Colette's Short Film Analysis

Eve

By Angel Parmar,2012
Running time: 2.20

http://www.virginmediashorts.co.uk/film/3491/eve

Synopsis:‘A modern take on a classic love story.’ A girl tries to shoot a man from a rooftop and misses. This happens a few times. She finally hits him and he falls in love with the woman next to him at the bus stop.

I chose this film because it has a clever twist at the end. In the beginning we have the impression that the woman is trying to kill the man as her costume and body language suggests that she is stalking and hunting him down. However, it turns out that she is a ‘modern day cupid’ and is trying to make him fall in love. I like how the protagonist is a woman. 

Representation: 

• Femininity- both women seen as powerful.Costume strengthens this;dark clothing, trousers, hair tied up. Switch in stereotypes. Positive stereotype for the women as they are seen as powerful.

• Man represented as helpless and unaware of what is going on. Change in dominant ideologies of gender. Negative stereotyping for men
• The male in the film is seen as unaware of what is going on. A point of view shot from the women is used which is a high angle is shot. This makes him seem vulnerable and small. 
• Low angle shots of the woman have been used to represent her power and show that she is in control

Low angle shot- connotes strength and power

Genre:

• Hybrid: Thriller and Romance
• Thriller- suspense and enigma throughout. At first we think the film is a thriller- woman dressed in all black carrying a crossbow, we don’t see her face at first, idea that she is the antagonist, sitting on rooftop waiting to shoot man, urban setting.
• Romance- the character's actions lead to a romantic relationship. Man and woman fall in love, idea of a guardian angel or cupid watching over the woman.
• Steve Neal’s theory of Genre that ‘genres are instances of repetitions and differences’ and that texts often exhibit the conventions of more than one genre. This is true of this film as it is a hybrid and cannot be classified as one specific genre. Combines more than one genre for a more exciting viewing experience

Narrative:

• The film has a restricted narrative as we don’t realise that the woman is the protagonist. It has a linear structure, however it has no closure as we are unsure of what happens to the characters after the plot ends. 
• The plot leaves out certain parts of the story, the most relevant being the role of the woman. As we don’t know what she does or who she is, enigma is created which makes us want to carry on watching the film and we want to know what happens next. 
• This film fits in with Roland Barthes theory of action and enigma codes as it contains various plot points which give an idea of story and plot and raise questions. The film contains a lot of enigma codes such as the woman which intrigues the audience as we want to know more about her. Action codes have also been used to tell us that action may take place such as the firing of the bow and arrow. 
• Fits with Todorov’s Narrative Theory. Disruption-woman receives picture of man from other woman, Confrontation-she tries to shoot man and misses, Resolution-she finally hits man, New equilibrium- woman and man fall in love. 

We are unsure of her intentions

Audience: 

• Primary Audience- young men because of thriller conventions
• Secondary audience- women as film contains conventions of romance and challenges dominant ideologies of femininity

Media Language:

• The angle of the shots that have been used helps to tell us more about the characters. When the woman is in shot long angle shots have been used to make her seem threatening and dominant. High angle shots have been used of the man to show that he’s vulnerable. 

Camera angle connotes power of character

• Mise en scene has been very well thought out especially costume and setting. The woman’s costume helps to create enigma about the character because of the all black colour scheme. Setting is very similar to a thriller as it is set in an urban  city scene
•  In one scene a woman is seen taking a photo of a man. At first the camera pans around her and then the shot changes to the man sitting with a friend. The camera is handheld and shaky which mimics the actions of the woman taking the photo. The camera tracks into the man’s face and then turns black and white and the image freezes as she takes the photo. This shot is very effective as the handheld camera shot gives the feeling that the man is being stalked. 

Gives impression of being stalked

December
By Andreas Pasvantis,2010
Running Time: 1.35

http://shortsbay.com/film/december

Synopsis: A man attacks something in the woods with an axe. We think it’s a person. Then the man puts the ‘thing’ into a truck and drives it to another mans house. He takes a chainsaw to it. Then it is in a house and children are hanging decorations on it and it turns out to be a Christmas tree.

I chose this film because the camerawork is amazing and it puts you in the place of the tree. When you watch the film for the first time you think that the man is a murderer, but afterwards when you find out that it was a tree all along. The point of view shots really make it feel like you are in the film and the twist at the end is really clever.

Representation:

• The men in the film are seen as dominant and powerful. The stereotypes of the men are typical to usual stereotypes of males- they are strong and the antagonists. Back up dominant ideologies.
• We never see the men upright until inside the house when it is clear that they have been moving a Christmas tree. They both wear dark clothes which makes them seem threatening. They are portrayed as strong as they keep lifting the tree up and dragging it around.

