Short Films: An Introduction

Intro

The subject for my A2 Media coursework is: Short Film.

I must produce an original Short Film lasting no longer than 5 minutes.

Aswell as 2 Ancillary Tasks which must be either:
A Film Poster

An Article about the Film

A Radio Trailer

The theme must include elements of Time and Technology.

To begin, I have researched into different short films found online.

Montag



Montag is a short animated foreign film by Reid Hildebrand about an unhappy guidedog whos outlook on his job changes drastically after the death of his former owner.
It was the winner of the Bridge Film Festival Judges Choice award in 2010 for best narrative film and also won Best Animation for the 2010 Future of Cinema International Film Festival.
I admire it's simplicity - the narrative is basic yet thought provoking on an emotional/ personal level, it's also quite unique: the perspective of a talking guide dog is not usually adressed in commercial films.
The animation is also minimal yet attractive and effective in it's basic monochrome pencil sketches which works well with the tranquil music, supporting the subjective narrative, I also enjoy the uplifting ending - it works as an effective conclusion after a sense of emotional build up.

Try




The Short Film Try directed by Jonas Åkerlund in 2000 is a graphic depiction of the lives of a homeless couple addicted to heroin.
Despite being a short, much was accomplished in portraying the film's message. The images portrayed many of the physical darker images of the world in connection to the more psychological aspects, and there was much foreshadowing. I overall found these images very appropriate and contributed to the film's power. Despite the two characters fateless life of drugs, prostitution, stealing, there is still an emotional feeling for the two, as they hang on to each others love to move through the torture they go through.
I admire that the film is fearless in it's approach to such a dark topic, the use of the peaceful quiet music contrasted effectively as did the use of a young female narrating with no other dialouge which creates a sympathetic atmoshpere. The tragic ending is very powerful with a strong message for such a short film.

Brink



The film Brink was written by Dan Lovett, a british teenager. It was the winning film idea for a competition in 2009 devised by the channel E4 by the makers of British teen Drama Skins.
I can relate to this film as it it aimed at my target age group and I like that it's entire production team was made up of unknown budding teen film makers. The narrative is very abstract and I admire it's use of mise en scene such as sophisticated dark lighting and eerie forest setting contrasting with the modern beats of an inner city night club. The plot outline involves 17 year old Dean coping with OCD, he meets the mysterious and elusive Rachel who offers to take him out one night - he is reluctant claiming he thinks the 'world will end' however an impulse for adventure takes over with unusual consequences. The music involves more contempary indie sounds which compliments the quirky narrative well and appeals to the target audience, the ending is ambigious and completely abstract - it's left to the viewer to decide what has happened. I admire the eeries mysterious of the narrative however I feel more could have been explained.