Initial Research -Sam

1)‘The Last Man On Earth’

Directed by Carlo Ortu with production lasting until 2011, found and watched at BBC Short Films: http://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/films/p00pf28k

Summary:

The film is fairly self-explanatory; it is about a man who seems to be the last man on earth after an ‘event’ which the audience do not know about however, as he goes to kill himself his phone rings confirming he isn’t the last man on earth.

I chose this film because the idea of being the last man on earth struck as something interesting to me, from the title the film could have had any kind of story to it for example how he became ‘The Last Man On Earth’. The film was also very interesting in the fact that you want to know what the ‘event’ was which made him the supposing last man on earth, as well as leaving the audience on a cliff hanger at the end of the film.

Representation:

No real social group is represented throughout this short film due to him being the last man on earth, and he or anybody chooses to live out their life how they please being the last ‘one’.

The genre of the film is set as ‘comedy’ which if made aware to the audience then they would know that it’s not a serious dramatic apocalyptic film, and however is one with a twist of humour.

The representation of the only character in the film as that being the last man on earth has hit him hard, is in ragged clothes and roughed up with hair and make-up. We are un-aware of his social status/groups due to the situation in the film.

·There is no real stereotypical suggestions which could be made towards this man due to us the audience not knowing enough about the character and his status or occupation for example.
 

Narrative:

The story of the film is very basic in the fact that he cannot stand being the only one left decides to kill himself. It’s similar with the plot also, the events in the film of him not being able to find a fellow man and kill himself are due to loneliness that many man/woman would suffer if they were in this situation… it’s a causes with predictable outcomes.

The film is carried out in a narrative form where we are almost flung in half-way through a film as we don’t see the ‘event’ but it’s the start of the film, and continues in a linear pattern to the end. I feel in doing this it makes the audience engaged with the film and let them decide what happened before hand and get them thinking.

· For a narrative theory for this film it was edging towards Todorov’s theory as there is both equilibrium and disequilibrium with him poisoning himself and then finding another man exists, leaving it in perplex situation.
 I    I wasn't really too sure what narrative theory fitted this film in particular.

Genre:

· The film may only really have one genre due to the plot of the film, and that is that it is funny therefore meaning it is a comedy.
 The film however may not even be stressed out to be a comedy meaning it has no genre, and this is what I feel it does have… nothing.
 As the film has no genre the film is really meant for any audience and can be viewed how you wish in a funny or serious way, it’s up to the audience.

 

Audience:

· On the whole with demographical data coming into play of how the film would reach its audience over the internet suggests that is for really any real audience, no genre, and no specific audience… whoever has access to the web.

·Taking in opinions into play and what people would prefer this kind of film a little more than others would maybe be teenagers and/or young adults. Props such as alcohol I feel cement this fact.

·This short film has been screened at London 2012 Short Film Festival, one of the most popular short film festivals in the world.

· This film was produced by the company sugarspunspictures’ who have released many films of which have been screened at festivals and some of them winning

      ·awards. http://www.sugarspunpictures.com/lastman.htm

2) 'Night Walking’

Directed by Daniel Cormack, the film was in production until 2008 and I found and watched this on BBC Short Films: http://www.bbc.co.uk/filmnetwork/films/p00mr8n9

Summary:

This short film is really two films ravelled into one, with both of the stories being told making the film a whole new genre, comedy or crime as a man and woman are walking home on a dark night on their own. This film I felt was very clever in how the story is told from another characters perspective, how much the story on a whole means to the audience and telling them what to expect. I felt this was a very creative use of narration by Daniel Cormack.

Representation:

·In this film there is a real minor example of social groups represented and more to the fact of there being a real loneliness for both of the characters.

·The only real social group which is shown in the film is family, the relationship between a son and mother. This is where the man can’t think of anything else to do so turns to his mum for help… you can most of the time rely on family.· From the narration of the woman the man behind is seen as a criminal, this is very stereotypical to the surroundings being alone, dark, late at night as well as the character being male and in dark costume. The woman is seen as vulnerable and very feminine wearing high heels make-up and white clothing, innocence? A stereotypical criminal and damsel in distress.

·Having the film being told from both perspectives shows that the audience had negative stereotypical opinions about the male character in this film, and having the story told from his point of view corrects the audience in their quick stereotypical thinking.

 

Narrative:

·The story of film is told in a narrative form by a character. With the plot having so many causes and actions in, and sudden results for example: Woman hears him getting closer, she speeds up – increases the tempo of the film and story for the audience when told from the woman’s point of view.

