Coffee Shorts

Coffee Shorts is a short film production company site that works with interesting independent film talent that produces short film which can be deeply scary or have very serious narratives which they believe is to the same standard as their cinema rivals. These could be a range of different short types such as music video, animation and comedy all three of which I will be looking at into a little more detail. As well as these shorts they produce experimental/ avant garde films, documentaries and dramas. On this site it advertises short film as well as promoting the different film directors/ producers that have created the films and enables aspiring filmmakers to put their work on to the site vie MySpace and facebook. Coffee shorts also have connections with different film festivals and will nominate work if they feel it has great potential to win an award. The films can be viewn on coffee shorts website and are very experimental and unusual.

They combine music and film also known as a music video however believe that it could be no where as experimental or creative as an individual scene which can make for some very cool music videos and short films on indie musicians. They only select and merge the music and filmmaking together which are interesting and a pleasure to watch.

Coffee Shorts also do independent documentaries and feel that short film are engaging, being forced to condense can help to make a complex message all the more powerful, or opens exploration of minutiae and details that could never fill an hour of television. However coffee shorts produces documentary’s on undercover stories that no one has yet to hear of or have but are not interested in it and look and buried events.

Animation is what makes real indie short film have the success that it does. They have managed to do little effort on the web for one of the few creative independent video arts. Animation is the imagination that has been put onto the big screen without having any restrictions. It usually focuses on strange and interesting pathways and is set in places that are funny, dark and horrific, combining that whole idea of a Childs love for cartoons.

Comedy shorts are a huge success and it is no wonder as these endless amounts sketchers and short stories performed by fresh new talent from all parts of the world are so funny. As an audience you will not get bored or get tiered of hearing a joke which you have once heard before. Some would say comedy shorts are this successful because they don’t have to conform to the typical codes and conventions that would need to be meet for TV broadcast.

Referencing
Coffee shorts. Narrative Music Documentary Animation Comedy . Available: http://www.coffeeshorts.co.uk/drama.html. Last accessed 29 January 2010.

Channel 4 Inspiration

4 Talent have created a week where people between the ages of 14-19 year can attend classes which will enable them to develop their skills and learn more about the media industry. The week will be running it in 2010 and will be in London and Sheffield. The whole idea is for young people to learn the skills which they can use in the media industry, as well as giving them experience and showing them the attitude to have to help them progress . They cover various different things such as acting and presenting, journalism, new media, theatre, producing and directing and advertising in the media. Although there is nothing Pacific relating to filmmaking all these things help to expand their skills and help them with passable career prospects.

Inspiration Week South 2010
Monday 12 April and Tuesday 13 April for 14 to 16 year olds
Wednesday 14 April and Thursday 15 April for 17 to 19 year olds

Inspiration Week North 2010
Monday 25 October and Tuesday 26 October for 14 to 16 year olds
Wednesday 27 October and Thursday 28 October for 17 to 19 year olds

Who is it Aimed at?
It is aimed at at 14-19 year olds who have a desire to work in the media industry and passionate and committed into achieving this goal. They look for people that have a natural flare and are creative. They aim to have various different people attend as the more diverse the better is their motto.

The application process
It starts with two Open Days: For Inspiration South, these will take place on 17th & 18th February 2010 and for Inspiration Week North, these will take place on 8th & 9th September 2010. These open days have 150 people attend and will give them a teaser of what the sessions will be like. This will also provide them with the opportunity to get involved with a variety of different things and listen to talks with people who have experience in the industry and to gain contacts. After these dates they can then apply to take part on Inspiration week which you have to do by going to channel 4's careers website. Sometimes schools, colleges, charities or community will nominate 5 people to attend.

Referencing
Channel 4. Inspiration Week. Available: http://4talent.channel4.com/4talent-opportunities/inspiration-week/index.shtml. Last accessed 29 January 2010.

BFI'S Short Films

I watched several different short films such as The man with the beautiful eyes written by Charles Bukowski and directed by Jonathan Hodgson which is an animation and is inspired from art and music. The meaning behind this short film is idea around adults wanting to keep their children from being exposed to reality and keeping them to sheltered. There's this idea about suburban lifestyle and keeping routine which this man breaks. They don't want to expect anything or anyone who is different . Almost connoting that we are being controlled and that we must follow the norm in order to be accepted. From watching this short film it has shown me that short film can be animated and inspired by a poem or book.

The First Time it Hits is by director and writer Jason Budge it has no dialogue and uses animation and carton like effects and the handheld camera movement as well as fast paced shots keep the audience engaged. The different sound effects create humour and has an armature style feel to it. This short film has taught me that no dialogue can be more effective.

