Research Tasks: Barry by Freya

Barry-3 minutes by John Michell, produced in 2009

• The genre of Barry is a light drama, using the same conventions as 'Colour Bleed', all though I think it has a kitchen sink-drama aspect as well.
• This use of non diegetic sound is very important in this short film.  The narrative uses Ellas voiceover to carry the audience through the story, helping to explain the themes.  The music used is gentle and calming; reflecting her time with Barry.  The lyrics 'follow me where I lead-we're friends and that's the only thing I know' reflects the story line, of Ella and Barrys friendship, as well as her mother and fathers relationship. 

 The way Barry is dependent on Ella (pushing her around in a buggy) reflects her parents relationship.  A relationship where she gives and doesn't get anything back, but remains un-frustrated by this.  But all though she loves Barry, the images of best friends suggest that maybe they're not suited like other friends are, and when she puts on her bunny ears it's almost like she's trying to combat this problem, maybe hoping her parents can too.  In her voiceover she talks about how her 'dad doesn't have a friend like Barry' which shows the audience how she excludes her mother.

Our view inside Ellas house

• We see her picnic and trip to the park as an escape for her, which is suggested through aspects of mise en scene and camera work.  The lighting when she's with Barry, compared to inside the house is so much brighter and sharper.  The colour outside is beautiful whilst inside remains stuffy and dark, reflecting her feelings towards home compared to the 'country.'  Outside she has all these dreams, and we see how imaginitive she is, while inside everything is trapped.



Depth of field showing Ellas love of Barry

• Inside, only one shot is used, this long shot from of their house.  The use of the doorway occasionaly frames characters held by this dullness around them.  Outside so many shots are used, birds eye view, extreme closeups, worms eye view:  all these shots express the excitement of Ellas journeys outside, and how she sees the world.  The fact that inside only long shots are used forces the audience to keep their distance from the characters inside, looking in on this world as a spectator at the doorway and nothing more.
• Special affects are used to show Ella's dream world, and the colour is polar opposite to her world at home; showing how fair away home life is from the ideal.   In her dream she is on an island, which could suggest that she wants to be alone, she enjoys being quiet and content which is why Barry is such a good friend.

-Freya