·The way the film is told by the point of view of both the characters makes the film a non-linear piece as it flashes back to the same walk home, but for a second time with another character telling the story. This almost makes the film a different watch when it is told from point of views, one comedy and another crime.

·The start and end of the film are both very much so in contrast to each other as they told by both characters. At the start you fear for the woman, whereas at the end you’re worried about the man as you see what happened to him and understand he wasn't out there to harm the woman.

Genre:

·The genres identifiable in this film are both comedy and crime. The reason for having two genres which are very much so in contrast with each other is due to the film being told through twice but by a different character both times.

·This short film uses genre to almost sub-consciously make the audience think what is going to happen in this film, and what to expect.

·The genre codes used in this come along with stereotypical deserted, late night walk home with a ‘vulnerable’ woman and a tall darkly dressed man. With high tempo and much suspense, the crime genre has many patterned codes.

 

Audience:

·People who share psycho graphic enjoyment of both genres comedy and crime will enjoy this short film.

·From a demographic perspective most ages will enjoy this film, children as young as 10 I feel will get a good understanding of what the film is about, however I feel the key age area is around teenagers and older people.

·Genres give a certain category for people who would enjoy certain films, and both the genres I mentioned would have an audience of whom would enjoy the viewing of this film, they’ll get what they expect but with a twist.

·It was screened at a wide range of events and festivals, just one example was the Cornwall Film Festival in 2008. It got many runner-up awards and two winning prizes which were: Tripod film fund award, as well as ‘Best Merton Film Maker’ award in Wimbledon 2008

·The director has made many other popular short film titles such as ‘A Fitting Tribute’.

·The production company was ‘Actaeon Films’ who have produces a numerous amount of short films and they are situated in London:

http://www.actaeonfilms.com/

3) 'Rocket'

Directed by Jennifer Sheridan, unable to find date of production, found and watched on virgin short films.

http://www.virginmediashorts.co.uk/film/2754/rocket

Summary: This film is about a small dog with big dreams. Inspired by a rocket shaped lava-lamp, the dog uses recyclable objects in order to make a rocket that he boards into the space.

Representation: Their aren't really any social groups represented in this film as the only character starring is a dog. If their were to be on in relation to the dog it could be that 'dog owners' are related/relevant to the film.

Screen shot encouraging audience to recycle.

The only real issue that the film arises to the audiences attention is that of recycling. This is as all of the objects used for the rocket are recyclable and at the end of the film it says 'please recycle', it gives examples of recyclable objects. The genre used is action/adventure as it is about a dog going on adventure to out of space although i'm not too sure how this would represent dog owners.

• This dog is both positive and negative representations of dogs. This is due to him/her acting and thinking like a child, yet executing his plan efficient and successfully. The dog leaving a messy surroundings around him/her which is very typical of a dog leaving the owner to clear up after it. However overall I do feel he/her leaves a positive representation of dogs as the dog shows that they are not messy for no reason, they are clever.
• I feel the targeted audience has shaped the representation and portrayal of characters in the film as the intended audience would have been children. The fantasy of a dog building a spaceship and blasting off into space is in-accurate to say the least, therefore I feel the intended audience age would range from 3-9 years old.
• The film deals with the only real issue being global warming and not caring for the environment. They do this by making the key props in the film being used once again (recycling) to build a rocket, as well as encouraging the audience to recycle at the end of the credits. 

Narrative:

• Story- The dog sees a lava lamp and is left inspired. Using recyclable goods such as cardboard he builds a rocket of his own demonstrating what recycling is (using something again for another use). Successfully after building the rocket the dog is blasted off into the sky. Plot- Dog sees rocket shaped lamp, inspired, builds rocket out of recyclable goods.
• The film uses a linear narrative due to the target audience being for a young age and they don't want to make the audience confused, therefore they make it play in chronological order from start to finish.
• The start of the film makes the audience think that it could be a fairly normal realistic scenario however in contrast, the end of the film is very much so not 'down to earth' (pardon the pun) as the dog uses cardboard to build a rocket and blast into space, giving the film closure as the journey was a success. 

Genre:

• The only identifiable genre in this film would be that of Action/Adventure, as the dog goes about trying to build a rocket to go on an adventure into space.
• Short films use many types of genres almost trying to break the 'stereotypical' genre classes, making it harder to choose an target audience based on genre. They tend to break genre barriers due to the smaller audience available for short films, as they have a lot more to gain than lose.
• Neal's genre theory of having difference in genre is applied as it has a twist of the main character and only character being a dog. It is very rare, and I can say that I have not seen another film with the main and only character being a dog going into space with his personally own built rocket.
• The appeal of using genre codes in this short film would be that it educates a young audience in what to expect from action/adventure films, leaving it with a simple yet original variation of story/plot.

