DECADE
SHORT FILM TEXTUAL ANALYSIS
Textual analysis: Get Off My Land
Directed by: Douglas Ray
Running Time: 4 mins
The opening scene begins with a medium shot shows a pair of feet in walking boots walking down a muddy path. In the background there is a non- diegetic ambient sound of the wind brushing against the trees and birds chirping. The screen remains in a medium shot where we see a pair of hands brush off mud from their trousers. The screen then cuts to an extreme long shot where the audience sees a male and female couple walking through a field with the backdrop of countryside surrounding them. The female is walking ahead of the man, which perhaps is connotating that there is tension between the two of them.
The screen fades to black then we see the titles ‘get off my land’. The screen then shows a long shot of the man struggling to climb a large gate with the female ignoring this and continuing to walk ahead. There is a brief moment of diegetic dialogue with the couple, which shows the viewer that there is some tension between them. From the mise en scene the audience can identify that they are somewhere in the British countryside. We are the shown a close up of the females ‘face where she looks visibly frustrated with her partner. There is also an element of comedy within the scene as it shows the man struggling behind the female while she doesn’t even notice him lagging behind her. The screen then presents the couple walking through the grass with the grass in the cameras focus and the couple being out of focus.
We then see the screen change into a long shot showing a green truck driving through the field towards the camera; there is the synchronous sound of the cars engine in the background. The camera then switches to the couple showing that the car is approaching them. We then switch back to the to the driver of the car who by his attire looks like a farmer. The scene continues with some diegetic dialogue between the three people where the farmer tells the couple that the land they are waling on is private and they need to get off. Throughout this dialogue the camera switches between each character showing extreme close ups of their facial expressions as they look annoyed. The constant switching between the two male characters highlights the increase in tension between the two.
The camera then shows a close up of the farmers face as he is fed up of the man questioning him. The film then shows the farmer walk back to his truck before changing to the man questioning him looking pleased that he managed to make the farmer retreat. However the farmer returns to the couple holding a large gun with his body in a threatening stance. He points the gun at the man and the frightened woman explains that they are going to leave. The screen then changes to a long shot showing the farmer shoot the man; this scene shows a great contrast to the idyllic countryside setting as the farmer murders someone over a disagreement. We hear the synchronous diegetic sound of the gun as it shoots and we see the man who’d been shot fall to the ground. The farmer begins to walk away and the camera changes to a big close up of the woman’s face, which is splattered with the blood of her friend. We see that she is in shocked as she starts to hysterically cry.
The next scene begins in a long shot of the farmer approaching his car, with the crying women behind him with the dead man. The diegetic sound of her crying continues. The screen changes to a establishing shot showing a forest setting as we hear the non diegetic sound of the gun blow again, to signify this a couple of birds fly out of the trees do to the loud bang.
The final scene shows the farmer walk back to his truck in a long shot with the dead couple dead in the grass visible in the background. As he stops by his car there is the diegetic sound of dialogue as he realises in a big shot that the couple were not on his private land, ultimately meaning their deaths were pointless. During this dialogue the character breaks the forth wall by directing looking into the camera addressing the audience. The screen then cuts to black.
Textual analysis: Last Man On Earth
Directed by Dan Sully
Running time: 2 minutes
The screen shows a tracking shot that leads to an extreme long shot of a man walking down an empty street full of houses. There is the diegetic sound of light rainfall. The camera changes to a birds’ eye/ aerial shot of the man waling down the road. There is no other sign of life in the outside setting.
The screen then shows an establishing shot of an empty pub as the man walks through the door. We then see an over the shoulder shot over the persons’ shoulder as he sitting over a bar stall while the camera remains in a medium close up. The camera pans forward showing the man take a large gulp of vodka. In the background there is a non -diegetic background noise of the wind outside of the pub; which is used to further emphasise the desolation of the area and the loneliness the man is feeling. As the camera is panning around to face the man in as the camera shows close up of his tense hand holding a small medicine container.
We then see the man pick out his phone from trousers to record a voice message. The audience learns through the dialogue that an ‘event’ happened that caused him to be the last man on earth, leading him to feel that committing suicide is the only way out. The mise en scene of the man costume shows that he has been travelling around, as his clothes were dirty with his beard and hair looking scruffy and overgrown. The medium close up of the camera shows that his facial expression to looks tired and distressed. The lighting in the scene is shown to be very natural meaning that as the scene is indoors the lighting is quite dark which also symbolises his mood.
The camera pans closer to his face showing an close up as he reveals that he is going to drink poison in order to die. We then see the man drink the vodka and swallow the poison. The background noise is quickens in pace as the man and audience realise that he is about to die. The background sound is then replaced with the diegetic sound of a phone ringtone. The camera then focuses on the phone than changes to show the mans’ confused face with his eyes looking directly at the camera as he realises there are others on earth. The camera goes to black symbolising the end of the short film.
