Rejected ideas

 Rejected story idea

A story idea that we rejected was that the couple have a baby and it becomes too much for them as they're young, resulting in an abusive relationship. The father starts to resent the mother and baby and hits her, which ends with the mum overdosing and dying.

Synopsis

Synopsis 

 

Our short film is about a young couple trying to cope with the loss of their baby. Claire (mother) suffers from phantom pregnancy which means that she believes her baby is still alive and still sees him. For example, in our film there will be a variety of shots where Theo (the baby) is present in Claires eyes however we will have a POV shot from Wesley's (dad) perspective and the baby won't be there. As a result of Claire's inability to cope with the loss of Theo, she overdoses and dies. Our short film will begin with a flashback of Claire and Wesley when Claire is pregnant, where they are happy and looking at baby clothes in the nursery. Claire's hallucinations causes strain on their relationship as Wesley doesn't understand her condition and Claire is constantly trying to convince Wesley that Theo is still alive. This drives Wesley to take Claire to the graveyard and show her Theo's grave, which triggers her overdose.

Vanity

Vanity from artperezjr on Vimeo.


Mise en scene
Editing
Sound
Camera

Media Language

The sequence begins a shot of a shower curtain and water spraying from the shower, with a non-diegetic sound track of upbeat music and on-screen diegetic sound of the water falling. The sequence is black and white. It cuts to a female character in the shower. There is a variation of close up shots and extreme close ups such as her face and shoulders as she showers.
















There is a voice-over of a phone call between a male and female (non-diegetic sound), we assume that the female is the one showering. They are arranging a double date and there are jump cuts to signify time going by. It cuts to the female character doing her hair (CU) and the camera is on the back of her head as the camera circles her from behind. The shots are shaky to convey a hand-held feel. There is a cut to her going through her wardrobe looking for something to wear (CU) and she chooses a floral dress. It cuts to show her walking over to her mirror (MS). The camera is behind her so we can see the back of her and part of her reflection in the mirror.













It cuts to BMS of her face on as she looks in the mirror. She is composed in the centre of the frame and her facial expression looks dissatisfied so she walks away from her mirror.















It then cuts to CU of her changing her dress to a polka dot dress and then cuts to her in front of the mirror again.

















There is a cut and she is in a different black dress (MS). It cuts to a CU of a quote she has stuck on her mirror, and then cuts back to her. Her body language changes as she dances in front of the mirror. There is a cut to a POV shot from outside the bedroom window looking in on the female character dancing from behind (LS).

It cuts and there are a series of fast pace shots of the girl trying on another dress, and then a cut of the mirror as the female character enters the frame and stands in front of the mirror to try on the dress. It cuts to a CU of the female character and there is an eye line match to one of the quotes on her mirror.












It cuts back to the girl putting on some lipstick. It is a long take as she notices something with her face and does a puzzled facial expression into the mirror. She puts her hand on her face to stretch her eye and pulls her hand away as her eyes widen and she looks shocked as she's discovered wrinkles. It cuts back to a quote and back to her in a reverse shot reverse sequence as she examines her wrinkles.















She looks up and there is an eye line match to another quote on the mirror. These quotes are humorous to suit the conventions of a comedy genre.







It cuts back to the female character whose hair has gone messy. She jumps back in shock and her eyes widen as she tries to fix it.
















She steps back and sits on her bed helplessly with a shocked facial expression. The non-diegetic soundtrack stop and there is diegetic sound of someone knocking on the door and the female character turns her head towards the door and we are introduced to another female character(MS) as they exchange dialogue.








It cuts to a 2 shot and then a shot reverse shot sequence as they exchange dialogue. The non-diegetic sound track starts again and it cuts back to the female character first introduced in front of the mirror and cuts to quotes on the mirror and back to her. This continues in a shot reverse shot sequence. The girl looks saddened at what one of the quotes said and helplessly tries to fix her hair by running her hands across her head in desperation. It cuts to a quote and her facial expression is shocked as she looks in the mirror and whispers "are you insane" in reply to the quote which is constructing her to wipe out the competition for the double date who is her friend.

The shots continue to switch from the quotes to the female character when she whispers (diegetic sound) "how". The camera then cuts to a CU of some scissors. It cuts back to the female character who gasps in shock whilst looking at the scissors. It cuts to a CU of her hand reaching for the scissors as  the door knocks (off-screen diegetic sound).









