Over the last couple of weeks, the task we have been given by our lecturer is to rewrite the original 'What would you do for a pair of shoes?' script and make it into something we would want to make into a film. We started out by discussing what we thought were the main themes within the original, and how we could take those themes and adapt them into a different story. There were a lot of different ideas about what the main themes were. Most people felt that the main themes in the original script were those of desire, materialism, attention, possession, or more generally 'needs and wants'. Our group decided that we wanted to focus our film on the idea of desire as there was more potential to expand and develop ideas. An important decision that we reached as a group was about the look at atmosphere of the film. Having watched several short films as research for this module, there was one that stuck in my mind.
Post-It Love is only about 2.40 minutes long and there were several reasons that I particularly liked this film. I enjoyed the fact that it was a very simple but unusual story, I liked the fact that the entire film contained no dialogue and I also liked the use of music. I thought that these elements could be used, or at least considered whilst brainstorming ideas for our film.
As a group we decided that we wanted to focus on visuals more than dialogue and I thought that an interesting way to do that, which also linked in with the story would be to have the whole film set in a black and white world where each person has one item of clothing which is brightly coloured, eye catching, and totally individual to them. The story of the film would then focus on one girl who did not have such an item, and would follow her desire to find that item and fit in with everyone else. The look we are hoping to achieve within the film is something like this:The only things in the film that would be shown in colour would be one item of clothing on each character, everyone accept the main female character.
We also decided as a group that we would follow the original script in some ways, and use it as a platform from which to build ideas. We then decided to individually come up with ideas about the story and then bring them all together in our next seminar.
When first watching this short film you believe that the story begins when the protagonist leaves home and is signalled by the shot of a note saying 'Dear Mom and Dad, leaving home, for good.' However, once you reach the end of the film it becomes clear that the story really begins when the female character rips up their bill in the diner, as this is the catalyst which leads to them both going off the rails. The structure of the film is interesting as the narrative occasionally goes back in time and alters an event in order to show how the story would have progressed had that event not taken place. Unfortunately, by the end of the short film, the line between perceived reality and fantasy has blurred to the extent that the ending reached is, in my opinion, unsatisfying, as it is unclear what sequence of events has lead to that conclusion.
Goodbye to the Normals.
I think that the film began when ‘Dad’ sat down in front of Magnus and began asking him what he was planning. The story develops as their conversation continues and humour arrises from the manner in which the parents are choosing to deal with the childs decision to run away, as well as Magnus’ decidedly grown up approach to the exchange. At the end of the film, when Magnus is running back into the arms of his mother, it felt a little too much like an easy way to close the film, however when he runs past her to get his passport there is a simple pleasure for the viewers in the fact that his fantasy continues. I liked this short film because it was short, simple and funny, there was no pretention or important message, just something that made you smile.
No Room For Gerold
The film begins with all the flatmates sat around the table discussing the fact that they want Gerold to move out. The narrative of the film is merely how the conversation progresses from that point onwards, highlighting the issues that have arisen in a flat occupied by a crocodile, a deer, a rhino and a hippo. I enjoyed this short film because the idea is very original and because of the way that the dialogue is very downbeat and realistic. In some ways it is a conversation that you could imagine having with your housemates. I also liked the fact that it is indicated at the end, that the whole thing was filmed on a handheld camera because it adds to the ridiculousness of the film as a whole.
How to Break Up (Tales of Mere Existence)
This film begins with the title ‘How to Break Up with your Girlfriend.’ It consists of 64 different images which each represent a different stage in the process of being in a relationship and that relationship ending. The structure of this film, the fact that it is made up of still images and the fact that it looks so basic, I think work very effectively. The narrative moves fast enough to keep people interested for the whole film despite there being repetition and the fact that the entire story goes in a loop. I liked the film because, despite it having a pretty depressing final message, there is humour within the story and various elements are easy to relate to.
A Small Silent Film about Death
The story within the film begins when Mr Jonas sends the email to Mrs Jones by accident and progresses by moving from the story of one family to that of another. I like the way that this short film has been produced, despite being evidently quite low budget this is well hidden by the silent film style that is used. Being such a short film with very little in terms of plot it is hard to link the beginning of the film to the end of it other than to say that the light hearted story is rounded off in a satisfying way and I believe the desired effect is achieved.
When I Move
This film appears to lack a beginning, middle and end, although after watching it a second time it could be said that in the simplest way, the beginning is when each of the four characters starts moving, the middle is the time in which they describe what movement means to them in the voice over whilst showing what they are capable of. The end is when they stop moving. I thought this film was shot beautifully but there was nothing that happened during it that grabbed me or made me want to continue watching. There was no conclusion or story behind what was going on.
Post-It Love
This film began when the male character sat at his desk and found a message from the female character made out of post-its, this then sparks a series of escalating post-it murals exchanged between the two characters who do not speak to each other throughout the film. The ending of the film doesn’t link with the beginning because the film is about the progression of their relationship. I loved this short film because I think that it illustrates exactly what a short film should be. It’s original, funny, entertaining and endearing.
The only things in the film that would be shown in colour would be one item of clothing on each character, everyone accept the main female character.
epetition and the fact that the entire story goes in a loop. I liked the film because, despite it having a pretty depressing final message, there is humour within the story and various elements are easy to relate to.