https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK_cdkpazjI
In this short film, the narrative is based on a dystopian future where people use 'in-eye' technology in order to complete challenges, analyse others and entertain themselves. Which is shown through CGI to the viewer since these visuals are meant to be in the main characters head only.
The main character in the short film is portrayed as manipulative and selfish. Due to the fact that he's only going on dates to make his 'wingman' challenge score go up. He also throws a cucumber in the bin when it doesn't match the digital 'cutting' lines during the 'chef master' challenge. Showing that he cares more about his representation than his own well being and other people around him.
The camerawork in the short film helps tell the narrative. For example, an insert shot is used to show the cutting board and knife during the 'chef master' challenge in order to emphasise the fact that these challenges are the reason that the main characters acts the way he does, if this was not made clear the narrative wouldn't make sense since they make him want to go out on the date in order to get points on the 'wingman' challenge. The shot-reverse-shot camera technique is also used during the short film in order to demonstrate the conversation between the characters when on a date, allowing you to understand each individuals feelings towards the situation via facial expressions and gestures.
Editing techniques consist of elements such as jump cuts, jump cuts are used here due to the fact that they help get through the narrative quicker, which is a convention of short film since they're supposed to be short.
Lastly, visual CGI effects such as interactive 'profiles' of other people that you can open when you see them, plus 'mini game' challenges. Creating and reinforcing the 'futuristic' era throughout the short film.
Rope a Dope – Comedy/Action
In this short film, the narrative based on the Levi-Strauss (1958) theory - binary opposition, e.g. good vs evil. For example, the storyline is of a man who seems to be stuck in a loop that he needs to break, everyday he wakes up and gets into a fight with the 'mafia' who are against him and always seem to end up knocking him out, where he wakes back up in his bed to start the day off again, until one day he wins the fight. The setting seems to be somewhere in america, not only insinuated by the 'burger shack' which are conventional to the US, but also the idea of there being a mafia, since that's also more conventional to the US and other countries. The housing is also very conventional to the US due to the 'beach house' denotation they portray.
Despite the short film having no script, the viewer can still very clearly understand the each characters personality, due to exaggerated facial expressions, movements, gestures and appearances. For example, the main character seems to be very laid back and self neglecting at the start of the short film - he isn't eating right, stuff in the fridge is gone off, he looks a mess with his flip flops and dirty pyjamas on and he walks all slumped over. However, he transforms into a determend, clean looking, strong man towards the end once he starts trying to defeat the mafia, this emphasised through extreme work outs such as doing back flips and karate kicks etc with a child on his back, which is unrealistic and it'd be too hard, making the audience understand his progress towards becoming a good fighter.
The camera work in the short film is especially important as it can create emotions and portray people in a different light, helping tell the story since there isn't a script. For example at 6.50 a low angle shot panning towards the main characters face is used to not only make him look more dominant and powerful as he's 'above' us, but the panning movement creates tension as it's slowly moving in on his face, making the audience wonder what's going to jump out at them next.
Despite the short film having no script, the viewer can still very clearly understand the each characters personality, due to exaggerated facial expressions, movements, gestures and appearances. For example, the main character seems to be very laid back and self neglecting at the start of the short film - he isn't eating right, stuff in the fridge is gone off, he looks a mess with his flip flops and dirty pyjamas on and he walks all slumped over. However, he transforms into a determend, clean looking, strong man towards the end once he starts trying to defeat the mafia, this emphasised through extreme work outs such as doing back flips and karate kicks etc with a child on his back, which is unrealistic and it'd be too hard, making the audience understand his progress towards becoming a good fighter.
The camera work in the short film is especially important as it can create emotions and portray people in a different light, helping tell the story since there isn't a script. For example at 6.50 a low angle shot panning towards the main characters face is used to not only make him look more dominant and powerful as he's 'above' us, but the panning movement creates tension as it's slowly moving in on his face, making the audience wonder what's going to jump out at them next.
The editing plays a massive part in this short film as the majority of the scenes are fighting scenes, meaning heaps of punching and other relating sound effects have to be edited into the film, helping give the scenes a more realistic and tense atmosphere.
Visual effects such as CGI is used at the beginning and end of the film in order to portray credits and title screens, giving credit to the producers and actors and also branding the short film.
Room 8 – Drama
It's dark, cold and dirty, the narrative of this short film is based on a cycle of prisoners who one-by-one enter a cell and end up discovering a magic box which is a replica of the cell, once they find out that when they open the lid of the box, the prison celling also 'lifts up' and they can escape, they do, however once they get out f the 'box' they get trapped in a match box by the big version of the cell mate who then puts the match box in a drawer, then the next prisoner gets sent in and the whole thing happens again.
The 'main' character, seems to be very stereotypically masculine: deep voice, cuts on his face, big build, in prison. He is confident as doesn't fear his new room mate, challenging and questioning him on who he is and what's in the box. His room mate however seems to be more quiet and suspicious, he has his back turned to us, which makes the audience wonder what he's hiding and creating a sense of mystery.
The camera work helps tell the story. When the main character escapes from the 'box' a low angle is used to show the cell mate capturing him in the match box, showing that he is more powerful, helping add to his evil persona.
In the editing there is a dark, blue toned filter applied to the scenes to create a more gloomy, cold atmosphere, enhancing the mysterious and morbid mood as we associate these things with being sad or cold.
Visual effects such as making the main character to be smaller when running out of the box are used to help tell the narrative. I think this will have been done by filming with a greenscreen.
