Short Film- Evaluation

‘Short Film Evaluation’

To improve our film overall, i would work on our time management as we did have some difficulties finishing the filming. I would’ve have also liked t make our film a little longer, as we finished the film off giving the impression that she is going to look, and search for a better life, happiness. Maybe if we had added some of the aftermath of her doing the task to make her content again, that may have given us so more depth and meaning, but we really wanted to highlight and focus on the sadness and pain she was in.

We could again to make it more effective by adding in more characters, yet we had one primary and main one that really captured the sadness and depression-like state our character was trapped in.
We most definetly did a lot of planning prior to the filming process, yet when it came to filming, we felt the need to change a lot of things and our storyline almost completely.

This being my first media project, i have identified that it takes a lot of pre-planning, coming up with backup plans, having every single detailed cared for, just in case we decide to change our ideas. Also make sure you identify times for filming.

Inspiration- Blade Runner

Blade Runner- Original(1982)

After watching, and rewatching the the opening scene to the Orignal Blade Runner film, I have identified sections, and theatrical devices I rather like, enjoy and see myself using in the future.

In this film, there is a constant darkness over the frame, almost as if everyone in the city, or the city itself is trapped with no escape. This gives us an impression that is more happening beyond our view, that there are dark secrets and truths bursting to come through. There are moments when strobing lights, from blimps and hovering vehicles, find and scatter their way into the frame on the screen, but overall the colour scheme is dark and dirty. 

Also there is a contrast between the high-tech quality of vehicles, some building and other futuristic devices, which most defiantly add the the fanstasy and science-fiction theme. And between the old, historical buildings that remain. This shows that there is history to this mysterious city, and has been there for a long time.

In this film, there is limited space to live. The streets are cramped, crowded and cluttered, and are full of grime and filth. The fog that seems to be a constant factor in the film, also gives us a sense of suffocation and a trapped feel.

Our Short Film- Storyboard

Production Title: Looking For A Reason To Live
Storyboard
Director: Maya Huf & Cheryl McLachlan 


1. Shot Type:Long/wide shot
Camera Position/Movement: Straight, upright
Action/Dialogue/Detail: showing our character alone and sad, while others walk past, contrasting with her depressed state. From this shot we slowly and continuously zoom in.


2. Shot Type:Medium shot as we still zoom in/come forward continuously
Camera Position/Movement:again upright
Action/Dialogue/Detail:She is scrolling through her phone still people walk past


3.Shot Type:close up, behind shot
Camera Position/Movement: positioned behind her so it looks like we are seeing things from her point of view.
Action/Dialogue/Detail:Scrolling through pictures of her content and joyful past. Want to relive every single moment.


4.Shot Type:Close up
Camera Position/Movement:Close up, on phone
Action/Dialogue/Detail:Finds texts from mum urging her to be happy and make a change in her life. They had such a deep bond and being apart is the cause of her depression. Triggers something inside of her to snap out of this state and join reality and live her life, which is what her mum wants.







 

Our Short Film Planning

Task 10.1 – Story-telling through moving images.

In one sentence, describe your central character:
Our character, is a young girl who is alone, and believes she has nothing left to live for.

In one sentence, describe what your character is searching for:
Our character is looking, searching for a reason to smile, laugh and live. Something to make her happy again. Our character  is motivated once she sees a certain text from her mum, once she sees this she is motivated to be happy again, and actually make an effort. She is motivated and is seen at the end of the film, getting up and her doing this shows us that she going to make a change and she is going to look and search for the happiness again.


Which Genre and Sub-genres will your short-film depict?
Primary Genre:Drama
Setting/Location: School, boarding, around Gold Coast?

Costumes/Props: journal, phone which contains texts of her past.

Lighting: Colour and light starts rather bland at beginning of movie, then as she becomes happy the light and colour increases to make it more vibrant.

Style of acting: Our character starts off rather bland and sad as she feels she is useless. Then gradually becomes more confident and happy as she s believes that’s what her mum would have wanted. For her to continue living a happy, peaceful life. And to not ponder on the past.

Justify the specific cinematography techniques you intend using to develop your narrative and establish the genre.
 -At beginning, our character is in front of a bland wall, curled up, sitting by herself, scrolling through pictures of her past times on her phone. Some people walk by happy, she looks, and is jealous of their happiness. All this happening while we slowly zoom, coming forward from a very long shot of her in front of wall,  looking weak.
-Then we capture her scrolling through photos on phone till she stops upon a photo of her and her now dead mother. This triggers something inside of her.

Outline any other methods how you intend to develop the narrative without using dialogue.
She will be upset, and her texts with her mum will covey the narrative.

Background music ideas
-Photograph (acoustic karaoke version)
-I dreamed a dream (piano karaoke version)