Task 2- Research into existing products: Short film

Narrative

What is the film’s Beginning – Middle – End?

Beginning:

The short film starts with the logo and credits with music running over. This introduces the short film as the music acts as running commentary throughout. It then fades to a violent scene taking placing in the toilets with a group of boys. We later learn that this clip if from the middle of the short film meaning the clip at the start is acting as an indication of future events. There is a voice over during this scene which is most likely commenting on the events that have unfolded, however we don’t know this for sure as it is in a foreign language. This scene acts as the introduction to the film as a title then fades in introducing the films name with a slogan “Every action has an equal and opposite reaction” which is a good indication to what the message of the film is. It then fades into a close up shot of the same boy who is stroking his face, it then cuts rapidly to a wide shot of him showing the same setting as the bathroom at the start indicating he was stroking his face due the pain felt from being hit.

Middle:

The wide shot and tracking shows a group of people in which the boy rudely pushes past suggesting he

maybe be angry. His walking is shows attitude implying his state or anger. These tracking shots are common throughout this short film to show him moving from one chaotic scene he has caused to the next. The short films shows shots going from one scene to show how the boy is leaving a destructive past behind such as throwing peoples sweets on the floor and running a flower. The film however has the continuity effect due to the tracking shots of him walking as it shows he goes from one scene to the next. The main framing is of the boy, when there are shots of the boy and other people he is the main focus being in the middle shot whilst the others are to the side indicating the major role he has to play and that his emotions and problems are the cause of his nastiness. After the last of his action there are wide shots shown of the people he has hurt all surrounding him. The looks on their faces show they want revenge. It then cuts to the bathroom scene which has a realism effect on the audience as we things become clear that the fight in the bathroom is a result of all the things leading up to people wanting to get back a him.

End:

The end shows the same bathroom scene with the same close up of him rubbing his face, he

also does the same thing by walking down the stairs like at the start however now his attitude walk has gone suggesting his emotions have changed. This coupled with the sombre music shows how the events just happened has affected his mood. The film continues to show the boy going through the same routine as before however differently as he doesn’t push people put of his way or mistreat them he is kind to them. The film

ends with a shot of the boy and the other character he got in a fight with hugging indicating they have now made up and are friends. The titles are then shown to show the film is over, crediting the music and the people involved in the short film.

What is the issue in the story and how is it resolved?

The issue of the story is that every reaction with get an equal reaction. Therefore if we react in a positive way then the reaction will be much positive as opposed to negative. This issue is shown bey resenting a boy reacting badly to reactions and therefore getting the same reaction back. But when he does things more positively there is no violence.

Titles

How do the font, transitions and colours of the titles say about the film and how do they complement the narrative?

The fonts of the titles are very bold and simple font to make the names stand out. They are in white and red which is conventional used for horrors however this short film doesn’t fit

this as it isn’t the genre of a horror. However the title of the film and message underneath at first is red but then turns to colour, this could imply that the red represents a negative start to his reactions but the colour changes which could represent a brighter ending. They complement the narrative as they are very bold and clear just like the message of the film that if you reactions are positive then the replies with correspond this.

Sound

How is the soundtrack used to complete the mood, tone and style of the film?

The sound track is the same music styling throughout the film, which has an effect on the style of the film as it portrays it as simple but effective. The music does change slightly in tone to become sombre once the boy realises the actions did have consequences. The instruments used when the title appears sound like jazz music, this blue music can represent the emotions shown of sadness in the film. The music becomes more up tempo in parts such as when the boy is on his mission to cause havoc as it represents his angry state of mind.

What sound effects been added in afterwards – why and to what effect?

The sound effects added included the noises made when the violent breaks out to make the punching seem more realistic and believable. Voiceovers used throughout to create an effect that the main character involved was narrating the story to show his side.

 Camera

What is the range of camerawork used in the film? – List as many as you can spot and then analyse the effect of 3 different types

-Close up of main character jango used frequently to show his emotion

- tracking to show jango moving from one chaotic scene he created to the next, also most as if he was on a mission.

- Wide shots to show the setting and also set the others against jango showing the division between them. Surrounding

- Over his shoulder shot is use to show the division between jango and the others, he has no one on his side as he has offended them all. Venerability  

 This is an over shoulder shot used in the short film. It is used to show how jango has segregated himself from the other people due to his hurtful actions. The shot shows himself with nobody on his side, opposed to the others all grouped together against him. This creates the effect that jango maybe feels that everyone is against him and nobody is on his side.

This camera angle is backwards traking and it is used to show jango miving from one place to another. This cetaes and affcet to show jango is moving from one mistreatment he created to the next, showing the contiuity of the film. In addition the close up of his legs shows attitude in the way he walking implying he has something bothering him.  

This shot is a medium close up of jangos face it is used to show the main focus of the film is him as no other close up shots are used on others. The shot is effective as it helps the audience engage in the emotion he uis feeling. It also focuses on the area where he was hirt. The action of him rubbing his cheeck indicates that the violence hurt him.

Editing

How does the editing impact the mood, tone and style of the film? Give three examples of edits used between frames and analyse impact

Once piece of editing style used within the short film was a fades ins and outs to introdue a new scene and ends the other. One area when it was used was at the end of the opening credits. This editing technique is used to indicate the film is about to start, it creates a certain style of simpilsitc means as the edit is very stble indicating they didn’t want to take away from the film or the creidts shown. The fade out creates an effective tone as it shows that this scene is about to contiue on from the the scebes shown from the very start, but implies a tone of slow pace as it isn’t rushed.

Another editing sytle used was contiunity, this editing technique was key to the style of the film as the seamless cuts meant that the film was fast flowing and easy to flow as opposed to rapid cuts which may have confused the audience. The fuild movements allowed the storyline of the film to be understandable, in addition it added to the simplistic  tone of the film as the message is very simple and the continuity focuses on this.

Finally a thrid editing style used was shot reverse shots. This edit was used during the scene of jango and the group of boys who offered him a sweet. This techqiue is used to enhance the venerability of jango as he has nobody on his side due to the trouble he caused, whereas the other friend has many on his side. This creates a empathic tone as the audience may simpathise with him.

MES

In what way does lighting impact the mood, tone & style of the film?

The lighting the the bathroom is very dark creating a dark tone which suits the scenes surrounding it as there is violence involved. This contrasts to the scene where they later make up as its very light which can represent the emotions are now happy as opposed to depressed in the bathroom.

The scene when he returns later in the bathrom the light is much lighter which could be an indication that jango as seen the light almost with reference to his first behaviour and that he now wants to go and fix it.