Jus' Gaps written and directed by Adrian Browne is in the style of a serial drama such as Eastenders in the sense that the narrative is a very conventional and uses humour to get their message across. Watching this short film I don't feel inspired me as I felt it wasn't original nothing within in was unique or individual it was just like a snippet of an episode from a soap.

The little Things written and directed by Reina Webster has a strong message behind it and makes the audience sympathise with the main character George. The ideas around this short film is based on a child finding companionship with someone who is almost like a stranger to her and them caring more about the way she feels rather then her own mother does. The relationship she has with her mother is some what like the main character in about a girl has with her parents. Both shorts deal with the idea of their not being enough communication between parents and their children and children needing support to prevent them from feeling isolated leading them into tricky situations. This short film has taught me that basing a narrative on serious topic and having a happy ending can be just as successful and still get it's meaning and messages across without having such a dramatic ending.

Killing Time at Home written and directed by Neil Coslett uses animation and music to tell a story. It is very much humorus but also plays with the audiences emotions. It's about a man who isn't out going and is very much isolated from the main world the only way for him to make friends is to buy them then once he gets bored with them he disposes them. It deals with idea of people needing to socialise and get out, otherwise they become trapped and then begin to create a false world which leaves no hope for them to escape from the one person who is causing them to feel so alone which is themselves.

Sound the music is slow at the beginning only using a guitar and as the man begins to get happy, the pace of the music increases and the drums start to come in as well as a piano. All of which make the atmosphere seem really blissful and happy. The music then becomes more intense when the little monster is put into a room with all the other monsters and the pace of it really slows down. The electric guitar then comes in making the scene seem more dramatic.

Costume- The character is wearing very casual quit dull clothing which really represents his character.

Lighting- The lighting is really dark at the beginning of the short film especially when the character is in the corner. This connotes how isolated he feels and really represents his emotions. As he begins to feel happier the lighting becomes more high key connoting his excitement. However begins to get darker again as though the main character is never happy connoting his emotions are up and down constantly.

Props- There are not may props in this animation however there is the computer which the main character is fixated on almost as though that’s the only connection he has to the outside world. There is also the characters credit card making I seem like the only way he can make friends is from buying them.

Characters- The monster that is brought seems scared at first and vulnerable however feels more at ease when he finds companionship. A character like him was produced because he looks cute and harmless which makes the audience feel sorry for him. The main character looks really scruffy and as though he hasn’t shaven for weeks. The way his body moves and facial expressions make it seem like he is really depressed and suggests perhaps he has a really dull personality.

Camera- The camera panes across the wires then the title appears, then continues to pan eventually moving up to the direction of the character in the corner on the connoting he’s addicted to technology and suggests this is all his life consist of. Then there is a close up of his face and you can see flashing images reflecting on him and he looks really tired which all these things connote is that he’s fixated. The camera then panes down the computer screen to see the monsters he’s brought already and the fact they are all crossed out makes the audience question where they all are. The fact this monster is in the button corner of the page and yet to be brought connotes this is the last resort. The camera then pans to tilt down to the character in his front room with no furniture but a microwave suggesting this is what his life a resulted to. The camera then zooms into the door making it seem like the character is anxious for his purchase to arrive. The camera then panes up into what he is reaching the cupboards seeing various different things such as a doctor in a jar and personality peels connoting this guy is not in a fit state of mind. There is then a close up of the little monsters face and a shadow begins to cover more and more of it face suggesting he feels really intermediated and something bad is going to happen. The camera then begins to zoom out showing more of the mans purchases and the shot changes in to an establishing shot connoting this monster isn’t the only one this has happened to.




Referencing
BFI. (Wednesday, 06-Feb-2008 14:30:11 GMT ). The Films. Available: www.bfi.org.uk/education/teaching/movingshorts/films. Last accessed 26 Janaury 2010.

About a Girl

Director- Bryan Percival
Bryan Percival wanted to escape from the usual commercial adverts he had previously done and decided to get a really gritty script for his first short film he was to direct. Him and fellow cinematographer found it really hard to create a really gritty urban style as they were so used to having perfect lighting and everything being so squeaky clean and actually admitted that it was quit a struggle for them.
The film won several awards including:
•2001 BAFTA for Best Short Film;
•Edinburgh Film Festival Prize for best Short Film;
•City Light Award for Best Short Film;
•Granada TV Short film Award;
•Best Short at Raindance
•Turner Classic Movie Shorts top prize.

Writer- Julie Rutterford
Julie Rutterford is a British film and television screenwriter and has scripted episodes for many TV series, one of which is Shamless. Shamless has a very gritty and realist style which is similar to About a Girl. Making it clear about Julie's interests and ideas when coming to writing and how she is inspired by the working class.

