How has analysing short films inspired my own production?

Analysing short films has greatly helped me gather inspiration for my own short film. Each frame must carefully be set up to portray meaning to the audience, and be visually appealing to the eye. Sound and editing also have to be taken into consideration, as to give the short film a professional-looking appeal.

From analysing the short film 'Heart Work', it is evident that it is important to portray the protagonist of the film, Sophie, in a light which portrays her personality. Her costume is an vital part of this. It may also be a good idea to show Sophie using something like an iPod or a phone, as this will show her age group. 'Heart Work' also uses camera movement to effect. Seeing as my short film will be focusing on the usage of drugs, this may be a good technique to use. Camera movement distorts the audience, and allows them to empathize with how the characters are feeling. Lighting in 'Heart Work' is also used to portray meaning. There is a direct contrast between the lighting of the train station and the lighting of the urban area. The lighting portrays safety in one scene, and has the opposite effect in another. In my short film I will use the lighting in the ballet studio to portray safety, and the dim lighting of the street to unsettle the audience.

The analysis of 'Loved On Water' was very useful to my own production. The short film used sound to great effect. Throughout the short film the sounds of the ocean can be heard. This gives the audience a preferred reading, and makes them feel calm as the events on screen play out. For my own short film I will also use sound to portray a preferred reading. There will be one setting in a confined alleyway. The sound I will use here will be low, tension-building music. This short film also uses colour for effect. It uses cold, harsh colours (bright white and dull blue) which coincides with the shots of the sea. This continuality makes the audience feel more involved in the narrative. I will consider using this technique in my own production. Throughout 'Loved On Water' there are sound bridges. These sounds carry over two scenes, and ease them gently into one another. This is a good way of keeping the audience involved in the action which they are seeing on screen.

Both 'Heart Work' and 'Loved On Water' do not reveal the identity of the characters for a short while. I will do this in my own production. The film will begin by showing Sophie dancing, yet the audience will only see fragments of her body. This keeps the audience interested, as they will not know the identity of the protagonist.

Costume

Sophie Evergreen

 In the first scene of our film, the character Sophie will be dressed in a typical ballet dancer outfit including a leotard and dancing shoes.

In the second part of our film Sophie will be dressed more casually in her own clothes for going out. The contrast between the two costumes shows a divide between the two aspects of Sophie's life and how she feels she has to chose betweern them.

Evanna Evergreen

 
Because we dont see Evanna's face in our film, it is important that her costume reflects her personality. We want her to look 'prim and polished' to reflect her demanding nature over her daughter.

*Edit:*

Due to Evanna no longer being in the film, we no longer require her costume.

Shot list for Flight

First scene - Dance Studio
Camera is still in dance studio, Sophie is in corridor and turns on light. We see the light stream through the glass door. Establishing shot.
Close up/tracking of Sophie's feet walking to studio.
Close up of Sophie, waist down, walking through door.
Close up of specific parts of Sophie's body, stretching.
Camera pans up to Sophie starting to dance. --Music Starts-- 
*Various dance shots* *Collaged together to symbolize ellipse of time*
Long shot of Sophie walking out of room.
Camera slowly pans backwards in the studio and we see Sophie press the light switch, the room is plunged in darkness.

Scene Two - Sophie's Bedroom

--Classical Music fades into being played on a CD Player--
Medium shot of Sophie turning off the radio.
Medium close up of Sophie's face looking out window, sun flare.
Medium shot of Sophie turning on the CD Player and raising her arm ballet like.
Long shot of Sophie taking off her ballet shoes.
Close up of Sophie putting them in her ballet box.

Medium close up of Sophie looking in mirror and putting make-up on. (behind view)
Medium close up of Sophie's face, her still putting make-up on. (Front view)
Scene dramatically cuts to next street scene.

Scene Three - The Street

-- Music Speeds up, starts getting quicker --
Cuts to shot of Sophie's feet walking down street (jump cuts/animation)

Medium shot of Sophie drinking from alcohol bottle
Close up of Sophie buying drugs from man (jump cuts/animation)
*Various street shots TBD included here*

Long shot of Sophie walking into toilets. (jump cuts/animation)

Scene Four - Public Toilets

Close up of Sophie splashing face with water and looking at herself in mirror.