The non-diegetic music stops as they exchange dialogue and it cuts to a BMS of the female characters in front of the mirror. The first female character we're introduced to is taking the quotes down. The other female character states that she has quotes on her mirror to, and there is shallow depth of field as she isn't in focus. They both pause and don't speak whilst looking at each other expressionless through the mirror. Non-diegetic music starts and there is an eye line match from the first female character introduced and a cut to a BMS high angle of both the female characters reaching for the scissors. There is a cut (BMS) from the side and the girls are fighting over the scissors where the titles appear in big letters in the centre of the screen with on-screen diegetic sound of them fighting.










The screen goes black with the titles over it. It cuts and the credits appear in smaller writing in the centre of the frame.

Representation

Femininity is represented in this short film through the use of makeup, hair and costume. It supports the femininity stereotype as this film is very girly in terms of music, the dresses, and dancing in the mirror. It portrays girls as being vain and self obsessed with their appearance, which is a typical stereotype for a female. Towards the end of the short film, when both the girls reach for the scissors; the femininity stereotype is rejected. This is because they are fighting for the scissors, and fighting is an action associated with males rather than females, and isn't lady-like which is what a stereotypical female is.

Narrative

David Bordwell and Kristen Thompsons theory:
The short film is presented in a linear structure as it is in chronological order. The plot is that the two female characters are getting ready to double date, however for one of the girl it goes terribly wrong and she is persuaded to disadvantage her friend in order to be the most attractive one. From the plot, I gather that the story is that the two female characters are good friends and have been asked on a date.

Todorov's theory:

• Equilibrium
• Disruption
• Confrontation
• Resolution
• New Equilibrium

This theory doesn't fit with Vanity as there is no new equilibrium established due to it being a short film, a majority of it is left to the imagination.

Genre
The genre for Vanity is comedy. The comedic conventions are presented through the way that the short film mocks how vain and self-obsessed girls are.

Focus - Ailsa

Focus

Media language and narrative

This short film starts with an establishing shot of a boy sitting alone on a beach, this is accompanied by a voiceover that we presume to be the boy sitting on the beach. Subtitles write what he is speaking, but this has been done for the purpose of making it seem like a journal or diary - this is made obvious by the font that has been used. By the shot used and the dialogue ("There was little left",) we get a suggestion that the boy is lonely and feels hopeless and empty. The dull weather and lighting is also an example of pathetic fallacy as it reflects his state of mind.

Again, a LS of the boy is shown. This time he is walking under a bridge which appears to be deserted as well. LSs are used often in this short film to make the audience engage less in the character - making him seem more lonely. It makes us witness him without actually getting involved. The writing/ subtitles also carry on: this time it has "I felt the heaviness in my body as I flew away" which gives the effect of making the audience think he is leaving somewhere, escaping and is somewhat regretful about this. The setting is dark which also adds to the mood, alongside eerie non- diegetic sound. 

We see a CU of his hands which, with his body language of fiddling with them, makes us think he is feeling anxious. The subtitles and dialogue say "it was impossible to shake the sense" - this makes us think he wants to escape his feelings and emphasises the idea anxiety. The dark setting once again surrounds him.

As the dialogue and subtitles tell us that he was "determined to hold back the panic", we hear a light non- diegetic sound of a piano being played - this could suggest hope. The light background also emphasises an idea of hope.

We are suddenly shown an establishing shot of a bright and colourful looking beach. It is the same beach as shown at the beginning, but through the colour and lighting it looks much more exotic. 

There are various LSs of the character looking over beautiful settings alongside more dialogue - it gives the effect of reflection.

There is another shot from under the bridge, from the same distance as last time. He is now sitting down. The dialogue says "like death itself", which instantly seems extremely sinister and depressing - this is emphasised by a slight distortion when this is being said.

Non- diegetic sound of a piano carries on playing throughout, which carries on creating sympathy for the character.

 Through the dialogue it is then revealed that there has been an apocalypse, that is why everywhere is so deserted and is why the boy is alone. Throughout the short film we witness his feeling because of what has happened. There is a high angle CU looking down at a book from the ground, which shows that it is significant.

The narrative is not very clear whether it is linear or non- linear as it has clips of different places, but we don't see him going to these. It is mainly linear for the reason that his costume stays the same throughout though, and it is not evident of any flashbacks or future clips.