The 'main' character, seems to be very stereotypically masculine: deep voice, cuts on his face, big build, in prison. He is confident as doesn't fear his new room mate, challenging and questioning him on who he is and what's in the box. His room mate however seems to be more quiet and suspicious, he has his back turned to us, which makes the audience wonder what he's hiding and creating a sense of mystery.
The camera work helps tell the story. When the main character escapes from the 'box' a low angle is used to show the cell mate capturing him in the match box, showing that he is more powerful, helping add to his evil persona.
In the editing there is a dark, blue toned filter applied to the scenes to create a more gloomy, cold atmosphere, enhancing the mysterious and morbid mood as we associate these things with being sad or cold.
Visual effects such as making the main character to be smaller when running out of the box are used to help tell the narrative. I think this will have been done by filming with a greenscreen.
The Ridge – Documentary/Sports
The narrative of this short film is based on a man who's always wanted to ride his mountain bike on the Cullin mountains in the Isle of Skye, so he sets of on a rowing boat to do so. The following clips are just of him riding his bike in the mountains, therefore the narrative is also more realistic, inspirational and motivational rather than being dramatic and performance based.
The characterisation isn't very strong as the focus is more based on his bike riding skills rather than his actual personality, however, from what we do see you can tell he's a highly motivated, talented guy who clearly appreciates and enjoys being in the outdoors.
Due to the fact that the documentary is based on a guy riding his bike, many different camera angels, shots and movements have to be used in order to not only capture the landscaping, portray him in certain way and have him centred in the right position in order to create a visually appealing effect, but also because there is barley any script, meaning the camerawork is important as it can create effects / tell a story. For example, high angels are used to make him look powerful, to enhance the theme of him 'achieving' his dream. Or establishing, panning to the left shots to establish the amazing landscape whilst still keeping the focus on the character by forcing the audience to 'follow' him by panning to the left. POV shots are used to make the viewer feel as though they're in his shoes as they're sharing the experience with him. Insert shots are used to bring the focus to his feet as he gets out the boat, reinforcing the fact that he's finally doing his dream bike ride.
Editing techniques such as jump cuts are used to transition between each scene, usually each new scene shows the guy in a different part of the mountains or doing a new trick, in order to keep the audience entertained since just watching the full bike ride may be a little boring. Jump cuts are also conventional to short films as they actually help cut down the footage and make the film a 'short film'
Visual effects such as CGI is used at the beginning and end of the film in order to portray credits and title screens, giving credit to the producers and actors and also branding the short film.
The characterisation isn't very strong as the focus is more based on his bike riding skills rather than his actual personality, however, from what we do see you can tell he's a highly motivated, talented guy who clearly appreciates and enjoys being in the outdoors.
Due to the fact that the documentary is based on a guy riding his bike, many different camera angels, shots and movements have to be used in order to not only capture the landscaping, portray him in certain way and have him centred in the right position in order to create a visually appealing effect, but also because there is barley any script, meaning the camerawork is important as it can create effects / tell a story. For example, high angels are used to make him look powerful, to enhance the theme of him 'achieving' his dream. Or establishing, panning to the left shots to establish the amazing landscape whilst still keeping the focus on the character by forcing the audience to 'follow' him by panning to the left. POV shots are used to make the viewer feel as though they're in his shoes as they're sharing the experience with him. Insert shots are used to bring the focus to his feet as he gets out the boat, reinforcing the fact that he's finally doing his dream bike ride.
Editing techniques such as jump cuts are used to transition between each scene, usually each new scene shows the guy in a different part of the mountains or doing a new trick, in order to keep the audience entertained since just watching the full bike ride may be a little boring. Jump cuts are also conventional to short films as they actually help cut down the footage and make the film a 'short film'
Visual effects such as CGI is used at the beginning and end of the film in order to portray credits and title screens, giving credit to the producers and actors and also branding the short film.
Another Angle – Documentary
the narrative of this short film is about wildlife and nature in Sheffield. The 'presenter' visits areas such as the county side where he find's dear, he also visits locations such as endclifee park where he talks about the ducks and other surrounding nature, ending the documeturay summuarng how the citizens of Sheffield are lucky to live there and if you want to go and find some amazing nature and Lillie then you just need to go have a look around
The presenter clearly allows stereotypical conventions of a documentary presenter by doing lots of hand gestures when around animals in order to try and get his message across more clearly without being loud and scaring the dear away, and also crouching down in the grass when talking, in order to reinforce that theme of being one with nature and almost camouflage. He talks very formally and informatiivley since the genre of documentaries is educational. His appearance also allow the conventions of a documentary presenter due to the fact that he's wearing a rucksack and neutral coloured clothing again to reinforce the fact that he's outdoors and in 'survival' mode, the neutral clothing helps him blend in with his surroundings.
The camera work in the documentary is very conventional to the documentary genre. For example, zoomed in panning shots are sed to show the dear walking about to help reinforce the fact that they are wild animals and they could be dangerous, therefore not wanting to get too close.
The editing in the documentary is very minimal, techniques such as jump cuts are used to make the documentary more interesting as they allow the documentary to cut straight to the point and the interesting bits, which are conventional to the genre as documentaries can struggle to keep the audiences attention, due to there calming, informative nature, which some people can find boring.
Visual effects such as CGI titles are used at the end of the documentuary in order to show the name of the documentary and help build their brand.
