Short Film Analysis

Micro Technical Elements:

Cargo:

Cargo is a short film lasting 7:04 minutes, in which the narrative is simple but clever, it uses no dialogue, just music and the diegetic sound of a baby crying.

The use of editing within Cargo is very well done, in the start of the film soft focus is used to create a state of unknowing. This is done a good edit to use for an opening as it in one shot reflects the feeling of the protagonist, This is also used as a reaction shot, although we do not know what the reaction is to it is clear that the protagonist is in emotional distress, this is done to add to the narrative of the Cargo, reflecting that the action which has taken place has effected the protagonist adding to the narrative of cargo.








The use of shallow depth of field with the use of the mise-en-scene reflects the Genre, horror and the sub-genre zombie horror, of  the short film with the use of make up to create a bite on the arm which is shown out of focus in the shot, this also reflects the Narrative, in the opening 14 seconds of Cargo the narrative and genre are reflected. The mise-en-scene is used to reflect the age of the character through the use of the costume choice, as the costume being worn would be usually warn by someone more mature and less likely to be a young person, but also it reflects the gender of the unknown person, as costume designers will follow the codes and conventions of what each gender should wear.

Fast cuts are used with the help of the mise-en-scene to re-enforce the narrative of the short film cargo. This frame is used to prompt the audience to what has happened through the use of the mise-en-scene, as in the shot above there is the use of the seat belt and this there is a broken windscreen and blood, which adds to the narrative of car accident within a zombie apocalypse, The audience piece together the fact that this has happened through the use of the mise-en-scene in the frame above with the use of shallow depth of field.

Soft focus is used again in a media close up. This is done to foreshadow the action of what is to come in the next scene. The soft focus is used to make the audience feel disorientated and to represent the characters disorientation.

The use of the mise-en-scene reflects narrative and genre. The medium close up is used to show the make-up used to create the effect of the female looking like a zombie reinforcing both the genre, sub-genre and narrative.

Cargo is heavily reliant on mise-en-scene like most horror films, as the mise-en-scene is used to reinforce both the Genre/sub-genre and narrative of the media product. The props within the media product are used well, in the way of telling the audience parts of the narrative that aren't needed, for instance the crashed car outlines that there has been some sort of car crash without having to show that the audience know this. The use of costume is basic but works to outline the ages of the character, without having to explain or inform the audience of the ages.  Sound is not relied on within Cargo to make it a successful media product, no dialogue is used within the product only diegetic sounds such as, a baby crying and zombie groans. This is really effective because without the dialogue the narrative is still very clear, non-diegetic music is played throughout the film, the pace of the music changes depending on the pace of the action within the frame showed.  A hand held camera is used throughout to create the effect of uneasiness and struggle of the protagonist is feeling throughout the action we are seeing. This is cleverly done to create a feeling of uneasiness for both the audience and the protagonist. Editing is not predominantly used within Cargo, it is basic and minimal editing which doesn’t affect the media product in a bad way it, it just is easier to watch as the action is in longer shots meaning it is less confusing for the audience.

Cargo was directed by:Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke

Written by:
Yolanda Ramke

Produced by:

• Daniel Foeldes (Done the cinematography of five other short films but only directed Cargo)
• Marcus Newman (Assistant/director for four other short films, editor for the Lego Movie, and
  directed/produced one other short film)
• Yolanda Ramke (produced one other short film and acted in three)
• Ben Howling (produced/directed/written/ did the cinematography of two other short films)

In 2013, it was part of the Tropfest film festival finalists for short films. They worked with Dreaming Tree Productions, this is the first film that Dreaming Tree Productions have filmed. Cargo was nominated for one award for Best Editing in a short film but did not win. All of the production crew for Cargo have all had experience within the film industry meaning that each of them has skills which have contributed to the making of this film.

Genre - Setting

Horror films are conventionally set in abandoned places such as abandoned mental hospitals, dark alley ways, asylums, cabins in the woods, usually rural small cities, graveyards, old houses, it is very unseen that the main action happens in Big cities such as London or New York, (this usually happens in Zombie films to give a feel or realism). Set directors do this to create the feeling of isolation and danger for the protagonist character.