Representation

The boy is presented as being vulnerable and alone due to the situation he's in. The world is shown to be calm, peaceful and picturesque, being post- apocolypse.  

  

Genre

The genre of this is a reflective drama.

 From this short film, it has made me think that it's effective to use different, natural settings as they can convey many emotions. 

Attic Panic

Attic Panic - Short horror film from David F. Sandberg on Vimeo.

Mise en scene
Editing
Sound
Camera

Media Language

The sequence begins with non-diegetic sound of strong, aggressive wind. The title fades onto the center of the screen in big black font on a grey background which looks like it could be a wall.











There is a fade to black and diegetic sound of a door opening as it fades into the next shot where the setting looks like it is a storage room. There is low key lighting to suit the horror genre. The camera moves across and stops as we are introduced to our first character (LS) who is a female. There is diegetic sound of metal clashing against each other as she shuts the storage door and puts a padlock on it. She turns to open the main door however it is locked. It cuts to a close up of the women from a side angle and her facial expression is confused as she attempts to open the door. There is an eyeline match to the handle. There is cut to a close up of her hands on the handle of the door as she continuously tugs on it. It cuts to a close up of the back of her head, there is diegetic sound of a squeaking noise and the women turns her head. Her facial expression is confused as she walks over to where the noise came from. It cuts to a POV shot, and she is looking through the glass (MS). Her eyes are squinting which creates spectator positioning as we're wondering if she has seen something/someone.














It cuts to a POV shot from the womens perspective of a ghost-like figure wobbling (MS) and back to the women as she hears a high pitched noise (off-screen diegetic sound) and looks above her. It cuts to a close up of a light switch where the high pitched creaking noises continue, and back to the female character. It cuts again to the white ghost-figure which moves.














It cuts back to her who jumps back in shock and gasps (on-screen diegetic sound).
















It cuts back to the light which suddenly turns off, creating an enigma code as we can predict something sinister will happen now she is in the darkness. It cuts to glass falling and smashing the floor, with on-screen diegetic noise of it smashing which echos to add terror. It cuts to the ghost figure which moves so that we can no longer see it anymore, and back to a high angle BMS of the female character as she steps back in a panic.












There is off-screen diegetic squeaking sounds as she turns her head, and there is an eye line match to the light. The camera zooms in closer to the light as the squeaking continues. There is non-diegetic sound which sounds like an air-aid siren. It cuts back to the female character and the camera moves as she walks towards it. It then cuts to a close up of her her trying to reach the light.















There is on-screen diegetic sound of her heavy breathing and panting in desperation. It cuts back to her as she climbs onto a ladder (MS) and cuts back to the light as she reaches and touches the bulb.












She quickly takes her hand away as it's too hot from the heat and there's diegetic sound of her gasping in pain. She puts her hand back on the bulb and tries to unscrew it. It cuts back to her face (CU) which is full of concentration as she tries to unscrew the bulb. There is diegetic sound of something moving on the other side of the room which makes her quickly turn her head the other way and there is an eye line match to another light switching off; meaning there is even less lighting. Frantically, she jumps down from the ladder and the camera tracks her as she runs to the door and attempts to get out in desperation, looking behind her. The door doesn't open so she turns to face the camera (BMS) and gets her keys out to unlock the storage door she previously locked. It cuts to the white figure appearing, and back to the women as she opens the storage door and gets inside it. It cuts to a CU of her hands trying to put the padlock on the door, then cuts to her face with her keys in her mouth, looking around the room paranoid. Her facial expression look distressed and terrified as she desperately tries to put the padlock on.














It cuts to a high angle BMS of her and she backs away from the door. The white figure appears in front of the camera, blocking the female character. It cuts to a CU of her as she looks at the white figure helplessly. It cuts to a POV shot of the white ghost figure standing outside the door facing the female character.













There is a CU as the figure puts its hand up on the other side of the door and then puts its fingers through the bar.














 It cuts to a CU of the female character kicking the ghost figures hand with on-screen diegetic music of a loud crash as her foot makes contact with the door.












It cuts back to her face and back to the ghost figure as she grabs the white sheet and pulls it towards her (CU).