Budget- 33,000

Analysis
About a Girl is about social realism and is a drama documentary/video diary which incorporates comedy and has allot of discontinuity and encourages the audience to laugh despite the narrative having a serious ending. The colours used through out are very dark and grainy creating a gritty style. It asks the audience to think rather then for them to get the meaning of the narrative straight away, it wants you to notice the little things. The opening shot builds up suspense about who she is and gives the impression that the short film is about youth culture, fandom and the main character trying to achieve stardom. The low angle shots makes her look superior and the dark clouds on a summers day gives the impression that something bad is going to happen. The song she is singing is about innocence as Britney spears represents innocence, purity and virginity. The lyrics "Stronger" and "I'm not a kid" connotes this is the way she feels When shes dancing it allows the audience to relate to her, as us one day too used to dance and sing along to our favourite songs it makes her character seem young and naive.

We then get the impression that this character is a chav living in an urban state. There are lot of walls and gates connoting she feels trapped by her surroundings as well as her social status. She is wearing hooped earrings which gives the impression that she's a teenager. It also gives the impression that she perhaps growing up to fast and that her being brought up into a broken family has lead her to dream a dream that is very unlikely for her to achieve and is indenial of whats actually happening in reality.

The relationship she has with her mum isn't really there. She stands in front of her mum and what looks like her siblings rather then with them. You can hear sirens, dogs, barking and a playground which helps build up the picture of her living in this typical council estate. In total there are 19 flashbacks whilst the others are of her just walking. The handheld camera when she is walking is quit aggressive and implies that her feelings are all over the place. Not only does she have a bad relationship with her mum she also doesn't have a good relationship with her dad either. We understand that her dad is on the doll and is to busy to even pay attention to her and doesn't even provide for her. She then says something about him which makes the audience seem as though she looks up to him but then says "oh bless" connoting there is false hope and almost as though she pity's him and is patronising him. He makes her watch football and does what he would be doing any way whether or not she was there or not connoting he doesn't really want to build on their relationship or spend time with her which leaves the audience to think she is isolated. In this scene the camera then panes away from her making her look small and reminding the audience that she is still and child.

Her friends share the same interests as her and when shes with them she looks confident and enjoys being the leader and the one who takes control . We then see a shot of her caring about the way she looks connoting she wants to grow up and become an adult. She compares her mum to Madonna and is very much fascinated by celebrity culture. Through out this short film we see she is assertive, she has allot to say, she knows what she wants and because we are constantly reminded of her being a child we start to think she is naive. There are allot of shots where she is by herself whether that's when shes on the bus or when she's on the bench connoting she feels alone and shes the only one who understands herself and she is her own company.We then see she wants to live with er dad but realises that she's not good enough which allows us as the audience to see why there is so much resentment.

Despite all of this she has learnt allot from her mum such as how to solve problems which is to dispose of them and get rid of them. When she stands on the the canal we see the lighting starting to change and the colours. She sings the song again which ensures her that everything is going to be OK and it can only get better from this point. We realise that all this time she has been carrying the carrier bag making the audience feel bad about laughing. The carrier bag is disposable and is it goes into the river the bag looks like it's giving birth to the baby. This short story was inspired by teenage pregnancy and that she felt know one was taking interest in it connoting that things like what happened in the film do happen and that we need to take notice and pay a little more attention.

Referencing

• BFI. (Wednesday, 06). About a Girl . Available: http://www.bfi.org.uk/education/teaching/movingshorts/films/film9.html. Last accessed 4 February 2010.
• Wikapedia. (7 December 2008 at 21:08). Julie Rutterford. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Rutterford. Last accessed 4 February 2010.

Short Film Codes and Conventions

There are many advantages and disadvantages of short film compared to feature length films as feature length films usually have well established actors and actresses. This is used as a way of attracting the audience as they are then able to watch their favourite actors or actresses on the big screen. This also applys for directors. Feature length films have a huge budget which means they will often have amazing graphics and special effects and the narrative will appeal to a more mainstream audience. The success of big budget films such as Transformers create sequels becuase the ending of the first film is left open. Which means the target audience will then be in suspense to watch the next one.

Short film on the other hand, has unknown actors and actresses who are trying to make it in the industry. Short film offers the opportunity to those aspiring actors and actresses to get a feel of how being in a film works and may even get them established, it's like a stepping stone for them. Short Film has a small budget which some may view as a bad thing but in the world of short film this means the filmmakers are then able to experiment and create their own unique style without being tyed down with tyring to appeal to a wide range of people. Because not a huge amount of money is riding on a short film, it means it doesn't matter if it flops which means there is less added pressure. Short film is not left with an open ending so when viewing it you understand and get the whole concept of what it's about without having to watch an hour and half or how ever long it is to watch a feature length film. Many directors start of making short film before they become established. Short film is often heard about through word of mouth rather then through marketing and is usually national rather then global.

