated outlet for short-form filmmaking outside conventional theatrical or broadcast channels. The first three issues were associated with PolyGram Filmed Entertainment and were later reissued by Warner Bros. Home Video.

• International DVD edition

  Short International Release

  Short International Release was the name used for international editions associated with the SHORT publishing concept. The available material confirms the existence of these international release issues but does not specify their complete market list, release schedule, editorial differences, or final distribution status.

• Related media property

  Circuit: A Music Journal

  Circuit: A Music Journal is identified in reference material as an online or associated content property available alongside SHORT. The source does not clarify whether it was operated as a separate publication, a companion brand, or part of the same corporate portfolio.

• Related film-media property

  Young Cinematographer

  Young Cinematographer is mentioned as another online or related property connected with the SHORT material. Available information does not establish its ownership structure, publication format, or operating dates.

• Shift from PolyGram distribution to Warner Bros. Home VideoStrategy

  Background

  PolyGram Filmed Entertainment handled the first three issues before a corporate reorganization led to Warner Bros. Home Video taking up the title.

  Action taken

  Warner adopted SHORT as the release title and reissued the initial three issues.

  Aftermath

  The title gained a new home-video distributor and was extended through international release issues.

  Source

• Addition of non-skippable advertising from issue 4Strategy

  Background

  Beginning with the fourth issue, the DVD magazine incorporated commercial advertisements into its programmed content.

  Action taken

  Advertisements were made part of the viewing experience and could not be bypassed or fast-forwarded.

  Aftermath

  The product adopted an advertising-supported format, although the available source does not report its commercial results or audience response.

  Source

1. 1Short Cinema Journalen.wikipedia.org