It cuts to a CU of her face as she looks at the white figure, scared, shocked and curious at what is beneath the sheet. It cuts back to the ghost figure (BMS) as the sheet is being pulled off. There is a shot reverse shot sequence as it cuts back to a CU of her hands pulling the sheet towards her. This creates suspense and spectator positioning as the spectator is unaware of what is under the sheet and what they want. It cuts back to her face with an eyeline match to the white ghost-figure, and back to the white ghost figure as the sheet is nearly pulled off. The sheet is completely pulled off and drops to the floor with nothing underneath it.















It cuts back to the female character who looks around confused (CU). There is a cut to a CU of her feet (eye level) where she leaves the sheet behind her. She walks forward and there is on-screen diegetic sound of her footsteps. It cuts to the female character who is looking round the room silently (ECU). There is a cut where we see the white sheet rise and it cuts back to the female character when there is a creaking noise (off-screen diegetic sound). There is an eyeline match to something that we cant' see as she quickly walks closer to the door and is looking up with a panicked facial expression. It cuts to a light, which is what she was looking at. It cuts back to the female character(CU) who is composed to the right of the frame. There is non-diegetic scary sound which becomes louder as the white ghost figure rises behind her.











She turns around quickly and then it cuts to a black screen where we wear off-screen diegetic sound of smashed glass. Credits appear on a black screen in white font in the centre of the page.

Representation

Attic Panic represents femininity in the way that it supports the stereotype as the protagonist finds herself helpless and vulnerable. However, it rejects the stereotype that girls are submissive and timid as she is courageous and brave when she kicks the hand of the ghost-figure.

Narrative 

David Bordwell and Kristen Thompsons theory:
The short film is presented in a linear structure as it is in chronological order. The plot is that the female character is in a storage room and a ghost-figure targets her. The story isn't presented here which adds to the enigma as it leaves questions for the spectator such as why she is there? Is it her place of occupation?

Todorov's theory:

• Equilibrium
• Disruption
• Confrontation
• Resolution
• New Equilibrium established  

This theory doesn't fit with the film Attic Panic, similarly to most short films. There isn't a new equilibrium established due to the fact that the film ends on a cliffhanger, as we're unaware as to what has happened to the female character - although our imagination leads us to think that she is dead. This builds to the enigma of the story which leads me to Roland Barthes theory.

Roland Barthes:
Roland Barthes is a Structuralist literacy theorist whose work is very influential. He identified narrative codes such as enigma codes and action codes. This is presented in this short film - the enigma code is conveyed throughout the sequence as there is spectator positioning such as why is the women there? What is under the white sheet?
Action codes are also presented, such as the light turning off or the glass smashing on the floor. This hints to the spectator that something is going to happen, without giving away what it is.

Genre:
The genre of Attic Panic is horror. This is shown through semantic codes often used in thrillers such as lights suddenly turning off, smashed glass, ghost-figures, low-key lighting, ect. Rick Altman introduced the theory of semantic codes, and expanded by talking about syntactic codes. A syntactic code in this horror would be the ending, where it cuts to a black screen and there is off-screen diegetic sound of smashed glass. This is a typical convention for a horror.

THE FALL FRANCES

MRANG

Media language

Mise en scene
Editing
Camera
Sound

The film starts with non-diegetic music sound track of sad classical music playing. The screen is black and this point then suddenly the title 'THE FALL' cuts on screen. The first scene we see is a LS of the top of the building, the colour of the scene has a high grey scale which creates a lonely dull atmosphere for the audience.








 We are introduced to a young man as he walks across the shot with a non-confident body language as his arms are just flopping by his side. As our protagonist walks across the shot the lighting and colour of the screen gets so bright that it gets to a point where we almost can not see our protagonist. The scene then cuts to a MS of the male character standing at the edge of a building and you can see a busy city in the back ground of this shot. Our character has a blank facial expression as a MS shows him checking his phone (prop). A ECU shows the protagonists phone and a picture of what appears to be him and possibly his girlfriend or wife are the lock screen of his phone.









 The scene then cuts to a MCU of the male character as a disgusted facial expression appears on his face, he looks away at the phone. A hand held camera shows the ground beneath the building and it seems that he is quite far off the ground. The shot then cuts to a MS of the characters face and his facial expression shows he looks scared and afraid. The next scene is MS of the character getting up onto the edge of the building ledge, all the while non diegetic music sound track is playing in the background of the scene. A LS shows the protagonist standing on the edge of the building, swaying and then cuts to the handheld camera again filming the ground beneath him. Then a MS shows our male character jumping off the edge of the building. The final shot is a ECU of the characters phone (prop) that he left on the building ledge before he jumped off the building and the words 'IM SORRY' appear on his phone, the scene then cuts to black and then non-diegetic music sound track stops.

