2013 2B Ideas

2013 2A

What makes a good short film?

Character Development
character functions
character emotions
character components
character objectives
character background
script breakdown
scene breakdown
character dialogue

Plot development

 

Inciting incident

 

Character arc

Three act structure this means that the short film must have a beginning middle and end. This means that there must be a equilibrium at the start with disequilibrium in the middle with new equilibrium at the end.

Where you are filming make good use of the surroundings and put them to good use as you might not be wealthy and have mega money to spend on location and different environments.

Engage the reader by this i mean make the reader ask questions while watching the film, for example how did the dog get across the road or how the donuts was half eaten. By this you are making them feel interested so they can see the conclusion. Also include a conflict that has to be resolved, where there’s a dilemma at stake and a choice that the protagonist has to make. Strive to add a deadline, or ticking clock. It is not necessary but it will add some tension to your short film.
In the Lunch Date  the posh lady polishes her fork before using it. What does it tell you about her? Create good visuals and good back stories to each of the characters. Should always try to tell a compelling story. Ideas that are concept-driven or just aim at breaking all the rules for the sake of breaking rules. Short films are a great opportunity to push the boundaries of what cinematic storytelling can do, yet they must still engage your audience emotionally. As a rule of thumb, unless it is extremely brief a short film should have a hero with a goal and an obstacle/antagonist in the way

2013 Post 1 - Researching Existing Short Films Part A

My first post is to analyse a short film which is called the Gas man directed and written by Lynne Ramsay also who wrote it. I will be textually analysing the film using camera, sound, editing, mise en scene. I have studied the Gas man due to the fact that it is a short film and for my task I have to create a short film.

Camera -  The camera work is used to create the feel of our main protagonist's memory This is achieved during the railway track scene, by having a dark aperture surrounding the image to connote looking through a lens or looking back in time. For instance during the pub scene are fighting over who gets to sit on their dads lap not realising there in fact sisters and share the dad. We can see this through the fact that the camera angles are always at eye line meaning that it wants the audience to just focus on the two sisters the most. This means that this is their story and although you can hear the adult voices you cant always see their bodies.

Editing - The editing within the film is slow paced editing meaning that the takes are very long. This shows the fact that they want to get the point across that the life the live is boring and dull. Also on the rail line again we see a explicit clip of slow motion editing showing again the fact that it is a memory linking with the aperture.

Sound - The sound is a Christmas theme within the pub which in a way connotes the fact that it is family together and that they are bonding. Also the fact that the little girl says there is no place like home meaning that there are a family as a whole. Also the little boy moaning that he doesn't want to go connotes the fact that there is a division within the family which can be demonstrated through the two little girls having a fight over who sits on the dads lap.The diagetic sound within the film is loud and clear and the actors emphasis on the speech because of the up north area they come from. The non-diagetic sound within the film is quiet so it connotes the fact that the atmosphere and mood of the characters is low and not positive.

Mise en scene - In the film when the 'family' walk home you can see that there is heavy smog. This shows that there is atmosphere within the family and that they are not happy. Also the lighting is dimmed and dull which shows the confusion between the two sisters and connotes the fact that not everything is clear. The house is old fashioned with many of the old subjects being aged and dusty. This shows that they are poor but however they don't want to show that so put their kids in their best clothes to demonstrate wealth which they don't have. The short film is set in the 70's so the clothing and costumes look worn and torn. The social status of the family is poor and this is reflected in the environment in which they live is run down.