Camera pans backwards as toilet door shuts.
-- Music dramatically stops --
*Credits/Film Name appears of back of door*

Character Profiles

Sophie Evergreen

 played by Leanne Clarke

Sophie was born in the urban area of Hammersmith in London, November 12th,1993. She moved to the countryside district of Kent due to her father's commitments to his work. Sophie lives with her mother, Evanna, and father, John, as an only child. Sophie enjoys numerous activities, including horse-riding, swimming, badminton and ballet, which her mother is passionate for her daughter to pursue later in life, and encourages her to attend three times a week. She is a student at a public school, where she achieves above average grades. Despite her academical achievement, however, she has very little close friendships, due to her commitment to her ballet dancing. Sophie's ambition in life is to have a career in architecture, although she appreciates the time and effort her mother put into her dancing.

Evanna Evergreen

played by

Evanna is Sophie's mother. She pressures her daughter into a career of ballet-dancing, due to it being a previous, and still exisistant passion of hers. Despite her strict and professional approach, she has good intentions, and only wishes for her daughter to succeed. She has always accompanied Sophie to her ballet dancing classes from a young age, and has never missed any important recitals. Evanna teaches Sophie privately in their own dance studio, to ensure her success. Due to her motives for her daughter's success, a distance between mother and daughter has developed. Evanna has a high sense of self-worth, and prides herself in her appearance. The family's social status is of high value to Evanna and her husband.

Flight Information

Narrative
The narrative of 'Flight' is about a young woman tries to escape the pressures of her mother. Instead of conforming to her mother's wishes she resorts to hedomism. The narrative focuses on the young girls struggles of balancing two lifestyles - her mother's wishes and her own.

Location
We have decided to keep the locations to a minimum, to show the vast contrast between her two lifestyles. This also allows the audience to connect with her character and the narrative easier. We have settled on the dance studio, in which her mother is pressuring her to become a ballet dancer, the street (briefly), public toilets and the girl's bedroom.

Genre
The genre of 'Flight' is social realism, with elements of drama. We chose this genre to allow the themes of drug culture to be as realistic as possible which will result in a more effective, hard-hitting film.

Characters
There will be three characters in Flight, although the primary focus will be on the girl. The other two characters, the mother and the drug dealer will remain anonomous, thus to allow the audience to focus more on the girl and her story.

Genre Information

• Horror – Horror films make the audience feel uneasy. They are usually set in dark, gruesome locations which immediately set the tone of the film. Many horrors contain scenes which shock or even repulse viewers, by containing scenes of physical attack. Horrors contain multiple scenes of death, and usually revolve around one or more character(s) trying to escape from a gruesome fate. Camera-work is often shaky to convey character emotion, and music is normally low-pitched and foreboding. Titles include 'Saw', 'Final Destination' and 'Frakenstein'.
• Comedy – Comedy films are split directly into two target audiences – adult and children. Adult comedy focuses on putting a comedic twist on real-life situations, and often contains scenes of sex, swearing and violence. Children's comedy films, however, are much more light-hearted and portray loveable characters. Titles include 'RV', 'Yes Man' and 'The Inbetweeners Movie'
• Drama – Drama films tend to focus on one character, and show how they battle any problems which present themselves in their life. They can be set in a range of eras, ranging from period to modern. The target audience also varies, ranging from teenagers to adults. Drama films tend to present situations to the audience which they can relate to, and normally have some kind of moral issue behind it. Titles include 'Pride and Prejudice'.
• Thriller -Thriller films often use a range of tense music, past-paced editing and long silences to create tension within the audience. The thriller genre is often closely linked with horror, as both make the audience feel uneasy and anxious. However, thriller films usually play more of the mental side of the human mind, rather than focuses on physical deformation. Titles include 'Panic Room', 'Flight Plan' and 'Cry Wolf'.
• Fantasy – Fantasy films create a sense of escapism for the viewer. They either take place in a completely fictitious setting or take a different spin on one which already exists. Many fantasy films are often based from novels. Titles include 'Lord of the Rings', 'Stardust' and 'Alice In Wonderland'.
• Family – Family films are ones which appeal to a wide target audience, meaning that the whole family enjoy them. They are often linked with the Adventure and Comedy genres, and are very likely to be animated. They are normally unrealistic and provide a sense of escapism. Titles include 'Up', 'Cars' and 'Shrek'.
• Adventure – Adventure films sees the protagonist embark on a journey or epic quest. They are normally high-budget films and created by major Hollywood studios. These, too, are unrealistic and provide escapism and entertainment for the viewer. Titles include 'Lord of the Rings', 'Eragon' and 'Toy Story 3'
• Romance – Typically, romantic films focus on the relationship of two people. It shows how they meet, and how they over-come the troubles which they both face. Close-ups are frequently used, which allows the audience to understand the character's emotions. Long shots are also used, normally portraying to the audience a sense of deep thought or isolation. The music used consists of pianos and violins, which connotes to the viewer a sense of emotion. Titles include 'The Notebook', '500 Days of Summer' and 'PS, I Love You'. 
  
