Local Hero is a Documentary style, comedy short film.
The short film is filmed in a documentary style; using hand held camera work and the characters being interviewed talking to and looking at the person behind the camera. We can also tell this is a comedy because of its unserious, humorous storyline and the way in which the main character is acted (as this bumbling, nervous, awkward young man).
Screen shot showing Documentary style camera work
The storyline is about this young horncastle resident called Michael Bosworth taking action on a group of outsiders intruding on the rural village and relieving themselves in a small woodland area close to Michael's house.
2. Is Genre style unique?
The film genre is unique in the sense that it is a genre (documentary) being represented in a comical way. It is not a real documentary, they are adding a comical twist onto normal 'boring' documentaries and making it humorous and so is intentions is not to inform the audience (like a documentary would), but it is to entertain the audience.
3. Does the short film use format and Narrative?
The short film is filmed in a chronological order (like most documentaries), as we see Michael's battle journey to take action on truck drivers that are relieving themselves in the local woods of Horncastle.
The footage shows us the different stages and actions Michael takes towards this problem and takes us through his journey. It opens with him describing the problem and throughout the film we witness the events and actions that are performed in order for this problem to be addressed by the council and overcome. However this short film is not so much about the journey he takes to overcome this problem, but it really focuses on the journey it takes for Michael to overcome personal problems (to do with him moving away) and how the original problem actually effects him in a positive way, resulting in him realising how much he enjoys living in his community and how he decides not to move out of his village (as he intended to at the start).
The short film also opens and closes with the same establishing shot of the village. In the opening shot the traffic light is red and then changes to orange, however in the end shot the same traffic light is now on green-symbolising that he was stuck but after completing this journey of self realisation, he is now able to move on.
Screenshot-opening and closing shots.
4. What did you find interesting about the use of sound?
As this is a documentary style film, there is a lot of diegetic dialogue of the characters talking to camera/interviewer. The dialogue is of the characters talking about an issue (subjective dialogue-we are listening to their point of view).
There is also a lot of background ambient noise as the sound is being recorded as it is being filmed and so we can hear the surrounding on screen and off screen diegetic sounds (such as cars and wind). Having this background noise also adds realism.There is also scenes where we are seeing Michael in shot not talking and there is a non-diegetic voice over of Michael talking. When this is occurring there is also a faint non diegetic music track over the dialogue. This acoustic non-diegetic track is also played when there is establishing shots of the village and no dialogue (setting the mood of/ representing village life).
5. What is interesting about Camera Work, Mise en Scene and Editing?
The footage is filmed using a hand held camera, documenting what is happening. The hand held camera also puts us in the place of the interviewer and we are seeing what they are and so this camera Work is subjective. The held held camera also makes it appear more realistic and spontaneous (like the frames are not planned). This also allows the camera to be more mobile and document everything. (For the documentary genre hand held cameras are often used).
Screen shot showing the Flexibility of movement using a hand held camera.
A tripod is used however when filming establishing shots-this is because it is objective in the sense that it is just showing us the location.
Screen Shot showing establishing shot using tripod.
Editing is also important in this short film. One Post production effect that had to be added was the text over the footage. This would have been inserted on top of the footage during editing to show us who is being interviewed at what they are in relation to the topic-this introduces the character and also helps us to establish why they are significant.
Screen Shot showing text captions
Parallel editing is also used in this short film, for the sequence where Lewis Timms (the local councilor) and Michael are talking about the same thing, it cuts between them to show their different perspectives on the subject (and how they contrast from one another and see it differently)- For example how Michael is very serious about it, but Lewis finds it humorous and has a more positive outlook.
Mise en Scene is all natural, showing the Characters in their natural environments-natural clothes and natural weather for example. There is no artificial lighting or anything because the point of a documentary is to document something in its natural environment and they have done so and it works effectively as it makes it look more realistic.
6. Themes and Issues and Representations:
The film is a documentary and so records the situation from the point of view of the interviewee and so it is rather subjective and It positions the audience to share the same views as Michael on the situation.
Different members of the community are represented as they would naturally, however this are quite stereotypical views on members of society (for example the teenager riding a bike through town wearing a hoody).
