Short Film Research

Spin 2006

Jamin Winans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP59tQf_njc

A man is sent to a busy city, ridden with multiple numbers of crimes and general bad events. He uses his DJing skills to change these events around to the most promising ending.

Spin uses the most visual techniques of all the short films that I have researched. It often has the shots reversed and played backwards to show how the main character is controlling what is going to happen in the next few moments with his DJ decks. This is a lot different to the other films I have researched, due to the way in which it has been filmed and the general content of the film. Also this film is different in the way that the shots are a lot longer.

Snap 2006

Manolo Celi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmxX2r-uD8I

This film is about how a photographer runs away with someone’s camera forcing them to chase him, as they make their way through the busy streets the photographer takes photos of the man chasing him to capture the true emotion. At the end of the film you see the phtographer at an exhibition with all his work, and the man who’s camera he stole appreciating his photos.

The idea behind snap is quite basic but effective, as it is built up in one way, showing all the signs of the main character committing theft, but at the end there is a shot showing what the man was really doing. And how he was trying to capture the emotion of the victim best. This is similar to lovefield, how all the signs point to one thing but in the end it turns out that it is actually something else that is happening.

Lovefield 2008

Mathieu Ratthe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4meeZifCVro&feature=fvst

This film starts out looking like a horrible murder has been committed or someone is being hurt. An untidy looking man goes to the boot, and it looks as though he is looking for somewhere to put the woman that is screaming. There is also a black crow, which is typical shown as a representation of horror and death, sitting on a sign adding to the effect that there is something wrong. All the elements of the film appear to look this way, but when the film comes to the end there is an unexpected twist. This is what is really good about this film. Everything seems to point in one direction, leading you to all the signs of a typical horror scene, but building a lot of tension and excitement. But right at the end you see that it is not as first expected.

The Black Button (2007)

Lucas Crandles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrKnhOJ-R80

Mr Roberts finds himself awoken inexplicably in a white room. A man sits infront of him at a desk and in the middle of them stands a black button. If Mr Roberts pushes it, he will receive a briefcase filled with millions of dollars. Or he can take the key to the door and leave penniless. However, it isn’t that simple as pushing the button will result in the death of someone somewhere.

This film is different to all of the other films I have researched as it is a very simple but effective idea. The whole of the film is filmed within one room, and there are few different camera angles or techniques. However, this is still good as it adds to the image it is trying to create, and the film is all about the dialogue and trying to make the viewer guess what is going to happen.

INSiDE 2008

Trevor Sands

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjTOs1L3SBg

This short film is about a schizophrenic man who is waiting to see the doctor about his release from a psychiatric ward. When they start talking there is a large range of totally different types of character behind him, that in-turn speak at the same time as the main character to the nurse, each displaying a different type of emotion. After a while, the nurse gets fed up and tells them to be quiet and that she can’t help “them” if they won’t help themselves. At this point the other characters disappear and you are left with just the main man and the nurse. She then walks behind the man, and another man walks in, who introduces himself as the “Dr”, and asks how the man is feeling, the nurse then appears again and talks at the same time as the schizophrenic man, leaving the viewer to feel that she was another part to his imagination and personality, and was the way he controls himself.

This was my favourite short film as it is very creative and uses a relatively simple idea very effectively. It also has a simple twist at the end that works well, which is what I personally like to see in a short film.

This is similar to “black box” in the concept that the film is set within one main room, and the story is more focused on the dialogue, which is successful in creating a short film.

Offside 2008

Erez Tadmor & Guy Nattiv

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYIxBRA5qjA

Offside is a film about 2 different 2 man-strong groups of soldier, who are meant to be fighting against each other. One set of soldiers have a radio and are listening to Brazil play football, which is where you are led to believe the film is set. The soldiers are very cautious and on guard whilst keeping a close eye on the other soldiers. As the game goes into injury time, one of the player’s scores, and as the commentator shouts “goallll” one of soldiers pull the trigger of his gun. This then sets off a reaction and both sets of soldiers begin a shootout. As all four soldiers lay there, dying on the gravel, the commentator announces how the goal has been disallowed due to offside, revealing how all the soldiers had died for no reason.

This film is effective in it’s own way and also unique due to the fact that there is no dialogue except the commentator on the radio. This allows the viewer to keep a close eye on the action on the screen, and keeps them guessing at what is going to happen next.

The Black Hole 2009

Diamond Dugs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5_Msrdg3Hk

“A sleep deprived office worker finds a Black Hole whilst photocopying late one night Suddenly the possibilities seem endless. Will greed get the better of him?”

This film uses some basic ideas very effectively, and with some very good special effects and editing skills. I like the way this has been done as it gives the film a subtle comedy element which none of the other films have.