This would be a conventional setting for a horror film because:

• Hardly any light is coming in - meaning it is dark, gloomy and scary
• Danger is shown in the fact of it being abandoned which lets the audience percieve and stereotype the possibility of haunting
• There is things that could be used to cause injury and pain to the pro/antagonist.
• There is one door which looks as if to be blocked by wood ect.
• The only beam of light coming in is high up meaning there is no possibility of the antagonist escaping that way meaning there is one exit which is usually blocked by something.

This would be a conventional setting for a horror film because:

• It is creepy
• It causes the audience to ponder the possibilities of what used to be there
• It is conventional of horror films
• The props i.e the trolley shown in the middle can be used and played with to scare the audience.

This would be a conventional setting for a horror film because:

 
• The mise-en-scene of the overgrown shrubary gives the house a creepy look
• The audience will assume because it's old, conventionally it will be haunted.
• The dark lighting gives it a creepy effect.
• The iron gates make the audience feel trapped.

 

 

My film.

My short film synopsis –

The Virus.

My Narrative.

My narrative type(s) are:

Achillies, Circe and Orpheous.

Genre

Genre - the term or category of forms of entertainment which are based on some set stylistic criteria 

My film genre:

Horror

Horror - 

My film will be horror because the conventions of the genre are

• Setting
• Technical Codes
• Iconography
• Narrative Structure 
• Character types 
• Themes 

  

Narrative

The 8 narratives

Katie Domailie (2001) said that all stories ever told can be fitted into one of the eight narratives.

Achillies -

 The fatal flaw that leads to the destruction of the previously flawless person

E.g  Superman.

Candide -

The indominatable hero who cannot be put down. 

E.g  James Bond 

Cinderella -

The dream comes true.

E.g  Pretty Woman.

Circe -

The chase, the spider and the fly, the innocent and the victim

E.g  Smokey and The Bandit.

Faust -

Selling your soul to the devil may bring riches but eventually your soul belongs to him

E.g  Wall Street

Orpheous-

The loss of something personal, the gift that is taken away, the tradgedy of the loss or the journey which follows the loss.

E.g  Love Story

The history of short films.

What is a short film? A short film is any film not long enough to be considered a feature film.

First short film series: Our Gang

The first series of short films where comedy films called: Our Gang (or The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals). The franchise began in 1992,  this is Our Gangs first comedy short film produced in 1992:



After 1927 Hal Roach changed producers from Pathe to -Goldwyn-Mayer. Soon after in1929 sound became popular so sound was added to Roach's Our Gang's film. Shown in this video produced in 1940:

  Famous feature and short films:

Television stars, Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, who all appeared in feature length films and on television all started out doing short films.

• Laurel and Hardy short film: 
  Laurel and Hardy - You're darn tootin' (1928)
•  Laurel and Hardy feature film:
  Laurel and Hardy - Pardon Us (1931)

• Charlie Chaplin short film:
  Charlie Chaplin VS Murphy Bed (1916)
• Charlie Chapin feature film:
  Charlie Chaplin - The Kid (1921)

• Buster Keaton short film: 
  Buster Keaton - Convict 13 (1920)
• Buster Keaton feature film:
  Buster Keaton - Go West (1925)
  
  
  
  

  Animated short films:

  Works by Walt Disney, Leon Schlesinger, Warner Bros are all short animated films.
  
  The first short drawn animated film, was shown in cinemas on 28th October 1892 it was called Pauvre Pierrot, french for Poor Pete, the animated film was directed by Charles-Emile Reynaud.
  
  
  
  The first photographed animated film was created in 1906 by J. Stuart Blackton, this was named 'Humorous Phases of Funny Faces'
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Walt Disney's first short animation films were produced in the 1920's, they were 'Alice Comedies'
  
  
  
  
  After these Walt Disney produced one of the most famous short cartoon films - Steamboat Willie
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

A2 Media - Brief Specification

2. A promotion package for a new film, to include a teaser trailer, together with two of the following three options:

•a website homepage for the film;

•a film magazine front cover, featuring the film;

•a poster for the film.

I have chosen to do the: magazine front cover and a poster.

Exam breakdown

The A2 Media exam breakdown