Screen shot of the teenager cycling through town.
The main element of comedy in this short film is the character Michael, and the film takes the mickey out of documentary films and uses this nervous, bumbling, ex centric young man (who lives with his parents) to do so. Michael is shown as this awkward young man with few social skills and he is the main source of humor in this film.
The fact he lives with his parents gives us the impression he is not very mature or independent. He is also made to appear more humorous due to his behaviour (the things the says and how he speaks).
I thought that this short film had conventions of a drama, but with aspects of a fantasy world; because of the use of special affects that's usually not focused on in this genre.
Conventions of a drama:
Serious and plot driven
Containing realistic characters, settings, life situations, and stories (this is why I think 'Colour Bleed' has a fantasy aspect-the story is not realistic)
Intense character development and interaction
Not involving comedy
The thing I enjoyed most in this film was the use of editing and special effects to convey certain themes. Specifically I enjoyed the use of the hummingbird in different scenes.
In these three shots we see an image of a humminbird, all three of them in a similar pose. The image seems to connote freedom, beauty and joy. In the second shot it's movement reflects fun, happiness, laughter, and ease: something that the desolate city lacks. Along with the main character it's the only colourful thing left in the dark city, the only light in her darkness-which is shown by one of the lights flickering on in the background when she sees the hummingbird through the window-brightening up the room.
The tinkly, magical music that plays over the dark, heavy music when she sees the hummingbird also expresses the joy that the hummingbird brings, and how it compares to the monotonic world around her. A similar sound is made when she cuts into her nails, and begins to bleed colour-suggesting the same kind of magic is about to happen.
Main characters costume While other people are dressed plainly, in morbid colours and similar clothes, almost in uniform, the main character stands out:
I was inspired by this short film because it can be read by the audience in so many different ways. The narrative seems to contain so many microcosms and metaphores for underlying themes that many different things can be taken away from this story. Examples of how this text can be read:
The idea of her bleeding colour could be perceived as both a good and a bad thing. It could show this idea of her excreting creativity, brightness and individuality; making it spread. But it could also show her being sucked dry of these qualities; making her conform like everyone else. It could even mean that being different has killed her.
When she touched the man on the bus and her colour dripped on him, not coming off, it could reflect this idea of being 'inked'-tatood; and how she's infecting other with the ink that's in her body, and how they're disgusted by it. This could be addressing the way people react to her tatoos, placing her under a stereotype, and how this is hurting her, making her believe that her tatoos are all that she is, so much so that she bleeds ink.
Her tatoos are what really seems to anger the older woman; especially the 'love' one on her knuckles, suggesting that this is something that the older woman-who seems to a metaphore for the government, wants to stamp out.
The prop of the stamp, which is the thing that spreads this horror, could suggests that the bureaucracy in this country are the 'baddies', turning people to charcoal, breaking them and making them bleed. The way the city bleeds at the end could be showing this pain through tears, how there is no originality and happiness in its society anymore.
This movie could just be about a ‘small act of cruelty between strangers fracturing the foundations of the city', how one action can affect everything, like dominoes.
But the graffiti at the end links back to graffiti that she's doing at the beginning-maybe the whole thing isn’t about the city bleeding and crying these colours-it’s just her graffiti we see, but to her it’s expressing all this pain. The fact only the child seems to see the graffiti suggests that maybe only people who are capable of sticking out, capable of imagination can see it. Similar to her seeing the hummingbird at the beginning
-Freya
Bro-18 minutes-by Chris Dundon produced in 2009
All though it was longer than our short film is supposed to be I found 'Bro' very inspiring; both in its narrative and use of mise en scene:
This story is shown in chronological order, which adds to this effect of realism: life unraveling as it goes. The genre here is one of a realism mixed with drama or 'kitchen sink dramas'. I love this genre, I feel like it shows emotion in a more raw way, and its realistic storylines are more relate-able.
