Research Tasks - "MixTape" - Matt Bull

"MIXTAPE" (click to view)

1. This short film is different from the others I have looked at so far for my research. This film uses romance and musical and have combined them to produce a very good, and happy film.
2. Most romantic musicals are longer films that tell a story of two people that like each other but takes them longer to be together. Being a short film, the director has made it more realistic and shows how quick of a impact one little thing like a mix tape can achieve.
3. This film uses the music chosen by the main character as a base to the pace in which the story is told. being a face paced song means that when they both sing at the end of the piece, it shows that even music from the 70's can be popular with a younger generation.
4. The mix tape is what brings the two lovers together even being separated by an obstacle(wall) between their rooms. It is powerful enough to be heard from either room bringing them closer together.
5. Ben spends his time listening to his Dad's old 70's vinyl and making mixtapes on an old double deck tape recorder. He makes a tape to try and woo the girl next door, Lily, the girl of his dreams. he tries to pass it on to Lily herself but is not there and is greeted by her mother. Ben asks if she could pass it on for him and does. He returns home to his room and hears the tape being played knowing that she got it and starts singing along with her although separated by a wall in which they both lean back on at the end of the film.

Matt Bull

Research Tasks - "Mixtape" - Hannah Sell

MixTape (Luke Snellin)
1. Musical romance genre- This film uses music more than talking which puts it more in the musical genre. Music is used to set the scene and then music and singing is also used to help the audience identify that this is of the musical genre.

2. This film uses genre and style conventions uniquely this film uses both elements of musical and romance genres. What is unique about the way this film is done is it doesn't take along time for the plot to develop it cuts to the point quickly.

3. This film uses the short film format well as it is a very short film. However it contains structure and entertainment for viewers. The narritive is short and to the point it is about a boy liking a girl and him making her a mixtape and her liking it. This is all shown in the film but is straight to the point unlike traditional films it cuts out all the middle part and just shows the audience what they want to see.

4. The use of sound is intresting in this film as the sound is what makes it intresting. if there was no sound the film would not make sense. music is used to set the scene but to also make the story. The use of diagetic sound is useful as the music being played can be heard by both the audience and the characters. however at the start of the film the use of non diagetic sound is mixed with diagetic sound as he makes the mixed tape we can all hear the music the music then continues as he walks along the street however the boy cannot hear it any more but we can.

5. This film seems to be about a boy liking a girl and how a mixed tape brings them together. It positions the audience as if they are watching a music video.

Hannah Sell

Research Tasks - "Mixtape" - Chloe McGlinchey

Mixtape - Luke Snellin

* The genre of this short film is romantic musical. Also containing social realism. Ben spends his time listening to his Dads old 70s vinyl and making mixtapes on an old double deck tape recorder. He makes a tape to try and woo the girl next door, Lily, the girl of his dreams.

* This short film uses the style conventions uniquely because it uses both musical and romance in one film. The film also gives certain aspects of their own music video, as the characters are dressed in fairly vintage clothing. I find the use of using music and interpreting the characters to connect with it is exceptionally inspiring because of how young the children in fact are, it just shows how much of an impact parents music likings can be towards their children.

* The short film format in this piece, has definitely worked the best. The advantages of this is with the shortness of the film is you can include so much or so little in order to make the piece make sense to the audience. The narrative has been structured around the character "Ben" mainly because it's obviously about him having a love for his dad's old 70's vinyl and trying to win the heart of the girl next door "Lily". The music at the end of the film where you see "Ben" and his sister singing along to the song works and intwines within the whole film as it may describe their own insites and feelings.

* The use of sound in the short film is very interesting and works very well with the piece of filming, the music is upbeat and has heart and soul into it. There are both diegetic and non diegetic sounds in the film. The use of the soundtrack, makes the characters seem like they are featuring in that particular bands music video.

* The audience has been positioned to view the film as a third person. As a film is supposed to be viewed, the audience can still interact with this piece, still thinking (if the audience were around in the 1970's) their childhood is coming back to them, with the music bring back memories and flashbacks and whether or not if they were like that with their parents music and how they felt about that era.

