'Echo' - Lewis Arnold (2013)

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Film Title: 'Echo'

Director: Lewis Arnold

Genre: Personal interest/True story

Year: 2013

Length: 17 minutes 

My expectation: 

I expected the film to be about an event that repeats itself and as it continues to progress we find out more.

The film followed a girl who cons members of the public with the same story daily, in order to get money. This was similar to my prediction, but explored it in a heartbreaking way. 

What I liked: 

I liked how the film played with the viewers emotions making us pity the girl but then dislike her when the truth is discovered. I found it really interesting how the film began with an observational shot then focused in on her using a medium. The way it began ambiguous then zoomed in was really effective as it highlighted that even though she was a normal person she had significants to the story. I also liked how they showed the complexities of crime and why people commit them, highlighting that not everyone who commits a crime is a bad person. 

What I didn't like: 

If I had to change anything it would have been just having more back story about her dad. 

Anything I may use?: 

The opening observational shot that then changed to a medium shot that selected her out of the crowd, this I think could be effective to entice a viewer in to a characters story. 

https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2014/03/29/echo/ - 'Echo' 

'Tight Jeans' - Destiny Ekaragh (2008)

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Film Title: 'Tight Jeans'

Director: Destiny Ekaragh 

Genre: Light comedy

Year: 2008

Length: 9 minutes 

My expectation: 
I believed the film would be about a girl who couldn't get her jeans on leading to her friends having to help her get them on. 
However when I watched it it was completely different, it was about a group of boys talking about different topics current today such as race, gender and age.

What I didn't like: 

I didn't like this short film, I found it a bit boring to watch as it didn't focus on one topic - which I think was the idea. 

Anything I may use?: 

I will focus on a topic which is current today. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcPBCrUc8YI - 'Tight Jeans'

'Operator' - Caroline Bartleet (2015)

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Film Title: 'Operator'

Director:  Caroline Bartleet

Genre: Suspense

Year: 2015

Length: 7 minutes

My expectation: 

I expected the film to be about someone calling an operator, focusing on the victims side of the call, I believed that there would be one character and just a voice at the end of the line. 

However, the film actually focused on the journey of the operator highlighting the struggles of the emotionally straining situations emerging services have to cope with everyday. Although it did just focus on one operator only hearing the victims voice at the end of the phone. 

What I liked: 
I really loved the contrast between the clam and kind performance of the operator to the panic in the victims voice. It was so difficult to watch as it showed the draining and heartbreaking nature of the jobs these people have to complete everyday. I loved how this film made me think and appreciate those people so much, the way the call abruptly ended and we were left watching the operator composing herself ready for the next call was heartbreaking and incredibly poignant for me. 

What I didn't like: 

I thought this film highlighted its aims clearly, I wouldn't have changed a thing as it was perfectly portrayed. 

Anything I may use?: 
I may use the focus on a singular person in my short film as I feel that it draws a viewer in to to that individuals story. 

https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2016/04/01/operator/ - 'Operator'

'The Ellington Kid' - Dan Sully (2012)

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Film Title: 'The Ellington Kid'

Director: Dan Sully

Genre: Social Realism/Dark comedy

Year: 2012

Length: 5 Minutes 

My expectation: Before watching the film I expected it to be shot in the documentary style following the life of a normal individual. Although, I also thought that there may be some complexities which get discoved as the film progresses, making a societal point.

However, when watching the film it was clear that the documentary style would have been far too anticlimactic regarding the plot line. Instead you were positioned as the listener to a story. The flashbacks and dramatic dialogue all dramatised the events creating an uncomfortable but curious atmosphere. Although, I had predicted that it may make a societal point this was shown through the topic of knife crime, exploring a topic many only experience though the news.

What I liked:
I enjoyed the use of colour grading in the flashbacks. The present was lighter whereas the past was hazy and dark, this added tension and tightened a viewers feeling of intensity as well as juxtaposing their emotions. I also liked the contrasting performances from the silent/muffled past of the stabbing to the energetic atmosphere of the present.

What I didn't like:

I didn't like the comedic and ambiguous ending as I felt that it made the stabbing appear less significant and hard hitting making it seem as a game and not a real issue. 

Anything I may use?:
In my film I hope to use colour grading to distinguish different times and/or make a viewer feel a specific way. 

https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2013/03/14/the-ellington-kid/ - 'The Ellington Kid'

'The Fly' - Olly Williams (2014)

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Film Title: 'The Fly'

Director: Olly Williams

Genre: Dark comedy

Year: 2014

Length: 6 minuites

My expectation: 

I expected the film to be about a man being tormented by a fly who then eventually gets killed.

I was largely right with my prediction however, what made the film so hilarious was the bazar and mad nature of the mans determination which I could not predict.

What I liked: 

I really liked the three act structure, beginning calm and collected, climaxing as he shoots the fly then finally ending as the police arrived. This meant that by the end you too were relieved as you felt that you had experience it too. It was really impressive how being such a stressful thing to view it makes the too viewer feel angry, annoyed and exhausted while still disconnecting them enough to laugh about the situation. Also like Hitchcock  Williams used extreme closeups to heighten tension, which was achieved really well. 