Conventions of a kitchen sink drama:
Negative outlook, all though poinant at times
Relate-able
Captures social situation of characters
Realistic
Lacks Hollywood conventions
I enjoyed the structure of the narrative, how it's more of an extract, or a ‘vignette’ than a perfectly concluded story. The way the audience is just put straight into the middle of the story and left to make their own assumptions is done so well, and the subtle change in Simon and Mark's life is more touching delivered in this manner.
Opening: We see Simon watching other teens having fun, doing normal things; specifically the boys playing basketball.
Ending: Simon ties Mark's shoes, throws a basket ball at him and says “Ready?” The basketball is such a useful prop, bringing us back to the beginning of the film when we saw 'normal' teens taking part in this sport. This connotes that Simon's now ready to join the the real teen world, with Mark by his side.
Use of certain shots help the audience understand elements of Simon's life. A wonderful shot that really conveys his dilemma is the one on the bus (see left), showing him, Gemma and Mark all in one shot. Gemma is in focus, showing what Simon is interested in, but he's looking past at her, at an out of focus Mark-closest to the camera. This emphasizes how Mark takes up Simon's life, but the fact he's out of focus could suggest that Simon is only half interested in him, only worrying on behalf of his mother.
In the shot on the right we see Mark take over Simon's world again. Shallow depth of field reflects this: Mark and Simon dominating the frame whilst Simon's peers are blurred in the background.
Another shot that really expresses Simon's struggle is the silhouettes of Mark and Simon in the tunnel (see below). Showing them as mere dark outlines reflect them as base, simple creatures and in these moments, when Simon is feeling most impulsive he lets his anger rise, despite him knowing that none of this is Marks fault.
The way the boys are positioned shows Mark in the foreground again, holding his head-the real one in pain, but Simon in in the background with his hands on his head, looking on in frustration at the situation. Because Simon is a sillouhette we can't tell if he's looking towards or away from Mark, which suggests that he is on the tip of making a decision; whether to help his disabled brother, or leave to be with Gemma and move on with a 'normal' life. But we see light ahead, behind Simon, which could reflect the 'light at the end of the tunnel'-that things are going to get better for the both of them.
This story is about disability and the struggle for those affected by it. It shows the main characters working through problems and coming to terms with them, mainly Mark coming to terms with his brothers disability. Close up shots are used a lot, straying so close to the characters faces and actions, making the audience feel attached to the characters and more involved in their actions.
The view, 4 Minutes Long, Made in 2009 by Neil Neenan
1.Are Identifiable genres or styles used?
Dramatic, poetic short film, the emotional connection experienced by different visitors in a coastal location.
The camera work in this short film is objective, the shots are long and still and observe what is happening, however the non-diegetic voice over adds an element of subjectivity, telling the story of what is happening in a poetic personal manner (almost as if the narrator is the bench). As there is no dialogue or diegetic sound from the characters, the poetic voice over dialogue allows us to view the situation as it is being described to us and brings emotion into the film.
Screen Shot showing the Objective Camera Work.
We can tell this is an emotional drama because of the desaturation of the film; this creates a more serious mood, also the non-diegetic sound track sets the mood.
2. Does this film use Genre conventions uniquely?
The film uses a voice over narration which does not belong to any of the characters we are witnessing, which is different from the normal conventions of a drama. The voice over uses a poetic piece.
A drama convention i feel this piece of work goes against is that a drama has realistic characters, settings, life situations, and stories. This piece does use realistic characters, settings and lifesituations, however the way in which it is told is almost dream like-as if the narrater is decribing memories. However i feel this technique is effective in this short film.
3. How does the film use short film format and Narrative?
This short film uses a dis-continuous order. It is more of a montage of different events that join together to make a story. The short film shows different clips of characters experiencing different events in the same location and sitting in the bench. It uses transitions to link these scenes and different characters to make it look like this is happening at the same time and running in a continuous order however it is not.
It uses both objects and characters to link the different people. For example a hipflask that a woman picks up, then links to a different man picking up a hipflask. This is a successful transition in this short film and is something we will consider using.
2 screen shots showing the transition between the 2 Characters and the 2 different experiences.
