What is a short film?
A short film is a film which isn't long enough to be considered a feature film. Short films have many codes and conventions. For example, one convention in short films is the characters. Short films often only have around 4 at the most main characters to allow the audience to relate to the characters in a short amount of time as short films don't really have time to create deep story lines. For example. Wasp (2003) by Andrea Arnold only had a small amount of main characters and it was a short film which didn't have too much of a deep story line to it, as it was clearly about a mother with a family which she couldn't handle. The 'wasp' was a metaphor of the mother as it was symbolising the danger and how she may have felt trapped and scared, as if she was about to sting back any time soon.
Another convention we follow in short films is having a 'twist'. We follow this because as short films are so short, having a twist makes them seem more interesting as a lot of audiences, especially in modern days, find short films uninteresting.
Most short films have a very low budget. This is because a lot of short films do not depend as much with funding as short film directors are not often funded with much money. Short film directors often stick to one or two locations and only use a few actors. This saves a lot of money and can still be enough to create a worthy short film.
The length of the short film is another important convention. The length of most short films is usually between 5 minutes and 15 minutes, but some short films can be made up to 35 minutes long.
The situation is also very relevant to short films. Short films often relate to the subject which can be seen and related to an everyday situation. This allows the audience to be able to relate to the short film while entertaining them. It will make them more able to relate and flip the topic in a way.
Another convention that can be seen in short films is Todorov's Theory of Equilibrium. This theory was split into three different meanings. The first meaning is 'equilibrium', which means that everything is normal. The second meaning is 'disequilibrium', which means that a problem occurs. The final meaning is 'new equilibrium', which means that the problem has been solved and that there has been a solution. Everything is back to normal, but there is a noticeable change.
Another convention we follow in short films is having a 'twist'. We follow this because as short films are so short, having a twist makes them seem more interesting as a lot of audiences, especially in modern days, find short films uninteresting.
Most short films have a very low budget. This is because a lot of short films do not depend as much with funding as short film directors are not often funded with much money. Short film directors often stick to one or two locations and only use a few actors. This saves a lot of money and can still be enough to create a worthy short film.
The length of the short film is another important convention. The length of most short films is usually between 5 minutes and 15 minutes, but some short films can be made up to 35 minutes long.
The situation is also very relevant to short films. Short films often relate to the subject which can be seen and related to an everyday situation. This allows the audience to be able to relate to the short film while entertaining them. It will make them more able to relate and flip the topic in a way.
Another convention that can be seen in short films is Todorov's Theory of Equilibrium. This theory was split into three different meanings. The first meaning is 'equilibrium', which means that everything is normal. The second meaning is 'disequilibrium', which means that a problem occurs. The final meaning is 'new equilibrium', which means that the problem has been solved and that there has been a solution. Everything is back to normal, but there is a noticeable change.
What is your reaction to the short films?
In my opinion, I do not find short films very interesting. This is because in modern days, a lot of audiences expect more 'action packed' films which have a lot more exciting and thrilling moments such as Fast and Furious and The Avengers. In terms of the two short films 'Wasp' and 'Gasman', I felt as if the director had tried to set a simple but noticeable storyline, as it was about an everyday situation of a family living in a lower class and more difficult society.
Which shots did you think were effective?
In 'Wasp', the use of camera was very effective as there are a lot of hand-held shots. They seemed to create more of a subjective, intimate effect on the film, especially as it gives the impression of presence in the action and makes the audience feel as if they can further relate to it as the audience can feel very emotionally involved with it.
However with the other film, 'Gasman', there seems to be a lot more careful framing and there are a lot more cinematic shots and vanishing points.
For example, in this shot she cuts off the childs head to show the child just playing around and puts the audience in more of a realistic and a position which the audience can relate to. This shows how careful the storyboarding has been created. Furthermore, these vanishing ponts could be done to make the audience focus on other aspects of the film, such as the sound or the scenery. This can be done to expand the audiences views of the film and can make the films more interesting to watch.
However with the other film, 'Gasman', there seems to be a lot more careful framing and there are a lot more cinematic shots and vanishing points.
For example, in this shot she cuts off the childs head to show the child just playing around and puts the audience in more of a realistic and a position which the audience can relate to. This shows how careful the storyboarding has been created. Furthermore, these vanishing ponts could be done to make the audience focus on other aspects of the film, such as the sound or the scenery. This can be done to expand the audiences views of the film and can make the films more interesting to watch.
How is the UK represented in these short films?
The films have a variety of representations of place, character, gender and class. One example of these is gender. 'Wasp' is a short film about a young woman who lives in poverty. She is a single mother of four but clearly wants something for herself. However, she has a big responsibility and knows that she should prioritise her children before she meets one of her old crushes. The woman disrupts her responsibility and priority for her children and decides to go on a date with her old crush.
The woman is described as a 'baby factory' which could symbolises how she might not care as much about her children as much and treats them as if they are objects. The fact that the woman living in poverty has separated her wants and her needs could be a reality representation as to how lower classed individuals in modern society act negatively upon a lot of their decisions which encourages their poor standards of living.
The woman is described as a 'baby factory' which could symbolises how she might not care as much about her children as much and treats them as if they are objects. The fact that the woman living in poverty has separated her wants and her needs could be a reality representation as to how lower classed individuals in modern society act negatively upon a lot of their decisions which encourages their poor standards of living.
Bibliography
- http://penwithmedia.blogspot.co.uk/
- http://www.slideshare.net/tds14/codes-conventions-of-short-films
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