Operator- Short Film (Post 1)

 Operator

Mise en scene:

• Costume and props- headphones are the prop but also apart of her outfit. She is wearing smart clothes suggest that this is a working environment, making it more realistic and is on a professional place. 
• Setting- The film is set at an emergency call centre, meaning her job is very important and can be stressful at times. The setting is quite basic and not over the top to capture the realism. 
• Lighting- the lighting is dark suggesting that it’s late at night and she is having to work for a long time and night, this will gain respect form the audience as she’s staying up to help people in trouble. 
• Expression- the women is shown to be concerned however she is also keeping a stern voice to emphasise the importance of the information that needs to be provided to her. She is shown to have genuine fear and concern. 

Editing:

• In this short film there isn’t much editing, this is so that the audience are able to concentrate and focus on the dialogue. It also makes the film more intense and keep up the suspense for the audience.   

Sound:

• There is a lot of dialogue and only provides one visual character. However, it is very clear there is someone else on the phone call who needs her help. You are able to hear what the person in the phone needs but is very hysterical. 
• The repeat of hello shows how the anxiety and the panic as if she’s getting ready for the line to go. But when the lady eventually replies you can see the relief on her face. Provides the reality and real expectations of the job as she tried to reassure the lady in the fire. 
• When she hangs up the phone silence creeps in for about two seconds as picks up again when the phone starts to ring. This shows a continuous loop of her evening and how she doesn’t really get to have a break. 

Cinematography:

• The camera moves slowly around, this gives the effect of a calm environment and not chaotic. This would be due to the fact that she needs to stay calm so that she can be rational when speaking to her customers. 
• The camera cuts to the operators face, close up, to reveal how she is actually feeling. She is shown to be anxious and apprehensive to know whether or not everyone is safe. 

The Arrival- Short Film (Post 1)

 The Arrival

Mise en scene:

• Props- Door is used to emphasise the weather, suggests to the audience that it is cold due to the windows being frosted. Which is then highlighted this when the waiter closes the door, reinforces that it’s chilly and their is a draft coming through the door. Therefore, making him shutting it, letting the audience question whether it is winter. 
• Costume- The lady is seen to be wearing a scarf and coat, this carries on with the theme of winter as it symbolises that the weather is icy cold. Another prop that is used is coffee. This is used at the beginning to help calm her nerves and stress levels, however at the end she orders a decaf as if she’s settled into the idea of having her own child. She isn’t as nervous, knows it will be hard but liking the idea. 
• Setting and lighting- located in a cafe, which is a little dark, telling the audience that there is no sun therefore no warmth. The lighting is important to emphasise the weather. 

Editing:

• An editing technique that was used was zoom. As she spilt her drink from being distracted from the baby in the pram she zones out. The camera then slowly zooms into her onto a close up, this informs the audience that she is not focused on what she’s doing. The zoom also appears to give the effect that she’s easing up on the idea of having a baby. Going through the genders and wondering what it’s going to look like. 

Sound: 

• You are able to hear the wind from outside, highlighting the temperature is below average and the wind is making the cold very sharp. 
• The sound that is provided with the short film is a non diegetic dialogue as the audience can hear everything she’s saying in her head after she’s ordered but the people in the film are not able to hear her. We as an audience may recognise that she is an indecisive person but most likely she’s nervous as it is shown by how she plays with her hands. 
• When revealing this she repeatedly tries to talk her way through a conversation that she’s about to have with someone. Who we can gather is an ex boyfriend or a one night stand, this is because she’s doing it in an open area. If it were her boyfriend she would most likely do it somewhere private like at her house and she would be this nervous to tell him. 
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• The camera is positioned behind the door, which is a wide shot, this seems to be consistent throughout the short film. This camera shot allowed the audience to know that she was on her own when she came in and is waiting for someone. 

Stimulus Based Ideas Process

For this, we were given a photo and told to write five questions that came to mind when looking at the image.

We passed our original photo to the people opposite us and answered the questions that they came up with, then they would have answered the questions that I have provided. Passing it around again, we all interpreted a story with the information that was shown.

This is the story that has been created from the questions. 

I was given the task to pick out the details a refer to what I could see and compare it to theorists. I compared this to Todorov due to a linear narrative and a disruption of the man being blind and walking past the queue.
 

Vladmir Propp's Narrative Theory

 Vladmir Propp's Character Role and Functions

Propp's Suggested that every narrative has eight different character types, this has influenced many filmmakers to produce successful narratives. Shrek is a good example to use and compare with Propp's theory. 

These are the eight character's with the definition and example;

Hero: Traditionally the main character and has to restore the equilibrium. This is restored by going on some sort of quest or journey, involving the hero to defeat the villain and falling in love with the princess. In Shrek, this would be Shrek as he has to try to save Fiona and both end up falling in love with each other.

Villain: Usually the cause of the disruption and is often the threat to the hero or the princess. He is morally bad and the audience often turn against them. In Shrek, Lord Farquad is seen as the villain as he challenges Shrek for Fiona's love and is seen as malicious towards Shrek.

Donor: Gives something to the hero or main character in order to help them complete the quest. This would be the dragon in Shrek as she helps Shrek, Fiona and Donkey to escape the prison that Fiona is trapped in.

Helper/Sidekick: This is someone helps the hero with their quest and throughout the film. Also is able to define the hero with their limitations. In Shrek this would of course be Donkey, who offers a companionship and moral support to any of Shrek's concerns.

Princess: This can have two forms, for example the princess may be vulnerable and need saving by the hero, or is the reward for completing the quest. The princess is seen as Fiona.

Dispatcher: Sends a hero to complete the quest. This would also be Lord Farquard, as he sends Shrek to complete his quest and bring Fiona home safely, in return he promises that he can keep his swamp.

Princess' Father: Usually gives a task or a reward to the hero. This would be Fiona's father, despite his initial reluctance for his daughter to be with the ogre.

The false hero: Appears to act heroically and therefore be mistaken for the hero by the character's and sometimes even the audience. They may also take credit for the hero's actions and will deceive anyone for personal gain. For example, Lord Farquard or Prince Charming can both be percieved as the false hero as both take credit for Shrek's actions.

Claude Levi-Strauss Narrative Theory

 Claude Levi-Strauss Binary Opposite

The theory of Binary Opposites is that narratives are driven by relationships between opposing forces, character's or themes/ideologies and that our understanding of these is often determined by our knowledge of it's opposite. Many books and films follow this narrative and introduce contrast. For example, in a superhero film or book there will be good vs evil, horror film they will be supernatural vs human. However, binary opposites can cause a negative perspective, such as female vs male, a women may be perceived as weak and the one that always needs saving. Where as the male might be seen as heroic and strong. But over the years films have been breaking these stereotypes. 

Male - Female

Good - Evil

Black - White

Power - Weakness 

Peace - War 

Trapped

Trapped in a room

For this we decided to use Liv, who we used as the cast, to be locked out into a small room. Creating the effect that she was trapped in a small room. To make the sense of panic we got her to bash on the doors and make her behaviour more erratic. 

Variety of Cuts and Transitions

Cuts and Transitions

This is my first clip that I have put together. I did this to show some variety of the different cuts and transitions that there are to use for my future videos.