Post 1: Researching Short Films

Towards my coursework we are working in groups and creating a short film, as well as a film poster and magazine article review page. I have been watching a range of short films on the BBC Film Network Website, including a film 'Gasman' directed by Lynee Ramsay. Whilst watching this film I took note of different techniques that are used within short films in order to benefit my final outcome. 

                             

The short film ‘Gasman’ was directed and written by lynne Ramsay in 1997. The short film was produced by Gavin Emerson and was distributed through DVD sales, such as in the America by the company Criterion Collection. In 2007 the short film, won a BAFTA at the Scottish BAFTA Awards, then when on to win a series of other awards such as Best film, award at the Locarno International Film Festival. The short film is about two children who are exposed to their father’s secret adultery and their feeling towards the situation.

Camera Angles: 

There are a range of low angle shots used in the short film. These are used to show a point of view, for

In Gasman lower angled shots are uses to show that it’s from the little girl’s point of view. This can be seen when the angle is high on the suit which is hanging on the door, as a little girl would need to be looking up to see. Also to help connote that it’s from the little girls point of view is the close up shots of the little details around the house, for example mother ironing and the little boy pouring sugar on a toy car.

To create verisimilitude normal shots and in-between shots are used to make the scenes seen real. Some of the shot have a small amount blur around the edges, this connotes the idea of the film being a memory from the girl’s childhood and that she might not remember it completely. Also to fit in with the memory theme some shots are in slow motion, which may show she remembers this part better than the others.

The Mise-en-scene shows that the film is set in the late 1970’s as the curtains and wallpaper match with the fashion from that time period. Also the houses décor shows that the family is working class as it’s a little messy, which shows that the mother and father don’t have the time to keep the house looking its best. This would back up the storyline as the farther needs to pay for both households so the first mother would have to work as well to keep up the higher working class look.

The diegetic music shows its Christmas time as the songs are some of the more well know Christmas songs which were released in the late seventy’s. The tone of the music is fun and energetic as Christmas time should be, but the way the older child is playing by himself which connotes loneliness which clashes with the happy music.