Representation

This short film represents masculinity and death as the story tells us that his girlfriend has had an affair so he jumps off a building and kills himself

Narrative

The plot of the story is that the young mans girlfriend or wife has has an affair which has obviously affected him massivly so he commits suicide. The story is told in a linear structure.

Genre

The genre of this film is a thriller

GUILTY FRANCES

"Guilty" (Short Film) from S. Larson on Vimeo.

MRANG

Media language

Mise en scene
Editing
Camera
Sound

 Before we are introduced to anything on the black screen we hear the diegetic dialogue from a male with an American accent, after about a second the title 'GUILTY' fades on screen and the letters shuffle before coming together to make the word. The title stays on screen as the black screen cuts to our first scene. We are shown by a CU shot, a male characters hands opening a car door.

As the male's dialogue carries on, non-diegetic music sound track of classical music starts playing in the background. The scene is lit with low key lighting which suggests this is short film is a thriller. There is high frequency cuts from a hand held camera and slow motion is used, this technique is used to give the effect that time is passing while he is driving the car. A POV shot is used at the front of the car filmed with a hand held camera where we can see the male character driving down the street in night time, the only lighting is used are the headlights of the car and street lights which means us as the audience cant see where he is driving. The scene then fades to a MS of our protagonist where we get our first fight of what he looks like. His costume consists of a white tee-shirt and a black bomber jacket, his facial expression looks like he is thinking deeply about something, in his dialogue he is reading the letter he wrote to 'Mrs Patterson'. The scene then fades into a black and white home video of a group of young boys, the dialogue tells us that two of these young boys are the male protagonist and his best friend. The two young boys are both wearing long sleeve tops and trousers (costume) and they are standing posing for the video with their arms round each other. 






There is a shot reverse shot which cuts from the home video of the young boys to a MLS POV of the man driving in his car and then back again to the home video. A MS shows a black sports car pulling into a parking bay and by the looks of it the car is quite expensive which suggests that the protagonist is fairly wealthy. This scene then dissolves to a MS of the male character sitting in his car and he appears to be looking for something as he rummages through a pile of books on the passenger seat next to him and he finally finds what he is looking for, a letter. A MS from outside the car door has the camera positioned as if someones is standing outside the car window looking in. This sets the idea that the film could be a thriller as it gives a chilling and terrifying atmosphere. An orange filtered light is shone onto the piece of paper the character is writing on which spotlights it, this shows that the letter is a significant prop in this short film.

 The movement in which the character moves in is ghostly as if this is not reality.  A MS shows the protagonist rubbing his head on his hand and his facial expression looks confused. His dialogue tells us that he was drink driving and killed his best friend and we find out now that the letter he is writing is a letter of apology to the mother of his best friend who he killed. The male characters ghostly movements suggest that he may not have survived the car accident either as he talks about how he was unable to attend the funeral. A set of high frequency medium shots fade in and out of each other showing the narrator finishing of the letter than smoking a cigarette in his car. The next scene fades into a long shot of a police car driving past our protagonist, as the police car drives past the protagonist he waves at the police car but the police car doesnt wave back which implies that the policeman didn't see him because he's not really there. The scene then dissolves to a MS from the back seat of the car, the shot shows the protagonist throwing the letter in frustration on his dash board, he then leans over to the glove box of his car and pulls out a gun(prop). 












From when he throws the letter to reaching for the gun there is no hesitation from the protagonist which suggests that this was what was planned all along. A MS from outside the car shows the protagonist winding up the windows, the windows are tinted black so we now can not see inside the car. An ECU of the male characters face shows his facial expression is blank showing no emotion but fear in his eyes as he looks up at the car ceiling. The scene then fades to the home video of the young boys again and the video flickers from black and white, to colour, to black and white again. This then cuts to a blur of colours running across the screen which seem to be made to look like a movie tape however the picture can not quite made out. The scene then fades to a MS of the character with a horrified facial expression and the only lighting that is on the character is is a spot light shining down onto his face. He then looks up at the ceiling of his car and points the gun and his head. The scene then cuts to black and the non-diegetic narrative we hear throughout suddenly stops and the foley sound of a gun shot is heard.

