Research- Short Film Textual Analysis

Title: Strangers
Director: Erez Tadmor & Guy Nattiv
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpjHSiQLPmA

Micro

Ø  Camera angle, movement and position
The camera is positioned in a various amount of places in a tube station, the whole of the short film is based in this small area.  Lots of different shot types are used, mostly close ups which could be a way of trying to show the tension between different characters. Camera angles are used to show character representations by having the same medium close up on the main two characters at the start of the short film, this could be a way of showing that they are equal before we find out the plot of the film. Camera movement is quite slow towards the beginning whereas in the middle and end it becomes very fast showing how the tension has built up and become an action type short film. Most shots use a wide depth of field so we can see everything going on, a couple of shots use narrow depth of field showing the importance of each individual character.

Ø  FramingThe location is framed from the beginning when the shot fades in from black to a single light shining onto a platform, it’s very dark which creates a tense start. As it is only a small part of the platform it gives clues and this has been done to keep the audience guessing and question where the scene is set and what the short film is going to be about. A fast tube then goes through which breaks the still scene of the platform and starts the short film off well, it also tells the audience where the scene is set. The rule of thirds is used when the audience are introduced to the two main characters, but a few minutes in this stops and the rule of thirds is challenged as the characters are centre framed, this could be for a number of different reasons. It could be to show the seriousness and make it more dramatic.

Ø  Editing and special effectsEditing has been used to create meaning by a lot of cutting being done to make it fast paced and exciting. This is done in contrast to the beginning of the short film where a fade in is done on the first shot which is very slow. There is then an over the shoulder shot where we meet the first character flowing into a reverse shot of him stepping onto the tube. One minute into the short film there are a various amount of shots cutting between two characters, this introduces the audience well to the two main characters but there is still the question of what is going to happen. The sound isn’t matched with the editing as the sound is just the sound of the tube running, until half way through the film where a strong beating sound starts meaning something is about to happen. This creates meaning as the beat continues and builds up a strong scene.

Ø  Mise en sceneThe short film is set in a tube. The location creates atmosphere as in a tube people are trapped and there is nowhere to run which creates a bad atmosphere, also mixing with the noise of the tube which is very rough and unpleasant. There are two props used to link two strangers sat on a tube, one is an Arabic newspaper which one of the characters is reading, the other is a necklace with the Jewish symbol on it. By using these two props in links the two characters together although they don’t know each other. We can tell that the short film is set in the modern day by the modern day casual clothes they’re wearing. Lighting is a strong part of this short film, as it starts in the dark with just a small amount of light creating a dark and scary atmosphere.

Ø  SoundThe film starts with diegetic sound of the tube running, halfway through the short film non-diegetic music starts which is added for a dramatic effect and to build up what is going to happen in the scene. The music creates meaning as it is a very strong beat to begin with, this then turns into a more upbeat tune as the two main characters are running away from a big group of men, this music then stops as soon as the two characters have got away. There is no voice-over or dialogue used making the meaning of the short film less obvious to the audience. The use of no dialogue makes the audience really look into any clues such as the two props, the necklace and the newspaper.

Ø  ScriptBy having no dialogue it has a big impact, as it is only a short film the audience has to concentrate for that short amount of time to figure out what’s happening and pick up on all the small details.

Ø  Titles/Institutional ReferenceThe font type is very plain and straight forward, this could be a way of representing the storyline. The title is in the middle of the screen in plain black and white, this makes it very bold and straightforward sticking to the same ideas as the font. The film institution is fox searchlight pictures who specialise in independent and British films. The titles at the beginning of the film stay on the screen for 12 seconds, they’re meant to be obvious as they are black and white and very bold.

Macro

Ø  NarrativeThe narrative is told by little clues being given at a time, music then builds up to the main scene. Two strangers sit on a tube, they both have religious props including a newspaper and a necklace, this links the two characters together. A group of stereotypical big bold men then come and sit next to the man with the more obvious prop, the Arabic newspaper. They then spray a Nazi sign on the back of this newspaper to be racist against them. We see the short film from the perspective of the two religious men. The audience will understand the narrative as it becomes very obvious in the middle of the film as to what is happening.

Ø  Representation(s)The short film is set in the present, this is obvious by what the characters are wearing. This impacts the whole idea of the film, showing how people are still very racist although it was just an innocent man minding his own business sat on a tube. The two main characters are represented as the victims through the use of close ups on the fear shown in their face and how they’re shown alone in a shot whereas the big group of men are shown together outnumbering the two main characters. Stereotypes are followed as the big gang of men are shown as big with muscles, shaved heads, tattoos and piercings. The short film follows Todorov’s theory as everything is as it should be at the beginning (equilibrium), this is then disrupted by the gang of men (disequilibrium), the two main characters then escape to safety(new equilibrium). Religion is represented in the short film by the gang of men painting a Nazi sign on the Jewish newspaper. The audience are made to understand the characters as the main character with the newspaper was shown at the beginning minding his own business and shown as completely harmless.

Ø  AudienceThere is no particular target audience apart from the age of 15+ maybe to be able to understand the short film but it’s targeted at everyone to show what still goes on in the world to innocent individuals. The audience should respond to this film by stopping to discriminate against people and see everyone as their own person.

Ø  Themes/MessagesThe short film is making a strong point about what goes on in today’s society even though many people aren’t aware of it and trying to teach people that it’s not right. It comments on today’s society in a bad way, and how there are so many victims out there. The intended meaning is that it isn’t right and it isn’t fair on innocent people.

What I will take from this short film:

I have learnt from this short film that it doesn’t take long to get a very strong message across to the audience. I could apply some of the techniques used in this short film in my own film by having the idea of no dialogue and it only takes a few small clues to get across to the audience what the short film is about and what it’s trying to say. I found the way the title was on its own in bold black and white successful in this type of short film as its very serious and dramatic, although I don’t think this type of title layout would be successful in many other genres