  
  From this reasearch we have decided to create a drama short film. We feel that this will be the genre in which we can compose the most meaning to the audience through cinematography, sound and editing. We can also explore morals through this genre, which will be a large theme in our short film. We think that we will create a modern drama, as opposed to period drama, as it will relate more to our target audience of teenagers.

Key words

Below are some words which describe the short film. We have decided to focus the film around drug use and narcotics, and from extensive research into the area, it is evident that the themes listed below arise again and again in the media shown. Therefore, to make our film as realistic as possible, we listed the themes which are linked to drug use to allow ourselves to make the production as hard-hitting as it could possibly be. Also, creating the list below clearly defines what the audience expect, meaning that it may be beneficial to go against what the audience anticipate in order for the film to be effective and hard-hitting.

Short Film Analysis: Heartwork

The very first thing we see in 'Heartwork' is a shot of blurred lights. The camera moves quickly to the right. This immediately disorientates the audience and is a good way to represent the general theme and mood of the film. Music then begins to play as a shot of rubbish on a train-track is shown. The music sounds electronic, and makes the viewer feel uncomfortable. The repetitive music adds to the urbanized location in which this short film is set, which is perhaps an extended metaphor for the repetitiveness of every day routine. We then see a shot of a girl sitting on a bench. This is intercut with several close ups, including her hair, her headphones and her eyes. The use of editing is effective. An eye-line match is used, which shows the girl looking at train times above her. This allows the audience to connect with her, and shows her purpose in this scene. The editing is quick and fast-paced, despite the slow music. It also shows the girl smoking a cigarette. This mixed with his headphones, this immediately gives the audience a sense of her age group - teenage/young adult. The night-time setting reinforces this idea. The camera is frequently positioned in such a way so that we do not see the girl's face fully. This means that the audience cannot read her facial emotions, which adds an element of mystery to her character. A train arrives, and when the character sits down we finally see her face. The frame consists of the character on the right, sitting down, and the window on the left. Rain droplets fall down the window, causing lights on the outside to be amplified. Close-ups of the window are intercut with images of the girl. This represents her disengagement in her current mental state. The scene then cuts to show the girl sitting at a bar, alone. This shows her sense of isolation. A man then comes over, and there is no dialogue, instead we just see her facial expressions. The lighting the bar is low, yet feels warmer than the train. This creates a sense of safety in the urban area. The camera cuts to a night-club as a louder beat can be heard playing in the soundtrack. The lighting here is blue and dark, which is in direct contrast to the safety of the bar. Despite the newly introduced drum-beat in the soundtrack, the music is still relatively dull. This matches the visuals which we see, which appear to be slowed down. This makes the setting seem dream-like. The shots of the girl dancing have her in focus, and do not clearly show any other people. This shows us that the narrative is pivotal around her. We then see the girl standing against a wall smoking. The lighting on her is dark, yet in the other half of the screen is the same un-natural blue of the club. This shows her detachment from everyone else in the scene. A man then dances with girl, and the camera work becomes less stable and moves with more energy. The music also intensifies. This suggests the intimacy between the two characters.

