Short Analysis of BFI Southbank Films

Cubs (2006)
Director Tom Harper
Cast Harry Eden, Ashley Walters, Tara Hodge, Jared Garfield
Duration 10 minutes

Cubs has a very cunning twist on a very British sport. When watching this short film for the first time my first impressions were that the narrative was going to be gang related then later I was to realise it was about a British sport that I wouldn't have associated with a younger urban generation with. I also though this because the actor Ashley Walters has been in films such as Bullet Boy and Life and lyrics both of which involve gun crime so I associated his usual roles with this short film however I was to be mistaken.

Wasp (2003)
Director Andrea Arnold
Cast Nathalie Press, Danny Dyar
Duration 24 minutes

Wasp is shot in Darford and is an Oscar winning short film. It shows a day in the life of a single working class mum trying to provide for her children. Her immediate concerns are to feed her children and pay the rent. She is to bump into a old flame who she manages to score a date with. His initial opinions of her is that she's pretty carefree and fun person to be around however he is unaware of the extent of how hard life is for her.

The lighting is very grainy and has a yellow tone to it creating a very gritty style to this British film. The working class mum is seen wearing her pyjamas as she goes out to have a fight with a local mum. The fact she wears this connotes that she doesn't care about the way she looks or how she is represented. Later she goes out wearing a short mini skirt which shows her bum and nickers which isn't stereotypical clothing for a mother of four to be wearing. The kids clothes are dirty and not to mention that they looked like they haven't washed in days. The locations used in this film is a council estate connoting that she hasn't got much money and she is likely to be living off the doll. The location they live in is really dirty and grimy and makes it seem like it's a struggle to even survive. The other location used is the local pub which really creates the image of all the local commoners gathering together and getting drunk. Some of the props include a baby and pram which makes her children look like kids it really shows their innocents. The audience get the impression that this women should not be a mother and these children should no have to live like this. Despite this she is constantly reminded of the kids even when shes on a date with a guy when being approached by him before hand she always looks back to her kids. In a way this connotes although she may not be a perfect mother deep down she still cares for her children. The mother often blames the eldest child for the problems that arise this is because she realises that the eldest is doing a better job then her and this puts her to shame which she doesn't like.

Convergence

Convergence describes technology being merged together. This has effected the way in which we can view media and has opened a new door for short film makers. There are various different products that are doing this such as the eye phone. It allows you to do a range of different things such as access the Internet, listen to music, take pictures, video record etc. Then there is the XBOX PS3, Wii, DS which allow you to go on the Internet, use the sky player, gaming, you can watch films, listen to music and have a virtual life. There is also the portable CD/DVD player which you can play DVD's on, listen to music, go online and play games. All these different products are allowing people to use a range of different media's all in one which is appealing to new audiences.

London Short Film Festival

The London Short Film Festival is London's most expensive and biggest film festivals. It came back for ten days, in ten well known venues in January 2010.It attracted more submissions and people attending then ever before! With over 200 short films it has made it's name for having the most exclusive up and coming film makers showcase their work. This short film festival first began in 2003 when Philip Ilson and Kate Taylor decided that they were going to do a short Halloween festival. Like many other establishers of festivals they decided to create a bigger festival because of the popularity of this one and in 2008 it became The London Short Film Festival and has been expanded ever since. In 2010 London Short Film Festival and Shooting People got together to help UK film makers. This enabled first time film makers and those that had done several short films already to gain experience. Highlights to this transformative training day included BAFTA-winning screenwriter Tony Grisoni, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE editor Chris Dickie and acclaimed cinematographer John de Borman attending and getting actively involved.

Referencing
Carla. (11:07 am on December 9, 2009 ). About The Festival/Transformative Training. Available: http://www.shortfilms.org.uk/. Last accessed 5 February 2010.

Rain Dance

Rain Dance is a worldwide western film festival which accepts work from Canada, New York and Europe and is the Uk's largest film festival. Rain Dance started in 1992 and then rain dance festival began in 1993.This festival runs from the 6th to the 7th of February. Guests have included Shane Medeows who I have previously blogged about, Christopher Nolan, Ken Loach, Marky Ramone, Iggy Pop, Anton Corbijn, Mick Jones, Andrea Arnold, Adam Yauch, Quentin Tarantino, Faye Dunaway and Lou Reed. People that attend this festival are journalists, fans, actors, producers and many other people as they know that the work that will be showcased there will be of a high quality. When submitting work you have to do it through Withoutbox.xom which is a website that specialises in festival submissions. You enter all of your films information online then upload your videos. If film makers wish to learn more about film making there is a training programme located in London writers producers and directors can also attend.