Kysan Bancroft 8028
Textual Analaysis : LoveHate
Directed by: Blake Ritson, Dylan Ritson
Running Time: 20 minutes
The short film begins with the editing of a fade in from a black screen to fingertips moving. This connotes to the audience that it may be a team and they are cheering each other on because the crescendo which gets louder is them cheering "we can do this". This denotes that that they are about to do something together and they are encouraging each other before they start the task. The camera movement has a fast editing pace because the camera moves from a low angle shot to a high angle shot. From this shot it shows that the team has dispersed and left the man standing alone which connotes how vulnerable and small he is. This denotes that through the diegetic sound of the team saying ‘ go team’, that they may actually not be team as they left him behind. The mise en scene of the location denotes a sad and lonely mood, as the location looks grey and deserted, this connotes that he may not enjoy work because there is a different attitude form him to the team we can see this because the rest of the team were enthusiastic and he doesn’t look like he has any energy for the job. The mise en scene of his uniform reflects an opposite mood to how he is feeling because his uniform is a bright orange top which would connote someone wearing that top that they were in a vibrant mood however he is feeling the opposite and we can connote this from seeing the mise en scene of his facial expressions as he looks sad and down.
A straight cut is used to transition into the next scene. An extreme long shot is used to portray life at work because along the bridge a lot of the team are wearing the same uniform which is an orange top as its easy for you to recognise them also the mise en scene of them holding the clipboard denotes that they are work and on hand to take information.
A voiceover is used and the dialogue the audience hear is "most of us think of ourselves as being basically nice” as a man walks past and swears at Tom which denotes a contrast in the ideas of how people think about each other. Through the mise en scene of his body language it showed that he was hurt which connotes that he is a nice person and wouldn’t have done that someone, this connotes the world as a place where we all have different attitudes. An establishing shot is used of the whole bridge which denotes the location of where they are working this connotes how busy the bridge is and how busy the location is during work time and the aerials coming from the ship connotes the different directions in which people can be walking and how the workers have to be up and down along the bridge. A jump cut is used to the next scene where Tom is standing at the train station platform. He holds an image of his ex, while the sound of the voiceover is talking it is revealing his inner thoughts, while looking at the image. A close up shot is used to show his ex girlfriends face to the audience. This clearly connotes how much he is missing her but denotes through the close up how many thoughts are going through his head about her. As the camera tilts, it shows the image being blown away and shows him stepping forward to follow the lost image this connotes that he may be done with his ex however it denotes that he may want her and the image back.
The camera pans back to reveal a woman in all black standing behind him. The mise en scene of her costume connotes an evil omen because she is dressed in all black and black signifies an evil, dark colour. Shot reverse shot is used during their conversation which connotes the vagueness of the conversation and them being strangers and not knowing each other, however through the conversation it denotes that the woman may know Tom and he doesn’t even know it. The mise en scene of his body language shows that he is looking around for help as the woman in black is having a deep conversation with him this connotes that he she knows a lot about Tom but he still doesn’t recognise her. This is making Tom nervous through the mise en scene of his body language he wipes the sweat of his forehead, which reveals the true emotion that he may be feeling.
Tracy Kimani 8108
Last Train- David Schofield
Running time: 10 minutes
The short film begins with diegetic sound, however we are not able to see where the sound is coming from as the screen is black. This denotes that the location is in a busy place because there is a lot of background conversation and a sound of a car beeping. Through a fade in , we are able to see two hands through a close up shot, the mise en scene of 2 people wearing gloves denotes it’s cold which connotes the time of year it is and it’s probably winter. Through diegetic sound the female tells him to leave her alone in a rasied tone which denotes they may have had an argument which denotes through the black gloves that the mood between them is tense. Through diegetic sound we can hear an announcment being made about a train departure and the platform which denotes the location is at train station.
Through a straight cut, a medium close up shot is used as the couple start walking really fast the editing pace becomes quick. The distance between them denotes the troubles they are going through is separating them and creating a lot of space between them. A close up shot is used on Jay, which denotes how cold he is feeling because he wipes his nose but also through the close up shot it connotes the feelings he has towards the boistrerous boys at the train station. The facial expressions connote a look of confusion and mixed emotions. A low angle shot is used from Jays point of view as he ties up his laces . Vicky walks with fast pace with the camera panning her with fast pace she walks past Jay this denotes she doesn’t have time to wait for Jay because through digetic sound he calls her name and tells her to wait but she continues walking. The space and the pace she is walking at denotes the escalation between the both of them during there disagreement. The space also connotes she doesn’t want to be near him.
Through a jump cut in the train waiting area, there is diegetic sound coming from the group of boys the diegetic sound is of the boys rapping and laughing which denotes the positive mood that they are in. In comparision to vicky and jay who are sat in silence. Vicky through diegetic sound raises her voice to jay to ask for the time . Jay unwillingly shows her the watch which connotes jay may have a problem with time because one of the boys from the group asked for the time and he purposely said the incorrect time . A close up shot is used on Jay to show his facial expression he makes strong eye contact with the boy which connotes that he reminds jay of someone because the stare lasts for a minute and during the eye contact Jay looks aggitated and aggrevated. It’s clear the boy has triggered something in Jay.