Short Film Analysis: Coasting

The short film 'Coasting' begins with a medium close up of an elderly lady peering into the distance. The fact that the woman is in the first shot immediately hints to the audience know that she will be the main, pivotal character within the narrative. I feel that doing this is effective as it certainly grips the viewer and raises questions about her worried facial expressions. The shallow depth of field used further enhances the idea that she will be important within the short production. The positioning of the title 'Coasting' next to her face shows that she will be in control of the narrative. The way that this scene is set out is visually appealing, as each item within the frame has it's own individual place. Upon putting my own title in my short film I shall ensure that it looks as though it is meant to be there, as it does in 'Coasting', as opposed to it being an unnecessary add-on.  The ambient sounds of nature - mainly birds tweeting - sets the scene without it being too blatant, and enhances the visuals which are being shown on screen. The length of cut of the woman staring is long enough for the audience to embrace her facial expression, yet not too long so that they do not get bored of the idle frame. Gentle piano music then begins to play, hinting at a lighter-themed production as opposed to one which deals with harsh themes. Due to the fact that my own production will be darker-themed, it will be necessary to use the appropriate sounds (whether that be music or ambient sounds) to convey meaning. Despite the fact that the two elderly women are seen to be speaking, there are several shots - like a close up of leaves - in between the dialogue used. This effectively breaks up the medium close up shots and engages the attention of the audience. The close up which is used to convey the woman's expression whilst the other lady is talking is also effective, as it allows the audience to digest the information which is being given to them whilst another character does too. Effectively, this tells the audience how to feel to the dialogue which is being heard. I personally feel that the numerous nature shots which are used are effective, as they are all visually appealing. The shot which tracks the movement of the seagull flying further shows the setting of the film, and also breaks up the long, slow moving takes which were shown previously. Shallow depth of field is used when the woman in the red-jacket is speaking, yet this is only done for a couple of seconds. Then there is a depth of field used, where the red-jacket lady is blurred, yet the other woman is in shot. The amount of time between the two women being in focus is dramatically different, as the second lady is shown for a more substantial amount of time. This shows who the attention of the viewer should be focused on. I will consider using this technique within my own short film. The light-hearted dialogue between the two characters seems to contrast the dark surroundings used - as the colours portrayed in the location are mainly dark green and grey. This shows that the two women are perhaps not used to being in this environment, as they stand out substantially, due to the colour of bright red used for both of the character's costumes. The light-hearted ending of the film is enhanced with the sounds used, the gentle sound of music playing in the background. This is effect as it leaves the viewer feeling up-lifted, and condenses the tone of the film into a short shot. The weaknesses of this short film are that the shallow depth of field technique is used too frequently. I feel that this takes away from it's overall effect of showing meaning to the viewer, as they are more likely to become aware of the blatant portrayal of meaning. I feel that subtler methods should have been used. 

Short Film Sound Analysis: "2:20"

I have decided to conduct a sound analysis into a short film. I feel that this will allow myself and my creative team to gain an academic insight into how sound is used in short films. From analysing purely the sound of the short video below I hope to gain inspiration for my own film - 'Flight'.



The short film begins with the sound of a female voice, although this only lasts for a brief second. The second most evident sound which I picked up was the sound of a text alert. This sound immediately lets the audience know that the narrative of the short production will take place in the modern-day setting. I feel that this is of the utmost importance as this use of sound immediately sets the time period in which the film takes place through the use of a modern, familiar noise. Accompanying this is the sound of a female singer, who appears to be singing in a foreign language. This adds a sense of culture to the scene and suggests that the film will not be set in the United Kingdom. Following this is the noise of rattling, with an odd sound effect in the background. This is an uncomfortable noise for the audience to hear, as it is quite loud and is not a noise that can be pin-pointed. Footsteps can be heard, suggesting that a character is pushing something made of metal. The distorted noise in the background gradually becomes more prominent in the film. This is effective as instead of an immediate rise in the noise, is gradually builds up as the film progresses, which, in my opinion, engages the audience more effectively. Several noises can be heard in the area, although they seem to be far off and distant. This suggests that the character is distant from society and is possibly isolated. I prefer this method of portraying distance to the more prominent obvious methods. Portraying distance through sound creates a more subtle feel which involves the audience into the story which is being told through micro elements. The music - now accompanied by drums being hit quietly, gradually increases, which also makes the viewer feel slightly uncomfortable. The sound almost predicts that a crucial event is going to happen, which increases tension amongst the audience. A siren, presumably from an ambulance, can be heard very quietly in the background of the sound. The sound adds to the increasing tension and anxiety. The diagetic sound of the ambulance gradually increases, added with the distorted, low, music which plays, further increasing the element of foreshadowing events which seems to run through this production. I feel that this is effective, as foreshadowing events through sound gives the viewer a clear idea of what is happening, without giving away crucial elements of the plot. The sound of the ambulance then gradually gets lower, allowing a slight relief in tension. Instead, the noise is replaced with Sci-Fi elements, noises which seem to be futuristic. The non-diegetic sound seems out of place within the narrative, due to the fact that the noises that were heard previously seemed to be either ambient or diagetic. This hints at there being a crucial plot change which has been reflected through the use of sound. However, although the sound of the siren is now no longer to be heard, the increasing level of sound and music still remains, hinting that the danger is perhaps not over. The Sci-Fi sounds soon leave the film, before returning a few seconds later. This shows how necessary these noises are to the narrative of the short film. The sound of a heart-beat monitor can then be heard amongst the futuristic sounds and low, foreboding music, which hints at elements of a human life being in danger. This is further reinforced by the sound of the ambulance heard previously. I feel that this is a very effective method of linking themes together by using sound, and will definitely consider using this within my own short film. Reoccurring themes through sound certainly engage the audience more effectively with the prominent elements of the plot. The foreign-sounding music then returns, further enhancing this idea of distortion. Soon, the sound then increases to a great crescendo, a mixture of many of the noises and sounds previously heard in the production returning, yet louder than before. This increases tension amongst the audience and shows how important this moment is within the film. The final noise within the film "2:20" is the noise of an approaching vehicle, which soon cuts off dramatically, signifying the end of the film. The last piece of sound heard by the audience is arguably the most important, as it is what the audience is left to think about. I will consider using this use of a dramatic build-up which then cuts to silence in my own film, portraying the key moment within the film.