• The horror and thriller genres may have shaped the representations of the men. In both the genres men are usually the antagonists and are portrayed as powerful and dominant.
• The props used by the male characters back up the idea that they are dangerous (axes, chainsaws.)

Genre: 

• The film is a hybrid, like most short films and it’s combined genres are thriller and horror and a comedy twist at the end       
• Thriller conventions include the male antagonists and the props they use. Also the use of quick cutting is commonly seen in thrillers with the intension to create tension and enigma
•     Horror conventions include the setting, a secluded dark forest is usually used in horror films, as well as the violent actions of the antagonists.
•   Steve Neal’s theory of genres as it combines genres to create a hybrid. This makes the film more interesting to watch as it hasn’t been done before

Narrative:

• The film has a Linear (chronological) structure with closure at the end of it as we realise that the men were actually pulling a Christmas tree.
• Restricted Narration has been used as we don’t know what is going to happen. This is very effective as it creates enigma and makes us want to keep watching.
• Certain parts of the story have been missed out from the plot (we don’t know about the Christmas tree) which create tension and make the film more exciting
• Roland Barthe’s Action and Enigma Codes theory as plot points have been used to create enigma (the man attacks the ‘camera’ with an axe,) and show when action is about to take place (we see the man’s foot from a POV shot.)

Audience:

• Young males-they are the main demographic for horror and thriller films
• Short film enthusiasts-on a specialist short film website

Media Language:

• Fast cutting of the shots has been used to create tension and also to create the feeling that time is passing
• The camera uses point of view shots throughout the whole film. The camera is handheld to generate an out of control, frantic feeling and to make the audience feel like they are in the film with the actor
•      Sound has been used very effectively. In the opening we see a woodland scene and there is hardly any sound at all, only diegetic sounds. When the man attacks with his axe there is a loud non-diegetic sound effect which shocks the audience. No music has been added into the film which helps to create the feeling that the audience are taking part in the film and that the film is real and not edited.

'A touch of Black'
By rpinches, Virgin Media Shorts
Running time: 2.19

http://www.virginmediashorts.co.uk/film/3610/a-touch-of-black

Synopsis: 'Noir Loretta's evening is about to change as a dark assignment comes up'

A woman is getting ready for a night out. She packs a gun and bullets. We are given the impression that she is going to murder someone. At the end we find out she's going to a murder mystery party as a character.

Representation: 

• There is only one character in this film, a woman named Loretta. 
• She is portrayed as a strong and dangerous woman- challenges dominant ideologies. 
• Costume and props suggests that she is dangerous and also wealthy- BMW, diamonds, black gloves, pistol, all black outfit, speaks in recieved pronounciation.

Props help to establish character

Genre:

• Thriller- enigmatic, suspenseful.
• Has a slight comedy twist at the end when we realise she is going to a fancy dress party 

Narrative:

• Restricted narrative- important pieces of information are hidden from the audience in order to create suspense and keep you glued to the screen
• Linear structure
• Todorov's theory of narrative, Disruption-letter arrives; Confrontation-she gets ready for the event; Resolution-she drives to the event;New Equilibrium- we find out it's a fancy dress part and she goes to do her job.
• Roland Barthes theory- uses plot points,enigma codes, action codes. 

The shot tells us the character's real intentions

Audience:

• Young males- main demographic for thriller films. This film reminds me of the James Bond villains (glamorous) which appeal to young men  

Media Language:

• Black and white camera, slow, non diegetic jazz music and props create an old fashioned feel, reminiscent of the James Bond films
• Shadows and canted angles used to hide the character from being seen fully in the frame- creates enigma

Blocking and canted angles create engima

'Steal His Heart'
By sambaron, Virgin Media Shorts
Running time: 2.20

http://www.virginmediashorts.co.uk/film/2405/steal-his-heart

Synopsis:"A girl with a secret crush on her postman decides to steal his bike, but he won't let her get away that easily."

Representation:

• There are two main characters in the film, a girl and a postman.
• The woman is represented as a stereotypical woman, seen as looking for love, feminine costume- long hair, makeup, skirt
• The postman is seen as a stereotypical male, he is a working man

Genre:

• (Hybrid)Romance and Comedy
• Romance- the plot is set around the relationship of the two characters
• Comedy- the girl runs away with the postman's bike which leads him to chasing her all the way to the seaside

Narrative:

• Linear narrative- told in chronological order
• Todorov's theory of narrative: Disruption-girl steals bike; Confrontation-he chases after her; Resolution-he catches up with her; New Equilibrium; they begin their new relationship

Audience:

• Female Audience- main audience for romance/love genre

Media Language:

• Cross cutting between the two characters shows their journey's towards meeting each other
• Change in gender stereotyped, man seen as dependant on the woman (chasing her)
• Non diegetic music fits with title and subject matter of the film "I can't steal his heart."