1. A2 G324 Advanced Portfolio Short Film Textual Analysis Worksheet Support
Short Film Textual Analysis Support
Snap
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmxX2r-uD8I
No. Element Textual Analysis Area
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2. A2 G324 Advanced Portfolio Short Film Textual Analysis Worksheet Support
1. Camera angle, movement and position
2. Micro • Where is the camera positioned within the scene? Why do you think
it has been positioned there?
At the beginning of the clip there are many still close up shot which are
3. position to be level shots. This helps to set the scene and the atmosphere
for the rest of the short film. Then the camera is positioned in such a way
that the characters are either running into the camera or away from the
4. camera. These two shots are effective as it emphasises that they are
running and the man with the camera is being chased. Also the camera is
positioned on a level shot to create realism and allow the characters to be
5. shown from a normal person’s eye line.
• What shot types are used? What meaning is created?/How are camera
6. angles used to suggest character representations?
Close up shots are used at the beginning to set the scene whereas different
shots with more movement are used later. For instance tracking shots are
7. used to track the characters movement throughout the chase which creates
the scene of speed and adrenalin. Also shot reverse shots are used
frequently throughout the short film to cut from one character to another.
The shot reverse shots show the man running and setting up the next shot
he wants to take and then cuts to the man chasing the man with his camera
and his reaction to things like tripping over the skipping ropes, running
through a massive piece of paper and also getting water thrown all over
him.
• Consider camera movement? How does this create meaning?
The camera moves between the characters such as the camera man to the
girls with the skipping rope to the camera man and then the man chasing.
This movement between the characters helps the audience understand as
it sets up the next obstacle for the chaser and then shows it happening.
Again tracking is used to emphasis the speed and adrenalin created which
the audience also begin to feel. Tilt shots of the men running are used to
show how the camera man is still running strong but the chaser is
beginning to tire.
• What is the depth of field and how does this impact on the meaning?
Deep depth of field is used throughout the short film so everything is in
focus and the storyline id clearer to the audience. Narrow depth of field is
used in the close up shots to make the audience focus on what’s going on
in the shot as close up shots are used to show important things.
Framing
• How have characters/locations been framed? What meaning is given
through this choice of framing?
This short film has been framed to show only the necessary things in the
shots. For example the character are either framed on their own or with
the other person in the chase as the characters and what’s happening to
them in the shots are the only important bits so it has been framed so that
is all the audience can see and they don’t get distracted.
• Has the rule of thirds been followed/challenged?
Generally the rule of thirds has been followed in the short film as the
characters are mainly off to the right or left of the shots and the top of their
heads are just in the shots showing the rule of thirds has been followed.
This works well as if the guy takes a picture over his right shoulder it’s
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3. A2 G324 Advanced Portfolio Short Film Textual Analysis Worksheet Support
8. Macro Genre Specific elements; codes and conventions
• What codes and conventions have been followed/challenged?
Consider all micro elements (camera angle, movement, position;
9. sound; editing; mise en scene) as well as macro elements
(representation; narrative)
In the chase they have used the classic tracking shot to represent speed
10. and adrenalin. Again they have used classic slow motion editing to capture
a moment like the water being thrown and the camera flash. The sound
follows the codes and conventions of typical chases as the music speeds up
11. when they are running but when they aren’t the music slows down or
12. changes. The mise en scene doesn’t particular follow codes and
conventions as the set looks pretty fake as there are not many people in
the background of the shots which suggests it has been set up so it’s less
realistic.
• Are audience expectations of this genre satisfied/challenged?
I wouldn’t really know what genre to categorise this short film as it is just a
light hearted film which could possibly be classed under action/comedy. I
think the expectations from the audience are satisfied as this is an award
winning short film.
Narrative
• How is the narrative being told? From whose perspective are the
audience viewing the film? (Consider characters, first/third person)
This short film has been made so that the story line is shown from the
camera man’s prospective as what he is doing is his creation. This
particular short film is told in sections which are jumbled up. It starts with
the chase and pictures being taken but then goes on to show the final
product in a gallery and then finally shows the man training on a treadmill
which should theoretically come first.
• How is the concept of time represented?
Time isn’t a huge factor of this short film but time is represented during
the chase as all the people are set up their positions waiting for their
victims. Also a change of day is represented with a fade transition.
• What part do the characters play in moving the narrative along?
Each of the characters move the narrative along as the audience get a shot
of the camera man running and then what is to come to the victim like the
girls with the skipping ropes and then finally the victim tripping through
the skipping ropes.
• What is the narrative structure?
Like I said before this film starts in the middle and finishes at the start with
the camera man training.
• How will the audience understand the narrative?
The audience understand the narrative as the concept is simple and simple
concepts generally make the best films.
Representation(s)
• Context? What time is it set (Past/present/future)? How does this
impact on the character representations (consider societies views)?
This appears to be set in the present time but also slightly old fashioned
due to the camera and the clothing the family are wearing but these clothes
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4. A2 G324 Advanced Portfolio Short Film Textual Analysis Worksheet Support
Ideas Generation/Reflection Area: It is important that you reflect on what you have
learnt from the short films you have analysed. You need to show a clear development/journey
starting from your research, which then influences your planning, and therefore your
production and you will then reflect on this in your evaluation. Consider how you could use
the techniques in your own production, or perhaps you have decided not to use a specific
technique because it wasn’t successful in the short film you analysed.
Ideas Generation/Reflection Area
What have I learnt from the construction of this short film? How can I apply any
of these techniques to my own short film?
I have again learnt that the most simple idea work the best with short films. You don’t need to have
dialogue for it to make sense and also original ideas are always the best as people haven’t seen it
before and therefore are more likely to enjoy the film and praise it more.
I have also learnt characters aren’t always the most important part of a film.
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