Short Film research/analysis (Virgin Media Shorts)

Out production skills project has to be between 2-3 minutes long. Another source that sets the same rule of 2-3 minute short films, are Virgin Media Shorts. So, naturally, it is a good source for researching techniques and styles of local, student film makers, to see what they could come up with as they are in a similar situation to us.

I have analysed two virgin media Shorts.

Touch

The first film I looked at is a new one called Touch. Its run time is 2 minutes 36 seconds including the brief virgin media shorts intro.

The film is about how touches lead a relationship. it opens with a man and woman meeting and shaking hands, the it goes through the motions of the relationship with the constant symbol of holding hands in scenes. At the end the man has died and a painter is at the woman's house when she lets her grand daughter in. They introduce themselves and the painter offers his hand to the woman, who shakes it, giving the impression that the cycle is starting over again.

Their is no dialogue in the opening couple of minutes, and relies on a musical track, that is soothing, and some what romantic. the audio stops when the man dies but kicks in again when the painter offers his hand. This implies that the music sound track is singling the start of another relationship. It stopped when the elderly man died because that meant the cycle between them two had now ended. But now it seems to be starting again the music begins again.

This is a good soundtrack piece and works very well with the visuals. With our plan for the Edale project being without dialogue , this is a perfect example of how we can make our piece work with just an atmos backing track to reinforce the piece.

Homey

Homey is an interesting short. It is about a childrens playground game in which some kids have to get from one fence to the other without the other kids in the middle catching you. The way it is smoothly edited and the atmos track of a childrens playground makes the film interesting to watch, even though its basically 2 and a half minutes of a kid running from one side of the playground to the other, with about a minute and a half of tht being stoon at the start getting ready to run.

Their is also a sense of acheivement when the kid reaches the otherside, and iyou get that feeling of joy, like a kid feels when they have won at a game. This effects the audience, and creates a connection between them and the protagonist, and is a fitting ending for the short.

Again this smooth editing of little movements flowing togeather will help me take influence when editing the little movements in the cafe scene. Also the atoms works well with it so this could be a useful tool of refference for Tom who is doing the sound editing.