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.