Short Film Analysis: The Heist

Title: The Heist
Director: Alex Greene

	Technique	Effect (Analysis)
Camera – distance, angle, movement	Intentional shaking of camera Over shoulder shot Car Shots Close-ups in car Use of tracking through corridors Zoom on map	By using the intentional camera shake it indicates that the two 'burglars' do not have an idea of what they are doing. Over shoulder shot creates the idea that they are not far too intelligent, metaphoric resemblance to sharing a mind. Long shots of cars presents the idea that they are not making any progress towards their goal, subtle humorous effect. The tracking gives the film a sense of seriousness whilst moving, they followed a cliché style of action hero's, seriousness reversed into humour when boxes are opened. The zoom onto the map whenever its brought out emphasises it as a tool for humour.
Editing – speed, style…	Slow-paced cuts shot-reverse-shot Background blurs/ use of soft focus on character.	Slow-paced cuts adds to the idea that they lack progression, shot-reverse-shot makes it seem as though their just going back and force without progression. Soft focus on characters makes them stand out from the background.
Sound – effects, musical score…	No additional sound at start. Dramatic music starts to play as title comes up Foley sound on carboot, Gun sounds. Music changes from dramatic to mid paced  active music.	Lack of sounds at beginning emphasises the idea of the two characters preparing themselves. Dramatic music adds o the idea of the two getting serious. Foley sounds make things seem more dramatic, two characters look out of place with the preparation, creates humour. Music changes to a paced pseudo action theme  as they walk through corridors, they don't look the part which creates humour.
Mise-en-scene – props, costume, setting, lighting, colour…	Characters appear “Average” One dressed suit+tie other dressed camo-jumpsuit Black Gloves and masks – cliché burglar look Props – fake guns, Map, Careful positioning of characters to show mouths + eyes of actors.	Use of characters which appear average creates a humouress effect as they look like they should not be their yet are fully confident. Use of suit+tie outfit furthers the idea of the characters looking out of place. Other character dressed in camo gear and jumpsuit is binary opposite to the suit and tie apparel, creates idea that the two have no clue what they are really doing, this like of foresight creates humour.
Titles – font, colour, placement, over black / over clip…	Start after car scene Black Screen White Font Capitilised block letters Simple block font Growing effect on title Scrolling credits at end of film.	By using the titles after an initial intro scene, the characters have a small chance to introduce themselves to the audience, the audience becomes aware of whom they are. Black Screen creates a dramatic pause, commonly used in action films, irony as this is a comedy. Simple credits at the end means little to no overlays during footage.

Short Film Analysis: The BREAKS

Title: The BREAKS
Director: Richard Sears

Short Film Survey

In order to Identify my demographic, I have created a survey which I can find the target audience and also find out what they expect from a Short Film.

Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15x-KvETjfIyM_uEdCfYFd7VuSucWCzyAucs6bGjzels/viewform

Short Films and Genre

Much like feature lengths films, short films can also fit the codes and conventions of the ever changing genres. In order to help myself think about the different genres and which one(s) to make use of, I decided to list the basic codes and conventions of each genre to give me a reminder of what each genre entails.

Action
- Use of Violence: Weapons: Guns, Knives
- Provides a sense of believability, despite whether realistic or not
- Use of Explosions, fires, special effects
- Loud Sounds: Gun fire, explosion sounds
- Use of the Good vs Evil Scenario
- Often set in modern time

Thriller
- Low key Lighting
- Quick cut editing
- Tension Building Music
- Foley Sounds (Added Breathing Sounds, foot steeps, creaking doors)
- Scenario of Protagonist at the mercy of Antagonist

Comedy
- Tends to be slotted into other genres subtly
- Pure Comedies tend to be bright, light hearted
- Comedic sound effects, foley sounds on falls
- Cheerful music
- Props often 'silly' used to promote comedic effects/ jokes

Romance
- Typically aimed at female audience
- Boy meets girl scenario
- Dramatic event stirs up relationship
- Emotional character backgrounds
- Can switch from bright and sunny atmosphere to dark and gloomy in a moment.

Short Film Analysis: Post It

Title: Post It
Director: Michael Evans (Youtube)