Inspiration: 'The A Team' Music Video

Despite the fact that Ed Sheeran's music video 'The A Team' is not a short film production, I have found some interesting ideas which were used within the film. Firstly, the use of colour is very effective, as it offers an immediate insight into the tone of the film. The black and white colouring is not a harsh contrast, either, it seems to be a gentle blur between the two, offering gentle greys and dark white colours which suggest a blur between two different lifestyles. However, having said this, there is no option of colour throughout the whole film, portraying the state of mind the young woman in question has. The music video itself begins with a medium close up of a young woman crying, suggesting that the narrative will focus on her and her struggles. I feel that this is effective as immediately gives an insight to the audience on whom to focus on. The first shot is quite a long cut, allowing the audience to see her emotions clearly. However, the clip does not last too long, to ensure that the audience's attention remains. It is necessary to ensure that the length of cuts are just right. The camera seems to be hand-held, as it occasionally wobbles or shakes when panning down to show a dead body of a woman. The use of camera-work is representative of the woman's emotions, as she appears to be currently traumatised over the death of who the audience presume is her friend of relative. There is then a rather sudden shot of a close up of the face of the dead woman with open eyes. The camera pans outwards gradually, signifying the distance of the dead woman from being alive. The camera blurs as it does so, which enhances this idea further. I feel that this is a very effective method of engaging the audience as it combines two different camera techniques to ensure that the audience's attention has been captured, and that they understand the tone of the film. I will consider using a similar technique of using slightly blurry images in my own production to portray meaning to the audience. The shot then cuts to black dramatically for a couple of seconds, before showing a woman lying on a bench. This use of black colour hints that the death of the woman is yet to come. The use of a non-linear narrative engages the viewers attention effectively as the audience want to know when and how the woman died. I like this idea of not having a linear narrative as I feel that it will gain attention to my own production, despite perhaps alienating some members of the audience. The shot of the woman laying on the bench is a long shot, within which no other people can be seen. This shows the idea of isolation and distance from dominant ideology. The clothing that she is wearing suggests that she is of a low class, and immediately gives information to the audience in regards to her character. The next shot the audience see is the young woman admiring nature, in particular a tree. This further shows the distance between herself and dominant ideology, as many people within society do not take time to stop and appreciate the natural beauty the world has to offer. The editing here consists of many short takes which have been added together to create a scene which effectively grabs the audience's attention. As the woman continues to appreciate nature, the camera continually has the hand-held effect, symbolising the state of the character's lifestyle. The next sequence of shots show the woman visiting the town. The shots here are also in quick succession, which makes the audience wonder where the woman is going. As the woman sells 'The Big Issue' magazine to potentially try to better her lifestyle, she then leaves the area. There is a blurred shot, consisting of an urban area shown through the use of blurred lights. The character then steps forwards, leaving the blurred lighting behind her, thus symbolising her wanting to shift her lifestyle choice. The use of shallow depth of field also shows how important she is as a character in regards to the narrative of the production. There is then a mid shot of the woman standing with her back to the viewer, observing the city before her. The editing used here is very effective as the world around her has been sped up significantly, whereas she remains at the same speed, further enhancing the idea of isolation. I really like this idea and will consider using it within my own short film production, as I feel that it is an effective way of showing isolation from society to the audience. This technique is repeated for a longer duration in the music video, which I feel deducts from it's initial effect as it has the potential to bore the audience. From noting this observation I will ensure that editing techniques within my own short film are used sparingly to ensure that I enhance their effects to their full potential. Following this is a very emotive shot of the woman in question crying. The fact that the shot is a close up allows the audience to clearly see her saddened emotions. This shot is synchronous to the lyrics which can be heard, which only make the shot more emotionally hitting. There is a pivotal shot of the woman trying to fix her appearance in a mirror. I feel that this is a very effective shot as it portrays the woman's possibility of having a dual lifestyle. I will consider capturing the use of mirrors in my own film to portray a deeper meaning. The shots are slowed down significantly, suggesting the anguish of her trying to break back into the accepted ideology which resides within society. The next scene is of a dimly lit area, which is only lit by car headlights. This shows the urbanised setting and the area in which the character resides. As the car drives off, with the girl in it, so does a nearby train. This signifies a shift in the character's lifestyle. I feel that this will be good to use in my own production if I need to symbolise a significant change. Another significant shot within the music video is the slowed down exchanging of money for drugs. I really like this shot as it symbolises the significance of drug culture, and how important of a decision it was for the woman to make, as drugs may be her last form of escape. The woman holds the drug up for the camera to clearly see. This shot appears to be slowed down. The following shots where the woman prepares to take the drug are speeded up. The binary opposites in speed here is effective as it shows the distorted feelings the woman currently has. The end of the film shows shots of nature (mainly the sky) with the character's face embedded onto the scene, suggesting that she has moved on.