Representation

The social group represented in this short film is masculinity however it is portrayed in a negative way because the main character is shown to be weak in the sense that he is writing this apology letter.

Narrative 

This film is told in a non linear structure because it goes back in a flashback. We are revealed by the story that the protagonist has killed his best friend in a drunk driving incident however not much of this story is revealed and the plot tells us that the letter is written to his mother.

Genre

The genre for this film is a thriller because it has typical thriller conventions such as low key lighting and shaky camera work.

SUIT CASE FRANCES

Suitcase - Horror Short Film from Farhan Aiman on Vimeo.

MRANG

Media language

Mise en scene
 Editing

Camera
Sound

The shots starts off as black screen then suddenly the title 'SUITCASE' fades on screen written in a demonic way as if someone has written it themselves. 












We are introduced to our character through an establishing shot and the diegetic foley sound of something being dragged along a hard wooden floor, perhaps a suitcase. The setting which appears to be a mans bedroom has low key lighting which gives the impression that this a horror/thriller movie. The next shot is a MS of our protagonist, he has black long hair and is wearing a white and green patterned vest top (costume). The MS shot shows him drinking out of a mug (prop). The diegetic tapping noise carried on as he drinks his drink and then a shallow depth of field shows a shadow figure walking passed an air vent in his door. The diegetic sound of  someone walking past the door is all we hear and a demonic off screen crackling sound as this event takes place. A MS of the protagonist shows his facial expression is looking confused as he looks over at the door where the shadow just walked past. We are shown the male character walking over to the door by a LS, throughout these events the diegetic tapping sound is still present.

 The lighting of the room has a blue filter with a vignette edge to it and as he opens the door of the cupboard the camera shot then cuts to a MS of the protagonist walking into the room that the sound is coming from. A LS shows us an empty suitcase (prop) which the character has found open in his cupboard and a low angle MS shows the protagonist with a frustrated facial expression and then there is a diegetic sound of him sighing. He then leans towards the suitcase with an open body positioning and a LS shows our protagonist zipping the suitcase up, the only sound we hear is the diegetic sound of the zip, The suitcase (prop) is brown and looks like it comes from the 1950's. A LS shows the male character walking out of the cupboard back into the bedroom and the lighting is at a much lower level which gives us the impression that something bad is going to happen. This shot then cuts to a MS of the character and then we hear the contrapuntal diegetic sound of the suitcase unzipping just as we see the character shut the door, a CU of his facial expressions shows that he is frightened by this sound. As he walks over to the door the camera quickly cuts to a MS of he protagonist opening the door, a hand held camera shows the diegetic parallel sound of him sighing and with an irritated facial expression on his face he walks back over to the now unzipped suitcase. A low angle tracking MS from the edge of the sofa shows our protagonist dragging the suitcase out of the cupboard, his body language and the way he is dragging it suggests that their is something in the suitcase.

 The scene then cuts to a MS of our character clearing objects of his desk, an xbox controller, a mug and a laptop (props), the audience gets the impression that he is going to put the suitcase onto this desk and maybe inspect it. This same MS shows the male character walking out of the shot to get the suitcase and then he walks back into the shot with the suitcase. The scene then cuts to a CU of our protagonist's hands clasping the edge of the suitcase as if he is ready to open it, he runs his hands across the edge of the suitcase then bangs the top of it and the audience are given the impression that he is hesitant to open it.

 The only sound we hear is the parallel diegetic sound of the rattle as he undoes the buckle on the side of the case. A light shines on the characters hands as is a spot light on the floor shining up at him. A MS with a handheld camera shows him finally undoing the suitcase and again we have the diegetic sound of it unzipping, he does this whilst having an intrigued facial expression. We hear the diegetic sound of him sighing and as he begins to open up the case a non-diegetic music sound track begins to play and a shallow depth of field shows the cupboard door slamming as he opens the suitcase, as the door shuts their is a diegetic loud bang of the door. It then it then cuts to  low angle CU of the male character looking over at the door with a horrified facial expression.  The scene then cuts back to a CU from inside the suit case and as our protagonist look back over the suitcase there is a loud diegetic scream from inside the case and a black hand reaches from the case and pulls him inside. The scene then fades to black.

