Evaluation - short film
Evaluation
Genre - a category / style of film…
Genre is used by producers to allow films to target audiences. Genres comprised of a number of conventions. If a film uses genre conventions in a conventional way, it is conventional. If it subverts, it's called unconventional. Get Out is conventional and unconventional.
Steve Newel - genres are fluid and change over time. If a familiar aspect is repeated, it becomes a part of the genre, which will appeal to pre-sold audiences. Ex Machina is in many ways an AI narrative, but also has elements of a psycho sexual thriller.
How does my film use genres? Is it a hybrid?
The ideology of the director can affect the film's representation.
Stereotypes create meaning - understandable for audiences. Good for films under 2 hours.
Stereotypes can cause complications because they always reflect hierarchies if power.
In your film, what is the representation.
Narrative is shaped by ideology, its how a story is told.
3 act structure implies that all narratives are formulaic.
Audiences enjoy watching characters suffer - conflict
Which theorist makes the most scene while analysing your film#
narrative unconventional?
Section 1 Comparison
Section 2 critical approach
Section 3 preferred and alternate reading
Evaluation Draft
- I was inspired the Fly, The Ellington Kid and The Swan. Comedic tone / fast paced action. The fly uses a seemingly random MES, like a fly, and the whole film revolves around a relatable situation but with a twist. Swatting a fly away while robbing a bank. The Swan had a mundane story, like buying food from a shop, but with crazy things happening around him. I wanted to have a similar tone, as I feel that the worry of losing an object that was trusted to you by family or friends is a relatable situation to be in, and I put this fear into an action story with bikes and anime style battles with over the top editing and sound effects, inspired by films such as Scott Pilgrim Vs The world. The protagonist's obsession with a piece of clothing was largely inspired by Tight Jeans, which also takes a random everyday object, like jeans or a scarf, and makes the film completely revolve around it, taking the characters to some interesting places, either in a deep conversation about race and slavery, or into an action scene in a carpark. The story was actually partly inspired by my own life, since last year I lost my scarf, so I had to borrow my late grandfather’s scarf, and I wore it all day, including lessons, to make sure I didn’t lose it.
- The film has an equilibrium and a three act structure. (Explain theory more) The first act where the protagonist talks to his family member is the equilibrium, the equilibrium is disrupted when the antagonist steals the scarf and there’s a new equilibrium when the protagonist gets the scarf back. You could argue that there is no new equilibrium, but rather the same. A problem with my story is that the protagonist ends in a similar place to where he started, however I believe that there is a new equilibrium, because he gets a cold after being separated from his scarf for so long.
- My film represents teenagers and family. He wears a backpack, teenagers wear back packs. Skateboard and bikes are typically used by teenagers, and are usually considered cool. The antagonist biker gang are presented as mean teenagers, the protagonist is presented as a kid who cares about his family, and will stop at nothing to save what he loves. I think this representation of bravery and compassion for his family will relate to audience members. My film presents an ideology of the importance of family and keeping promises to people you love, and standing up for yourself when someone threatens or disrespects you. These themes are easy to incorporate into the film with the MES of the scarf. Since the scarf is intentionally shown to be important to the protagonist’s family in the first act, the MES of the scarf symbolises the protagonist’s love for his family, and since he goes through a lot to get it back, it shows how much he cares.
- Representation theory is… and my film…
- My film is meant to appeal to audiences who are a fan of slapstick comedy and action. The editing is meant to be fast paced, and therefore exciting. The absurdity of the film is meant to be comedic, further reinforced by how serious the characters are acting, binary opposition between the comedy of the scenario, like the umbrella being a shotgun, and the scarf being a weapon, and how serious the characters are treating the situation. Despite the comedy and action, the film has a small emotional centre, appealing to people who like watching films with themes of family. Like fast and furious, it’s all about family. Conventions of the action genre include fight scenes, two conflicting sides, weapons, a bike chance, dramatic music, and a final battle in the rain at night in a deserted arena. My film conforms to all of these. Comedy genre has slapstick, goofy music, funny dialogue, cartoony absurdity, over the top sound effects and a punchline before the credits. These conventions help make it apparent what genre this film is, and therefore makes it easier to appeal to audiences who are fans of these genres, therefore making a profit.
- Audience theory is….
- One way I subvert this genre however is…
- There are many examples of micro elements and mise en scene that I use in this film…
- The problem with my film…
- I am proud overall of my film because…
DRAFT
For my NEA project, titled 'Scarf Swing', I took inspiration by other short films I've studied, such as The Fly, The Ellington Kid, The Swan and Tight Jeans, as my film has a light hearted and comedic tone throughout the runtime of 4 minutes and 40 seconds. I was inspired by The Fly in particular, as that short film revolves around the seemingly random Mise en Scene of the fly which disrupts the get-away driver. Being disrupted and annoyed by a fly is a relatable situation, however the film puts it in an unlikely situation, a bank robbery, which makes the situation more humorous, as there's a clear binary opposition, a theory by Levi Strauss, between the relatable situation and the unrelatable setting. This binary opposition is used in my film, as the idea of looking after a scarf that doesn't belong to you is relatable, however the goofy and absurd action scenes coupled with this relatability gives the film a comedic tone, similar to The Fly. The Swan also has a mundane story with a strange twist, similar to Scarf Swing and The Fly, as the film uses action and background gags, juxtaposed with the protagonist's ignorance, to create humour. My film has a relatable story about family mixed with fast paced action with over the top sound effects, inspired slightly by Scott Pilgrim Vs The World. The protagonist's obsession with retrieving an item of clothing was slightly inspired by Tight Jeans, which also takes a random everyday object and makes the film completely revolve around it, taking the characters to interesting places, either in a deep conversation about race and slavery, or into an action scene in a carpark. My story was also initially inspired by my own life, as around last year, I lost my scarf, so I had to borrow another one that belonged to a relative, and I wore it all day, including lessons, to make sure I didn't lose it.
I would consider my film to conform to Todorov's theory of equilibrium, as it is very easy to see where these tropes take place in the film. The protagonist wearing the scarf is the equilibrium, the antagonist stealing the scarf is the disruption, and the protagonist retrieving the scarf is a new equilibrium, further emphasized with the sneeze, as now the protagonist must adjust his week after getting a cold. The film also conforms to the three act structure, as there is a clear rise in conflict when the scarf is stolen, and there is a clear climax and third act when the antagonist is defeated.
I think the decision to write and direct a film with a story like this will relate to young and sensitive people.
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