DEADLINES
- 7 May 2010 - Early Deadline
- 4 June 2010 - Late Deadline
- 18 June 2010 - Final, Withoutabox-only deadline

Referencing
Rain Dance . (). Rain Dance Film Festival. Available: http://www.raindance.co.uk/site/independent-film-festival-2009. Last accessed 5 February 2010.

Sun Dance

Sun dance is a film festival that helps aspiring filmmakers to showcase their films. It allows major studios to view peoples work that they wouldn't usually looked twice at. The result of this usually means major studios will spend millions on these films through word of mouth from Sun Dance. When talking about this festival its like talking about x factor but the difference is it's a festival for people trying to produce good film. Many major studios will send scouts to look for the next big thing there, so it's worth submitting your work. If there work isn't brought by these being company's or producers the festival will then help these film makers by allowing them to use their sources which will help develop their work and make it better. Sun Dance festival takes place in Utah, in the United States the next festival will take place in January between the 20-30, 2011. This film festival is one of program of the not-for-profit Sun dance institute. During the 90's independent film enjoyed a comeback in popularity. As a result huge figured deals were made after viewings at The Sun Dance Festival.

Referencing
Garry Crystal. (copyright © 2003 - 2010). What is the Sundance Film Festival?. Available: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-sundance-film-festival.htm. Last accessed 5 February 2010.

Brief Encounters

Encounters consists of two major film festivals and are at venues around the Harbourside area of Bristol, UK. The longest running festival in partnership began life in 1995 as Brief Encounters was originally meant to be a one of event and because of it being so popular it expanded year on year and acknowledged internationally as one of the worlds most respected celebrations of short film. In 2001, the short film festival was joined by Animated Encounters which showcased a range of things such as productions, talent, creativity, technology and skills that make animation the success that it is. The two events combined the Encounters Short film banner for the first time in 2006. There was an increase in people trying to get their work viewn with them and there were now more film submissions, film screenings and delegates. In 2007 Animation Talent Symposium day produced by the head of international Outreach at DreamWorks. This event was so successful that it was sold out. This day was organised as a way of sharing views and experiences. special guests that appeared were Mark Kermode, Richard Eyre, Henry LaBounta, Peter Lord, Phill Jupitus and Frank Cottrell Boyce. Principle Sponsors include UK Film council Lottery funded, HP Invent, films @ 59, Watershed.

Link to supporters page http://www.encounters-festival.org.uk/our-sponsors.html

“The UK's most important short film festival” The Guardian
ENCOUNTERS recognises that sponsorship is a way to maintain and develop the flair, know-how and glitz for which the festival is known worldwide. That's why we pay very close attention to making sponsorship good value for all of our supporters. The idea behind this is that it allows the sponsors to be associated with an international, well established and well respected festival.

If you would like to submitt your work, you will need to do so by April 1: Submissions open - Send them your films. June 30: Submissions deadline August 30: Festival film selections announced online September: London Launch, film programme announced and accreditation early bird offer November: Accreditation deadline

Referencing
Brief Encounters . (2009). About Us. Available: http://www.encounters-festival.org.uk/. Last accessed 5 February 2010.

Jonathan Hodgson

Jonathan Hodgens is an award winning international renowned animation director. When he first left college his first commission was to make an animated short with co director Susan Young and was to be about nuclear disarmament for The United States. He was a founder member of Jonathan Bairstow Shorts in 1996 and in 1997 The man with the most beautiful eyes was funded by channel 4. His work began to be featured in various different festivals such as Hull short Film Festival and can be found on a range of DVD complications also. In 2000 he was Commissioned to make 8 minute film ‘Camouflage’ by Arts Council of England animate! Scheme and in 2005 he received funding from Film London LAFVA scheme to make short film “Forest Murmurs”. Not only does he make short films but also documentaries, commercials one of which is for Percil and does graphics and animation.

Link to awards page http://www.hodgsonfilms.com/cv.php
Link to view video page http://www.hodgsonfilms.com/shortFilms.php

Referencing

Jonathan Hodgson. Biography/ CV. Available: http://www.hodgsonfilms.com/. Last accessed 4 February 2010