	Technique	Effect(Analysis)
Camera	·         Opens with scene of males lead travelling to bus stop – Long Mid shot ·         Soft focus on foreground ·         Close-Up on majority of post-it notes used during post scene	·         Focus lets the audience pay further attention to the characters and their actions ·         Close-up on post-its emphasise the characters being ‘good people’ making the audience feel at ease, feel good film
Editing	·         Slow paced cuts between characters ·         Use of montage to hand out the post-its	·         Slow paced cuts created a relaxed feel to the film, allowing the audience to be at peace ·         Montage – making a series of good deeds reflects the happy and positive side that film film wishes to convey
Sound	·         Upbeat happy music plays from start of montage – Cheerful ·         Man’s dialog is slightly broken	·         The use of cheerful happy music creates the idea of how the film is supposed to lift spirits, to show the audience is not all doom and gloom
Mis-en-scene	·         Lighting – Sunny day, bright colours ·         Costume – All characters are wearing bright outfits, all casual clothing ·         Props – Use of the initial box and the Post-Its	·         Use of bright lighting/ sunny atmosphere again adds to the idea of a feel good film, wants to make the audience feel better about themselves ·         Costumes are all bright yet normal everyday clothing to add a sense of realism to the film, to allow the audience to relate to the films characters
Titles	·         Post-It notes used for displaying minor titles ·         Serif font ·         Text is drawn on ·         Movie title is an overlay ·         Credits roll in at end on black screen	·         Use of post it notes when displaying titles creates the theme for the film, allowing the flow of the film to be more fluid ·         Having only the movie title as an overlay creates the idea that the messages behind the film are more important than the name

Short Film Analysis:All that Remains

Title: All That Remains
Director: Gold Point Films (Youtube)

	Technique	Effect(Analysis)
Camera	·         Tracking ·         Zoom on machete when drawn ·         Drifter is shown in longshot ·         Pan up from skull to drifter	·         Drifter is often shown alone in longshots, presents the ideas of loneliness, solitude ·         Zoom on machete at eye level, audience will focus on blood on machete, sense of familiarity can cause discomfort/ fear ·         Drifter doesn’t react to the skeleton as being unusual
Editing	·         Arrows are edited in ·         Blood splatters added on impacts ·         Use of parallel editing ·         Short-reverse-shot	·         Use of blood splatters and gore adds to the ideas of realism as audience realises the characters bleed like any other human ·         Parallel editing shows events happen rarely, however they are fast paced and don’t last long
Sound	·         Foley sounds ·         Ambience Music	·         Use of Foley sounds adds dramatic effect to less dramatic actions, footsteps etc. ·         Ambient sounds only plays whilst the drifter is on screen, presents a sense of solitude ·         Use of footstep sounds presents an idea of exhaustion
Mis-en-scene	·         Costumes – Dark/ Black/ Brown Leather Jackets, scrapped clothing, ragged, cloaks ·         Lighting – Light brown filter ·         Setting – Wasteland, Barren, desert ·         Props – Gun, Machete, Bow, fake blood, Dismemberment	·         Use of clothes which resemble everyday life clothing creates an uneasy relation between the characters and the audience, makes them feel the reality presented is possible ·         Dull brown tint adds to the settings idea of deserted and barren ·         Use of violence and warfare using weapons used in reality adds a sense of familiarity.
Titles	·         Single Title used, channel/ directing groups name	·         Presents the idea that the ones who made the film wanted its audience to focus more on the film, and less on them

Short Film Analysis: In Game

Title: In Game

Director: Josh Stratton (Past A2 Student, Youtube)

	Technique	Effect(Analysis)
Camera	·         Starts with animation ·         Close up of Phone and hands ·         Over shoulder shot of woman playing on the pc, slow pan to the window ·         Rotation of perspective	·         Animation is shown on phone with someone playing it – Provides a sense of reality – common ·         Pan from woman escapes ideas of reality – familiar “Space Invaders” ·         Questioning of reality as perspective changes.
Editing	·         Fast Paced during gun scene ·         Gun shot effects ·         Editing in blood splatters, money drops ·         ‘Sims’ Overlay ·         Phone Game ·         Rotoscoping	·         Use of blood splatters proves humanity – forces identification ·         Money drops are a reference to the famous game series ‘Grand Theft Auto’ – people would recognise the style of violence – discomfort at game events taking place in material world ·         ‘Sims’ overlay provides familiar site through reference. ·         Use of rotoscoping distorts reality.
Sound	·         Makes use of sounds from each reference game, sounds change to match games accordingly ·         No dialog	·         Gun sounds added to create ideas of violence ·         Using sound from the referenced games presents familiarity ·         GunScene – Synchronic sounds – music gets more aggressive as the violence starts. ·         Lack of dialog – causes questioning of whether this is reality
Mis-en-scene	·         Costumes are all casual clothing ·         Props – various guns -  consoles – phone ·         Emotionless whilst shooting	·         Clothing identification could cause discomfort ·         Use of familiar objects in scenes of violence (Phones) could cause further discomfort ·         Emotionless expressions on killers face can force an uncomfortable indintification
Titles	·         Digital Style Intro – Use of Pixels, cliché ‘Digital world’ ideas ·         Use of Bright Colours ·         Black to white Underlay ·         Simple block san-seriff font ·         Red Outline, black text	·         Digital Styling carries the idea of gaming/ technology ·         Text doesn’t ever overly the video