Audience:

• People who share the same psycho graphic of enjoying action/adventure films would enjoy this film.
• I think a young audience up to ages of 9 would very much so enjoy and find this film exciting, however I wouldn't rule out the enjoyment for other ages up to teens as this is funny, and offers a twist on a stereotypical adventure film.
• The young audience will be pleased by the film due to it offering an exciting story for children, as well as teens finding it entertaining and original leaving them with a satisfied reaction to the film as it would have been something they haven't seen before.
• The film has won the award 'Virgin Media Shorts' indicating that it has been a success.
• Another website that the short film would be found is http://write-shoot-cut.com/2012/10/12/short-film-44-rocket-2012-jennifer-sheridan/. The film can be found on its own website http://www.rocketmovie.com It can also be found on Youtube.
• Their is no production company, their is only five people involved in making this film. 

4) 'Support'
Directed by Borkur Sigþórsson with date of production 2008, and watched on Youtube.

Summary: This short film is about two patients in intensive care. One of the patients wants to take his own life where the other one does not, however in trying to take his own life he accidentally ends up killing the innocent patient.

Representation: 

• One of the social groups represented in this would be people who suffer from depression. 
• Two of the issues erected in this film would be suicide and murder, two very sensitive subjects. The film combining both the two leaves the audience feeling a variation of emotions such as sorrow, or anger towards the patient/murderer. 
• The hospital is represented in the film, with intensive care units and what it is like to be there.
• Making this film a Thriller meant keeping the tempo high, therefore meaning that the character would have had to act fast on screen to match the genre, resulting in him murdering somebody innocent.
• This film gives a negative representation of people in intensive care/suffering from depression. This is done through the suicide patient acting 'selfishly' and taking an innocent mans life, leaving him alive. However in contrast, the man killed was 'fine' and not wanting to take his own life in the film weighing up sides of representation for intensive care patients.  

This shows the plug which accidentally kills the innocent man, instead of the person wanting to commit suicide

• I feel this short film is for people who are depressed, and mainly men as it is all male characters. Having the target audience as this definitely affects the way in which the characters are portrayed, it gives and leaves the audience feeling a range of emotion, the two being sorrow and anger. 
• The film tries to deal with the issue of suicide. It does this by showing that suicide can go wrong and that it is definitely not the right thing to do, you end up hurting people close to you both mentally or in this case physically.

Narrative:

• The plot of this would be: man wants to take own life, pulls wrong plug, kills innocent man leaving himself fine. The story is about a two men at hospital in the intensive care unit, with one feeling depressed wanting to take his own life, however the other is 'okay'. He tries to take his own life however pulls the wrong plug resulting in him being fine, but killing the innocent man.
• Having this short film as a linear makes such an important issue in the film (suicide) easy to follow, and understand what the character is feeling, what actions he decides to take and when, and the result of these actions. 
• I cannot think of any of the narrative theories to apply to this.
• The film starts off not giving much away other than that both patients are in intensive care, then at the end the audience is educated about the events that have just occurred, and you learn about the two characters and feel a range of emotions.

Genre:

• The Thriller genre is identified in this film, making a fast-paced tempo with intensity which matches the images on screen.
• Short films use many types of genres almost trying to break the 'stereotypical' genre classes, making it harder to choose an target audience based on genre. They tend to break genre barriers due to the smaller audience available for short films, as they have a lot more to gain than lose.
• Tom Rialls theory of having certain rules for genres would be good for this film as this is fast paced, something goes wrong and their is intensity- all that is a guideline for a stereotypical thriller.
• Having the typical Thriller genre codes such as fast-pace, suspense and intensity allows the audience to identify the genre and the films they like.

Audience: 

• The film can be easily accessed as it is on Youtube. I feel the film is aimed at a male audience with the characters being male, and/or the audience age of teen and above so they understand what is going on without being too disturbed of the images on screen. It does apply for both genders though, however it could be for for depressed people to shows that suicide doesn't just hurt you, it hurts everybody around you.
• People who share the same psycho graphic of enjoying Thriller films would enjoy this film.
• Thrillers usually contain fast tempos and intensity, therefore they would get the the usual audiences for viewing. This means that the audience would come and watch the film and get what they expected leaving satisfied.
• It was produced by Borkur Sigþórsson.
• It has not won any awards however, was nominated for many.