SET SHORT FILMS

Slap (Dir. Nick Rowland, UK, 2015) 25 mins

Plot: ‘A teenage boxer searing for self-definition gives in to his true colours at the risk of losing everything.’

Key Features:

• Unstable / handheld camera used throughout – freedom of camera relates to protagonist’s freedom

• Rule of thirds & central framing have been used to draw attention while negative space & eye room shots have been used to disrupt the audience

• Tracking & pan shots – follows action & zooms in & out to draw attention

• Experimental camera techniques relate to experimental narrative & freedom of characters

• Varying tempo throughout – relates to protagonist’s emotions (fast paced if nervous, slow paced if calm, etc…)

• Match on action editing used to change between locations

• Jump cuts during protagonist’s ‘performance monologue??’ – breaks 4th wall, direct address with audience

• Close ups used to reveal characters emotions & visually create meaning

• Minimal dialogue in conversational scenes – narrative portrayed visually

• Mirrors, glass & reflections used to create disorientation (broken glass – distortion)

• Contrast between protagonist’s interests (boxing & makeup) shows his exploration of his sexuality – freedom - experimenting

• Dialogue / diegetic sound muted in some scenes to disrupt audiences & draw attention to the visual elements of the film – creates tension. Music volume increases / fades in to substitute lack of dialogue

• Returning colour motifs associated with certain characters & locations

• POV shots used to create a connection between the audience & the characters – gives audience a higher understanding of characters situations

 

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Tight Jeans (Dir. Destiny Ekharaga, UK, 2008) 9 mins

Plot: ‘Three black teenagers are becoming frustrated while waiting for their friend. A young white lad walks past wearing super tight jeans. The boys look on until one of them asks the pivotal question, “How can a man wear jeans that tight?” This sparks a hilarious debate about race & culture.’

Key Features:

• Begins with a montage of unrelated shots to establishes location

• Varied tempo & pace which matches the introductory  music - beat match editing

• Shows different social groups – cuts between people & park to show contrast in society

• Varied shot types – full shots, close ups, etc…

• 3 protagonists are wearing bright & vibrant coloured outfits to make them stand out from the setting, which is in more naturalistic colours

• Plot focused around a conversation – conversational dialogue

• Camera constantly moving (slow pan), makes the shots flow whilst also creating instability

• Explores societies views of race & culture

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The Ellington Kid (Dir. Dan Sully, UK, 2012) 5 mins

Plot: ‘Two friends sit in a kebab shop in London. One tells the other a story he’d heard about a boy who’d recently been stabbed by a gang in the street. He’d staggered into the very kebab shop they are sitting in, desperately looking for somewhere to hide, pursued by the gang, looking to finish him off. But he gang hadn’t thought about the shops owners…’

Key Features:

• Diegetic knife sound effects & close ups are used during the title sequence to set the location of the film (kebab shop)

• Rule of thirds, central framing, shot-reverse-shot & the 180 degree rule are used during the conversation scenes between the 2 protagonists – helps give audience an understanding of the setting as well as drawing attention to the characters emotions & performance

• Flashbacks used to show the narrative – cuts between present time & flashbacks while keeping narrated dialogue – sound bridge

• Close ups used to draw attention to certain elements

• Tracking & pan shots used to follow action

• Less-saturated colours used during flashback shots to show a clear difference – returning motif

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Over (Dir. Jörn Threlfall, UK, 2015) 14 mins

Plot: ‘Over presents a crime scene. During the course of 9 wide shots, we watch an intriguing story unfold. What’s happened in this quiet neighbourhood? A murder, hit-&-run, an accident? The reality is profound, & deeply unexpected.’

Key Features:

• Split into 9 key sections to show the events within a day

• Reverse chronological narrative

• Uses overlaying text to display the time & inform the audience

• Series of extreme long shots -

• Static camera throughout – allows audience focus on visuals without being disrupted by movement

• Minimal editing – majority of action takes place within each shot

• Cuts to insert shots of objects / belongings (clothing, torch, money, photograph, etc..) – police evidence

• Only 1 location used - shown from different angles at different times of the day

• Doesn’t have a protagonist or any main characters

• Very minimal dialogue – tells & develops story through visuals

• End with text which shows what the film was about

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Echo (Dir. Lewis Arnold, UK, 2011) 17 mins

Plot: ‘A young girl receives a phone call delivering some tragic news but her unexpected reaction reveals there is more to this call than first appears.’