What I didn't like: 

However, I didn't like that the film lacked meaning/moral this meant I didn't feel that I had learnt anything instead it was just a laugh to watch. 

Anything I may use?: 

I may use the extreme closeups in order to heighten tension in my piece.


https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2015/09/21/the-fly/ - 'The Fly'

Talk by Neil

Talk by Neil

Ex-Hills Road student Neil came in to talk to us about his short film and any advice he would give us.  He said...

1. Keep the film as simple as possible -if you do this then you can be far more precise and thought-out with your approach. 
2. Use limited cast members - this means you are not relying on many people to be able to complete film. 
3. Look at many mediums in order to find the right inspiration for your short film - Newspaper articles, Books, Radio, Films etc..
4. Explore many ideas - pick one you are excited about.
5. Film as soon as you can so you have enough time to edit. 

All he said was really helpful and help me especially regarding coming up with ideas. 

'Over' - Jörn Threllfall (2015)

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Film Title: 'Over'

Director: Jörn Threlfall

Genre: Real life crime

Year: 2015

Length: 14 Minutes

Awards: Bafta-nominated

My expectation: Before watching the film I predicted it would be about someone who has lived a life of crime or about the end of someone's life. I expected to see a night time chase which included passing through back allies. For characters I believed there would be a gang of men in their 20's who were escaping from the police after doing something to a 'victim'; assuming it would be your typical crime film, however, when I watched it I quickly realised this was not that type of film.

The first shot complied with my prediction, it opens at night with an apprehensive pan of a suburban street eventually revealing a car. The next shot, taken a few meters from the original position still framing the car and a  title card appears reading '7:30 PM'. As the film progresses the shots continue to go anti-clockwise around the green in the street always framing the car. There is no prominent dialogue in this piece building tension for the watcher as the clues are being fed to us slowly with no explanation. The only thing we are told is the time indicating to us they are telling the story backwards.

What I liked: I find this film incredibly clever as it forces us to focus on the blue car as that is were all the 'action' is taking place so when the man eventually falls we are looking straight at the scene, we are left shocked as it is unexpected and we do not feel prepared. This was able to be achieved through the lack of emotional connection we get from the piece due to the fact we meet no one. The fact it is also presented on a suburban street which includes children playing and people running adds an element of security for us. We draw the conclusion that there was a robbery due to the cuts of the 'evidence' e.g. balaclavas and bomber jackets and the fact it is clearly a wealthy area - enhancing our shock at the end.

What I didn't like: Although the film portrayed the story well, I struggled with the lack of dialogue used, I felt the film dragged on at times as we were just watching a street. However,  the danger of using more dialogue would be the impact wound not be ask great and the sympathy felt for the man wouldn't be as much as we would be thinking about how the characters we had previously met would feel. The fact we felt like an observer meant our sympathy was with him and he was the only character we got to know. So I do feel that they made the right decision, though it wasn't right for me.

Anything I may use?: I thought the information given to us at the end gave the personal aspect that was previously lacking enhancing ultimate sympathy for the man. I also enjoyed the observational response - meaning an audience could interpret their own story from it. 

https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2016/04/16/over/ - 'Over' 

What is a short film?

My definition: A film which does not have the same constraints a feature film has, such as the industry constraints etc... Instead  they allow a filmmaker to be free with their creative ideas meaning they can create something unconventional. A lot of the time a short film does not have the technology or budget that a feature film has, but the point of it is to spread a message.


Common Features of a short film:

• Smaller budget.
• Condensed narrative.
• Moral message/ message to convey a theme.
• Self Contained.
• Minimal to no dialogue.
• Less characters.
• Location is often a public space.
• Improvisation.
• Experimental/ unconventional.

Initial response to the brief

Initial response to the brief

I am really looking forward to creating my own short film. I believe this will deepen my understanding of how a film is constructed and the techniques used to tell the story. During the Easter of 2019 I had the opportunity to be part of a friends short film, from that I learnt a lot however, I also now know the amount of preparation that goes into creating a short film. The part I am most nervous to do is the writing and editing as I have never done anything like that before, although, I am excited to plan and shoot it as I love the atmosphere that is created when people come together to create an art form.

Introduction to me

Introduction to me 

Hi, my name is Sasha and I am studying Film Studies at Hills Road Sixth Form College Cambridge. From a young age I have been fascinated by the way film can make one feel. I had always believed that the way I reacted to a film was solely due to the actors performance. However, as I have grown older and  begun to watch more of a variety of film I have realised the impact is provoked through a combination of elements that a 'normal' watcher may not realise. The fact all the micro elements are there to enhance your viewing experience and to make you feel a certain way excites me. For my A-Level coursework I have been asked to create a short film ranging between three and five minutes. Within this project I am expected to research a variety of short films, as well as write, shoot and edit it myself.  In this blog I will be exploring the different types of short film and then begin to analyse them helping me to decide what elements I like would like to bring into my own short film. Through sharing my ideas and plans it provides a written diary allowing me to go back and remember the things I have learnt through this experience.