Through a close up shot we are able to see the mise en scene of his facial expression and the sound fades out this denotes the he is in his own world as he is able to block out everyone around him and all sounds. Jay looks deep in thought and reminising on an event that occurred . The continuos panning of the camera on each boy, denotes that the boy are part of the thoughts going through his head. As the camea pans from one boy to another it connotes he is not able to focus on one thought. A high pitch sound, starts to increase in volume which denotes that Jay may have had enough and his thoughts have got the better of him which leads to jay lashing out at vicky and reaching the ultimate climax with all eyes on him. This connotes that his thoughts have reached a peak point and the only way to react is through aggresion.
A jump cut is used to jay in the car and staring straight out of the window deep in thought a red light is flashing which denotes his thoughts are all over the place but also red denotes danger which . The pace of the flashing light connotes his thoughts have calmed down but may be dangerous. A close up shot on Vicky holding jays hand denotes that she cares and they are keeping eachother warm. It denotes that Vicky is there for jay .
Tracy Kimani 8108
The Last Three Minutes- Pan Cho
Running Time- 5 minutes
A medium long shot is used in the beginning of the short film, which connotes a caretaker mopping the floor and a man leaving the building on the phone which you can hear through diegetic sound. This connotes that the man has finished his shift at work and the caretaker may just be starting his shift. This is also shown through the mise en scene of the lighting as the room is quite dark. A high angle shot is used to show the surrounding of the room that the care taker will have to work on, this makes him look small and vulnerable as he is the only one in the room it makes him look lonely this denotes that he has a long shift ahead of him because of how big the room is and because he is the only person working it denotes he has no one to keep him company.
A medium close up shot is used on the man, as the editing pace gets quicker we see a flashing white light that flashes three times before the man is tightly holding his chest and is heavy breathing. This denotes that through the white light the man saw his light flash before his eyes, and the white light represents a flashback of his life. The light has stopped flashing and a close up shot is used on the man as he starts to heavy breathe, this connotes how much discomfort the man is feeling but also using a close up shot makes us feel that we are with the man and we feel that we are closer to him. This enables the audience to empathise with the man as he is old. A close up shot it used on his face in which we can see the sweat on his face and close facial expression, this connotes the seriousness of the situation of the man’s health, also through the look in his eyes which denote his feelings at this point in time which convey that he is worried and scared.
The caretakers eyes squint in pain as he is trying to hold on to the mop for support, this denotes how unbearable the pain is for the man and how he needs support to stand upright. The man in agony removes a white handkerchief out of his pocket which connotes the innocence of the cloth and the contents in the cloth. Out of the handkerchief, a crystal drops to the floor showing how precious the crystal is and also it dropping on the red carpet shows a contrast as red connotes danger. The crystal dropped a distance away from the man and through a medium close up shot it denotes how desperate he is through the pain to get the crystal, this denotes the importance of the crystal and how much it means to him.
The man leans on the mop for support to get the crystal but he fails and falls to the ground in the same way his bucket and mop fall. The bucket symbolises the man as the bucket is old and so is he.
The man through a close up shot reaches for the crystal through diegetic sound we hear the man take a sigh of relief which connotes his achievement. The crystal symbolises a flashback as he raises it to his mouth as if he is playing an instrument a fade in is to choice us looking at his life from his point of view.
Through a medium shot we can see his pregnant wife in distress as she is crying and packing her suitcase, this connotes how distressed she is feeling but through a close up shot we see the man drinking a bottle of wine. The wine is red and because the love of his life is going he is drinking the pain away. The wife is blurred out which shows the importance of the alcohol to him and not being able to have clear vision of his wife. The camera pans to the left to show his wife leaving. Through the close up the man picks up his wife’s dress that she left which connotes that he misses her through the editing a fade in is used to when the wife wore the dress, which connotes him trying to remember when she wore it. The non-diegetic sound of the harmonica connotes how he held the crystal to his mouth. This connotes the happy time that they shared when she had the dress on which another fade in is used after she said ‘I love you’, this denotes that this was in the beginning when they were so in love with each other.
Through the fast pace editing we are able to connote how fast his mind is racing through all the memories which denote how important all the memories that he is reminiscing on. Through the fade in transition, we are able to see him propose to his wife with a crystal which denotes the important of the crystal and denotes the memories he has with it. Through the flash back and being able to experience everything through his eyes, it makes us feel like we are in every scene with him and we are able to experience greater emotion towards everything.
In the last scene it shows the crystal being handed to a baby which symbolises new life and the purity through the fade out it shows the flashback to the man dropping the crystal and his life ending. This denotes he was not able to pass the crystal to new life.
ITracy Kimani 8108