Short Film Analysis: Loved On Water

The short film 'Loved On Water' begins with the sound of a fog horn, accompanied by waves rolling towards the camera. The sound matches the video, and immediately sets the scene and general vibe for the viewer. As the titles appear, more waves crash towards the camera. This use of cinematography makes the viewer feel uncomfortable, as it makes the audience feel confined. The editing flows well, as the titles to the film appear when the waves get closest to the camera. This gives the feeling of the titles being washed up onto the screen, which is very effective. The sound of footsteps fading in and out can be heard as the camera changes it's angle. This distorts the viewer, as footsteps cannot be heard int he sea. It does, however, link the two locatons effectively - the ocean and the room. It is a good way to introduce the audience to this second location without disorientating them. As the camera pans up to show a man, it is mostly out of focus. This may represent the man's current mental state, and intriuges the viewer as to why he may be feeling this way. Following this is a close up of his face, which briefly allows us to see his facial expression. This lets us connect with the character. The camera then quickly cuts to a mid shot of the man. It shows him sitting, alone, at a table. This quick cut is used well here, as it shows his detachment. A second man dressed in a suit appears on the screen and joins the man. The positioning of this shot works well, as the man is sitting on the left of the screen, whereas the suited prson is, at first, standing on the right. This gives the second character a sense of power and authority as the man plays with his hands in anxiousness. The stranger's head is also off screen, meaning that we cannot see his face. This adds an element of mysteriousness to the character. Two cups can be seen at the bottom right of the frame, adding a sense of friendliness to the otherwise dreary setting. The lightning throughout this scene is very effective, as it is quite low. This adds shadows and is relatively dull in comparison to the bright white table at the bottom of the shot. The second man then sits down. Despite the fact that he is no longer towering over, he stills seems to hold authority. His clothes are of a high quality, and suggest a sense of wealth. The man on the left of the screen, however, is wearing just  a t-shirt, and his hair is rather messy. This suggests a divide between the two characters already. Both of their tones are low and warning, which highlights the tension between the two of them. As the suited man sorts through his files, and camera cuts to a panning shot of a blurry street. As the camera travels down the street we still hear the rustling of his paper-work. This is an effective way of linking the two scenes together, without alienating the audience. During their conversation, the blurry image of the street frequently appears. The mise-en-scene here is effective the street seems out of focus, and has very low lighting. This suggests that the street may be part of a memory. As their conversation progresses, the man on the left takes off his glasses. This could be interepreted to mean that he has lost the upper hand in the interrogation. A hooded figure is shown on the street as they continue their conversation. At this point, the audience has no idea who this third character is, yet he seems to hold some importance as the camera keeps cutting back to him. This emphasises his importance. The mystery of the character also keeps the audience engaged with the narrative. As the short film continues, music gradually builds up. At first it is hazy and makes the audience feel detached. However, the sound of a piano can soon be heard. This gives a fantasy dream-like element to the film. As the mystery character, whom we now presume is his son, heads to the sea, the cinematography is used to great effect. An over the shoulder shot is used, which shows the boy in the forground and the sea infront of him. This makes him seem almost insignificant in comparison to the sea. As the boy progresses into the water, the camera gets droplets on it as it shakes fairly violently. In comparison to the delicate music playing overhead, this almost makes the scene look inviting. The colours which can be seen a dominantly white, grey and light blue, which makes the audience feel calm. A lot of the shots of the boy body-boarding appear to be slowed down, which makes the scene seem dream-like. The sound of the piano gradually begins to fade out, and is instead replaced with the sounds of water and waves. This makes this scene seem more realistic, and emphasises the importance of the man's voice over. The camera then cuts to a close up of the boy's face, which portrays his anguish at losing his father. The final credits roll over a shot of the sea, adding a sense of detachment.