The short film also uses editing in another way to link the different scenarios. Aswell as using objects, the short film also uses characters to link the scenareos. For example, in the background of the image below, out of focus is two children holding a kite, the focus then changes from the man handcuffed to a bench in the foreground, to the children in the background. Then the camera cuts to a panning shot of the children as they walk to the bench and when they reach the bench the handcuffed man is not there. This shows us that the story is being told as if it was running in chronological order and in a sequence, however it is not. The shots are use transitions in editing to make them lead on to oneanother.
Screens shots-Showing how characters are used to join scenareos.
There is also a pattern in the age order throughout the short film. The film opens with the elderly couple on the bench, and the voice over narration says, 'Many things I've gazed apon. Faces as withered as my own. Gaining new hope'. The Next people to visit the bench is a younger couple and the voice over Narration says 'but hope is dashed when i see pain on the young'. Following this shot is the business man and then the stag handcuffed to the bench. The final characters is a young boy and girl and the voice over says 'always what I gather in my view is hope. Fresh in the faces of the young'.
I think this order is significant as they are showing how hope changes throughout life and how we age. It starts with the old man proposing to the woman and talks about how 'new hope' begin and then goes back to show how hope can be lost during out lives as adults (an example of this is the stressed business man), however it ends with the 2 young children and talks about how hope is always 'fresh in the young'. It basically takes us through the hope in our lives and the problems that occur in the middle.
I like the way it runs through life in reverse-opening with the hope we feel at the end of life and ending with the hope we have at the start of life. I find this refeshing and something we could consider (reverse chronolgical order).
4.What do you find interesting about the use of sound?
The sound in this short film is interesting. The only diegetic sound is a seaside background noise-establishing the location of this bench (seagulls, wind and the faint sound of the sea).
There is no diegetic dialogue in this short film, the only dialogue is the non-diegetic scottish voice over (reading a poem as if it is being said from the point of view of the bench). The fact the voice over is scottish also gives us the impression this is set in scotland. I like the fact the poem is being told from the point of view of the bench, as if it is describing to us what it sees and the people and scenareos it has witnessed.
There is also a non-diegetic music track being played in the background. The music track is a faint violin/chello track as we are watching the 2 couples at the start. The track then changes beat when we see the stressed business man alone on the bench to a more thoughtful tune (melencholic mood however a more tense mood). Towards the final 20 seconds of the film, the music is more uplifting showing returning to a similar tune as it opened with showing that element of hope is present again.
5. Camera Work, Mise en Scene and Editing:
As i have mentioned before, the editing in this short film is significant to the narrative. The way in which the different scenareos have been edited together to look like they run in a chronological order and lead on to oneanother using camerawork is successful in this short film, because it allows it to flow in a sequence with the poem and is not broken up. It also creates a dream like state-as if these are memories being told together. It also shows the journey we face in life and how hope and faith changes with age.
The film uses objective camera work and uses still shots and panning shots smoothly running in a sequence to show the story and what is happening, this contrasts however with the subjective voice over narration, however i feel they work well together and is something we could consider using in our short film.
The short film uses longshots and extreme longshots at the start of each scenareo/when different characters sit on the bench (to establish the situation). It also uses close ups of the characters to show the different emotions they are feeling.
The footage looks quite desaturated and dark (with high contrast), creating a more serious mood.
Screen shot showing desaturated, dark, high contrast footage.
The location remains a constant throughout the short film as we are focusing on 'the view' of the bench and what characters and scenareos it meets and how this is linked to the hope and spirit of a person.
The different characters are also significant as it shows the different ages, genders and lifestyles of the people visiting and how they are all different and how the overall concept of hope is applied to these different people and scenareos.
6. Themes and Issues and Representation:
I feel the film is about how people change over time and how hope and faith in people also changes, you always begin with hope and hope is 'reborn' later in life.
It is an emotional film looking at the different people and experiences the narrator witnesses-it looks at/represents people of all class, age, gender and lifestyle. The different types of people are represented quite stereotypically, for example the stressed, drinking, depressed business man. He is drinking from a hipflask, looks rundown, has his top button undone and tie loosened (looks stressed and unstable).
Screen shot of business man.
I think they has to stereotype in this short film to make it clear the variety of people they were representing.