Representation

I feel that masculinity is represented in this short film however in a negative way. From the plot we can see that our protagonist lives alone however when he discovers this demonic suitcase his masculinity and bravery is questioned because he gets scared and then in the end get pulled into the suitcase.

Narrative

We dont get much about the story from this short film but the plot suggests that our character is of middle class because he has such technologies like an xbox and laptop and could possibly student. This film has a linear structure as it is told in chronological order.

Genre

The genre of 'SUITCASE' is a horror as it has elements that suggests this such as the lighting used, lack of dialogue and the music choice.

 

Money Box - Ailsa

Money Box

 
MONEY BOX- 5 min short film from Muzappar Osman on Vimeo. 2014.

Media language and narrative

 

This short film begins with an establishing cityscape shot for the background to the title - this sets the scene. 

Bright and eerie non - diegetic sound is used as it tracks up to a vending machine. 

A LS of someone hooded is seen to walk up to this, this creates enigma as his identity is hidden and hoods are usually a sign for crime. There is a buzzing non- diegetic sound as he approaches, which also creates enigma and some confusion as to what this is coming from.

 The camera is filming the character from a slight high angle as he is seen to enter the money, it is also an example of an over-the-shoulder shot to focus on the machine. A CU of the amount of money entered emphasises the importance of this amount. 

 The camera films all the different options using handheld, which effectively allows us to understand the excitement/ confusion he faces with choosing between all of the different choices. The CU it uses also makes it so the audience only focuses on this. It also allows us a closer view of the prices - which is significant in this short film.

The camera looks onto his hand holding his change from a high angle, this creates sympathy as we can clearly see he doesn't have enough.

The non - diegetic sound gets a little more uplifting as we see a CU of they money coming back out, but this time with $10 (this is emphasised by the CU.) This is then followed by a CU of his confused facial expression that is observing the money.

As he enters this $10 note, we see a CU of his smug facial expression that shows how pleased he is with himself. This is then followed by $20 notes then being dispersed. 

After this, more and more CUs show money coming out continuously.

 

We are shown the character admiring the money from a low angle. The effect of this is to get inside the character's mind to show how glad he is and how powerful he is now feeling. 

We get the same bright, eerie non - diegetic sound as the camera tracks up to a BCU of his proud face looking at the money. 

This emphasises even further how happy he now feels, and his eyes are framed with the money to show this is now the only thing he is thinking about - he is excited and has almost got a little carried away.

In contrast to the character receiving the money, we are then shown fast paced edits of CUs of him putting in a continuous amount of dollar notes. Whenever we are shown the money, the volume of the non- diegetic sound gets louder to emphasise the amazement of this.

 

The character's facial expression suddenly changes, we are seen him from a MS which is unusual and it is clear he is thinking. This creates enigma for the audience as they want to find out why he is looking like this. 

We are shown the character getting his credit card out of his wallet, followed by an eyeline match of the Bank opposite him. This then shows the cash machine by zooming in, which highlights how his attention starts to focus on this more and more, and tells us through the concluding CU that he will draw money out. 

We are shown a MS of him entering even more money in anticipation (shown by his facial expressions and body language.) We only have diegetic sound to show that he is doing this, it also emphasises the anticipation as it's silent and we only focus on this. CUs of him entering the money is shown by dissolve transitions.

After seeing him put even more money, and CUs of the amount he is receiving, we are shown him pressing the coin return button. After this, we see the establishing shot that we saw for the title, but this time the lights are going out.  This is emphasised through the diegetic sound of electricity going out. 

There is a dark lit birds eye view of the character - showing something has happened to completely take this power he has. 

Sheer panic is shown through a BCU of him, and his facial expression. Only ambient sound is now heard, and he bangs the vending machine in frustration.

 

The city's power comes back on (emphasised by diegetic and non diegetic sound,) and we see a CU of the vending machine stating there is no money coming out now. Siren-like non diegetic sound shows the character from birds eye view, CU and many more other shots in complete anger and panic. 

 

 The camera tracks out to conclude the short film, showing the character looking at the vending machine - this makes it looks as though he doesn't want to give up on the fact there is no money coming out for him. 

The narrative for this is purely linear.

 

Representation

The man is represented as being someone who becomes too obsessed with money; when he gets a lot he feels powerful and positive, and when he looses everything he is weak and angry. 

Genre

The genre is a mix between black comedy and drama - as it conveys a message in a lighthearted way.