Catherine Des Froges
"Spare economic narratives, interesting storytelling, well structured work which draws in the audience quickly"
Gareth Evens
"Short films are long films that finish earlier."
"A good idea, succiently told, less is more"

Short Film

A short film is a film defined by it's length and has to be under 50 minutes long. There are different types of short film one of which is micro short which is a short film that is under 5 minutes long .There is not a genre to describe short film because there are no codes and conventions. Cinema originally started with this and is how many aspiring dirctors came to be known. As it allows people to see the film makers style, allows the film maker to make a name for themselves and allows them to develop their own style . In 1895 the first short films were "Workers leaving the factory" by "Louis Lumière" and "Journey to the moon" produced by Jules Verne.There are no characteristics or criteria when making short film as it's about being creative and being experimental. Short films can be animation, a documentary or any other conventional genre such as comedy and thriller. 1970 introduced Berlin Horse which could be described as art. This short film experimented with many things such as negatives.

Short film lives outside of mainstream cinema as it's quirky and unique and tends to capture the audience attention straight away which mainstream fails to do within the first 5 minutes of it's films. Short films can be viewed in film festivals such as rain dance. Short films are usually not interested in continuity as short film is usually about the messages behind the narrative rather then whats happening visually. They usually break the fourth wall and manipulation of time and space is usually done. It has an armature film making style, a small cast and is very much thought provoking and engaging. Short film has a niche audience and can be viewn in film festivals, art gallery's, the Internet where there are exhibitions and the TV. Many short film makers don't have big budgets which means they are able to experiment because they are able to take chances as they haven't got a big budget to loose. The less economic pressure and finical risk leaves more room for experimentation and innovation which is the strength of short film.

The Most Beautiful Man in The World

In this analysis I will be looking at short film messages and ideologies in the film The Most Beautiful Man in The World. The opening shot panes to tilt up to the little girls face yawning showing sweat dripping from her face and you can hear the sound of the TV in the background. It shows she finds it physically draining and this is all her lifestyle consists of. It also allows the audience to see the costume she is wearing which consists of a belly top and hooped earings giving the impression that she wants to be older or perhaps is growing up to fast as the costume is to old for her to be wearing as she looks very young. The lighting used is low key creating a very gritty dingy style to this short film and gives the impression that this opening shot is meant to be set in the night time.

The shot which follows is of her laying on the floor with the dog suggesting she is of the same status as it and is maybe the only companionship she has which allows the audience to feel emotion towards her. It is set in the day which makes it clear that she doesn't spend her time doing much or doing things which her age group should do which leaves the audience to question what are her parents doing why isn't she at school or doing something which is educational?

We then hear a women's voice in the background on the phone talking about pointless conversation and again we see her watching TV showing that this child isn't of any importance and is invisible to them no care or attention is show towards her or even any communication is made between her and her parent the only thing we see her showing any attention to apart from the TV is the dog. It gives a sense of her feeling trapped and makes the audience feel sympathy towards her.

The phone rings and we see the dog and a women walk off suggesting that to them there are other things of more importance then her. We see that there is only one seat in the front room and all her toys are scattered on the floor there is no organisation at all and suggests that she is grown up into a single working class family as we see no male figure around suggesting that she is living in a broken home. She then looks out the window suggesting she wants to escape and almost as though sh dreams to be free.

We see an establishing shot of her outside on her bike but there is no one there observing to make sure shes safe and there are no other children around it's decelerate The location is really grubby and dirty connoting that isn't able to be a child.

A close up of her looking at her house then turning around to an over the shoulder shot allowing the audience to see what she's seeing and allows us to see the bigger picture connoting she longs to live a normal lifestyle and wants to travel and explore she hesitates before deciding to go into the field.

She then pretends to be an aeroplane connoting she wants to be free and fly away from all her problems. The sound effects Begin to get louder and more intense the further away she gets from her house connoting she feels closer to nature almost as though being outside allows her to live.

We are then introduced to a guy half naked stroking her dog connoting he's accepting of her and it's the first time you see her smile and speak which suggests she finds it easier to feel connection with a stranger more then she does with the people she lives with. She feels confident enough to speak to a stranger where as with her family she doesn't which leaves you to question the relationship she has with her family. When she speaks to him it leaves the audience feeling very uncomfortable almost giving the impression that he's a pedophile especially when he touches her. The fast paste shots of each of their facial expressions give the impression that there is sexual tension which is a very acquired position to be put in but we then see that they are just friendly which leaves the audience believe that they were thinking to far into things.

Biblography

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