Part 1: Made a Short Film

Monday, 6th October 2009

On Monday I produced as a group member a Short Film, using ten different shot types. This included Close Up, Over Shoulder, Medium Long Shot, Medium Close Up, Medium Shot, Long Shot, High Angle, Point of View, Extreme Long Shot and Tracking. Initially, I worked in a group of four. During that time we as a group planed our own creative and original short film. This was based on codes and conventions of a crime drama genre (type). That we are currently studying. We named our film ‘Spy Network’. Each member of the group had an individual character to play. This included a Death Victim-Dean, Trusty Sidekick-Shamima and a Suspect-Sameea, and I had the role as a Detective. Then, we each recorded each shot one-by-one, to ensure everyone had the experience of using the camera.

The narrative (story) of this crime drama follows as a victim (Dean) death. At that point, we decided to use the high-angle, which is also known as bird’s-eye view. This shot emphasised the subject of death to the audience in large, which extend them feel repentant for the character. Therefore this technique engages the audience towards the film. Then, we followed the narrative further by using the other shots stated above (Over Shoulder, Medium Long Shot, Medium Close Up, Medium Shot, Long Shot). These shots that are mentioned were used during the detective (me) interviewing the suspect (Sameea). The purpose of using the shots named above was to express characters; the detective and the suspect’s emotions and facial expressions to the audience. This situation also builds tension towards the climax of the narrative. These shots types and features are common contexts found in crime dramas. After that, we used another shot type: Extreme Long Shot. This shot allowed us to view the setting. We used the idea of a typical crime drama location. Such as the Uburn City (inner city). Therefore, this shot gave visual information of the location within the narrative to the audience. As a result, we used the classroom, (Gerard’s Room) as our film making place. The Extreme Long Shot also applied something bad is going to happen. Finally, we showed this attribute in the end of the narrative, where we employed a shot type as tracking of the Trusty Sidekick (Shamima). This leads onto our film being as cliff-hanger to the audience deciding what will happen next....This is a common element established in most short films.

Eventually, we produced a 2 minute short film. Overall, I did face a slight problem of creating such a shot film, including the ten shots at first. But with the group members contributions it helped me.

This was also a typical lesson where I used my knowledge from the previous lesson; techniques of different camera shots. In order to, apply into a film format. As a result, these techniques will prepare me for my up coming coursework.

To sum up, I believe as a suggestion the film making could have improved in some extend if we decided to use elements of the mise en scene (everything appears within the frame). For example, costumes as well as props. This would have made our short film to be more realists, in relation to actor’s performance. Although I consider this lesson as being initial stage as the preparation for the Production Piece of coursework.