Short Film Analysis: Unkle 'The Answer'

The opening if this short film shows an establishing shot of the sun setting over a beautiful landscape. The shot changes to show waves pouring over a beach, and then again to show a silheutte of a man stretching. Many scenes are shown like this one, which suggests that the two different forces- man and nature. All of these shots are in slow motion, which gives the impression that an event is building up. The sounds which can be heard are the sounds of waves crashing, mixed with  gentle music playing overhead. A mid shot is used of people diving under water, which is shot in slow motion. This allows the audience to see every piece of detail, which represents how beauitful nature really is. The audience then see numerous shots of people doing different activities. As we see this, up-beat, ambitious music plays overhead. The use of colour is pure: the mountains are white and are covered with snow, and the sea is a deep blue. This colours do not appear to be edited, which shows that man-kind does not need tricks to make the world appear more inviting than it already is. There is then a shot of a three men, and a close up is used. An arc shot is used, which allows the audience to see that the next few shots will be related to them. However, directly after this, a long shot is used, which depicts numerous people standing in the sea. This reveals that human kind is perhaps insiginificant. The fact that the whole of the short film is in slow motion shows us that the director wanted use to take notice of every single detail of each shot- whether that be the emotions on the men's faces, the snow being sprayed, or the droplets of water on their skin.

Short Film Analysis: Unkle Feat. Nick Cave 'Money and Run'

Within the opening sequence it depicts a man getting ready, and checking himself in the mirror. The fact that the room has several mirrors around connotes a sense of vanity and self-indulgence. The background music begins to play quietly, and suggests a sense of impending doom. When the music begins to play, the screen shows a setting, of a group of men talking on the phone, writng and talking to one another. The lighting is very dark and suggests that they are operating outside of society's rules. As the short film progresses, the music becomes louder and louder, suggesting a sense of anorchy. The film itself represents the state of modern society, and how some people are allowed to operate outisde of society's rules. Medium close-ups are frequently used of the men's faces. This allows the audience to see their emotions, whether it's anger, confusion or excitement. Throughout the film long shots are used which shows scenes of nature to the audience. Then, the group of men enter the shot. This represents how in modern society how destructive humans can be. Intercut with the scenes of nature, is a scene of the men in a dining hall. The props used here show indulgence and extravagence, which allows the audience to know that the men care about themselves, and only themselves. This is shown by the use of close ups of candles, silver cutlery and golden curtains. The men in the short film are also quite dominant, and this is shown by both character positioning and character actions. The men push another man into a swimming pool, they are above him laughing at him, whilst the man is in the pool, beneath them. This shows to the audience that they only care about themselves, and have no regard for other people's feelings. In one part of the film, a mid shot is used of a black, posh car driving in a run down area. The men taunt people who live in that area, suggesting that they think that they are better than them. This shows that social class is still rife into today's society. A long shot is later used, depicting a woman wrapped in a towel running away from a man. This is shown in slow motion, which represents the woman's desperate struggle to escape from the male dominant enviroment. This shows that the men only see woman as objects. The whole short film is an extended metaphor, representing how society is selfish and indulgent, and how nobody seems to care for another anymore.