Key Features:

• Static & unstable camera which emphasizes characters emotions

• Tracking shots used to follow action

• Use of central framing & rule of thirds to draw attention

• Varied shot types – long shots, mid shots, close ups, etc… close up used to show facial expressions & reveal emotions

• Shot-reverse-shot used during conversational dialogue scenes

• Use of reflections – shows perspective & allows audience to reflect on what the characters may be thinking – pull focus used to show both sides of the reflection

• Returning use of cigarettes & lighters, character instability

• Blur & out of focus shots used as graduated transitions – disrupts action

• Slow motion shots draw attention as it allows audience to focus on the scene

• Characters sense of panic is emphasised through increased pace, jump cuts, quick shots, rapid camera movements & unstable camera

•  Ending is ambiguous as audience is left unaware whether the phone call was real or fake – audience interpretation – no obvious meaning

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Operator (Dir. Caroline Bartleet, UK, 2015) 6 mins

Plot: ‘An Emergency Services Operator in a Fire Control Room has just started a long night shift when she picks up a call from a desperate young mother. An hour previously, Gemma had fallen asleep in front of the television & has now woken to find the room full of smoke. Her 3 year old son is trapped in his bedroom upstairs. Flames have started to creep down the stairs that Gemma must use in order to reach him. The operator’s guidance is all the Gemma can rely on in order to survive.’

Key Features:

• Minimal shot types & camera positions – subtle, cinematography doesn’t distract or interrupt audience

• Strong use of close ups – focuses on operator – facial expressions reveal emotions & show reaction – performance

• Relies on performance & sound to create & build tension

• Uses off-screen space to develop the narrative – emphasised through sound

• Camera constantly moving / panning – shows narrative instability

• dialogue delivery, language type, pace / volume / tone of voice etc… helps to inform audience of the characters situation (calm, scared, panicking, assertive)

• Only uses one on-screen location but the use of dialogue allows the audience to interpret & imagine the off-screen location for themselves - imagery

• Conversational dialogue

• Blur & out of focus shots used to transition between shot types

• Central framing & rule of thirds – framing – draws attention

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The Arrival (Dir. Daniel Montanarini, UK, 2016) 5 mins

Plot: ‘Anna contemplates a big decision while waiting for someone in a café.’

Key Features:

• One continuous shot – no visual editing

• Strong use of central framing – draws attention to protagonist

• Establishes location through setting – café

• Dialogue is narrated by protagonist – reveals protagonists though process, gives the audience an insight into their mind

• Questioning herself – unsure, on edge – emphasised through performance

• Camera remains static throughout film but slowly zooms into protagonist to reveal emotions & facial expressions – draws attention

• Low-key lighting, dark surroundings – contrasts to protagonist’s white jumper – innocence

• Lights dimmed – draws all attention to protagonist, makes them stand out, removes setting - emphasises loneliness

• Choreographed plot / narrative

• Protagonists changing views & thoughts are clarified when she changes her coffee to decaf – clarifies that she may consider keeping the baby

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The Fly (Dir. Olly Williams, UK, 2014) 6 mins

Plot: ‘An uptight getaway driver waiting outside a bank robbery has 3 nerve shredding minutes to get through before his crew returns. All he has to do is focus.’

Key Features:

• Varied shot types & camera positions – shows different perspectives

• Performance used to create meaning & convey the narrative & plot

• Camera movement emphasised to relate to protagonist instability

• Breaks 4th wall, direct address – draws attention to audience, makes connections

• Minimal / no dialogue – silent film

• Protagonists emotions revealed through physical performance & movement – impatience, anger, unsettled, annoyance

• Broken glass, reflections / mirror, distortion

• Heavy use of sound effects, diegetic sound – fly, car horn, sirens, etc…

• Quick pace / editing – speeds up action, builds tension