Chloe McGlinchey

Research Tasks - "Eight" - Matt Bull

"EIGHT"

1. This short film is a social realism film looking into the daily life he lives, moving from the town in which he was born (Liverpool) to the South Coast. It also is styled in the way of a documentary, with the narration of the main character (Jonathon) for most of the film, describing his life whilst things are happening on screen. Clothing of a home-made football shirt of the team he supports has the ideology of a young boy growing up, influenced by his father who supported the same team, but died at one of the games, maybe meaning that his mother doesnt allow him to own a real one because of what happened?
2. Using social realism for this film creates a sense of realism to the film. With the main issues created by the story, the audience could relate to that young boy with the same experiences. The narration adds to the documentary style by expalining the situation he is in, whilst being relevant to what you can see on screen.
3. This film uses the short film format to make it a lot more pacey, telling a film that could of been prolonged and as a result become less interesting. But as it is a short film, information about the story is being tolded all of the time, keeping the audience informed making it more interesting.
4. The use of sound is used to link with the types of genre of social realism and a type of documentary style piece. The sounds that are used whilst events are happening are made to feel natural, emphasising the realism of the film. Narration is also used to emphasis the past that Jonathon had with his father. Looking back at what he had, and now what he does have in contrast.
5. Family is the main issue that is presented to us from the main character of Jonathon. The loss of his dad has made a big impact to his life without having a father figure, and both him and his mother feel the consequence. We know how his father died by his description, resulting in Jonathon's passion for the support of the football team (Liverpool). His mum tries to stop him from supporting that team because of his father dying at one of the matches, so stops him from bringing back memories, and possibly protecting him from the same thing in the future?

Matt Bull

Research Tasks - "Eight" - Gareth Allen

Eight
I think that this film is in the style of a biography of Jonathon's life and his family. He mentions his dad throughout this film and the effects his dad has on his mum (makes her cry when ever Jonathon brings his name up in conversation). He is also deeply in love with football and Liverpool especially, seeing as this is where he grew up. This film has parts of social realism included as you see what he lives like without a dad and how he wishes he did (when he holds another child's dads hand as if it was his own). The way that you see him running around on the beaches, shows how he is free living and has the world at his hands and can do what he wants. This is good at the start of the film as it shows the audience what he is like as a person deep down.

Within this film, they use different styles of conventions to tell the stories. They use social realism and biography references throughout the film to tell different parts of the story. He talks about himself and what he wants everything to be like e.g. with a dad of his own. They show social realism by the use of his mum not being happy with him being interested in football. This is probably because it brings back memories for her of her late husband. This is good using two different styles as you can see different ways that they are living and how they are feeling in their hearts.

The film uses the short format for a film as it never stops telling a story. It is mostly about Jonathon and the fact that he doesn't know what it is like to have a father figure in his life. If he isn't talking about this, then he is talking and thinking about football. This carries the story along well as it never stops and keeps the audience intrigued.

The sound i feel is done well throughout this short film. At the start of the film, and at the end of the film, there is non diegetic sounds with the background soundtrack. They also use narration at different points of the film. This is showing the audience what Jonathan is thinking at different points during the film and keeping us informed about different things throughout his life. They blend this narration with the filming as you see him sitting down at the dinner table and you see him carrying on what he has been saying.

The themes and issues that there are in this short film are family issues. This is shown by the loss of Jonathon's dad before he was born so has never had a father figure in his life. These issues are shown by the way he holds another childs dads hand in the hope that he could have once had that feeling. We also hear the thoughts that he has wondering what his dad would have done for a living ( train driver, astronaut or a fireman) . We also hear that his mum cries whenever he asks her about his dad. We hear that she doesn't want him to play or be interested in football as much as he is and tries to get him to have another hobby. The reason for this could be that it brings back memories for her of her late husband who enjoyed football as well, and is worried that the same thing will happen to her son.

This film I think is targeted at a young audience between the ages of 7 and 10. I also think that it appeals to an audience of people between 16 and 30. I think this because, you hear the story of the film from a boy who is eight years old and you feel how he is feeling at times. This will appeal to these types of people because, they can relate to the main character Jonathon. this will be why it is targetted at a younger audience, because they will be around the same age as him, and they might be going through the same situation as he is.

Gareth Allen

Research Tasks - "Eight" - Hannah Sell

Eight (Daldry 1998)
1. Social Realism/ Documentary genre- This film is like a documentary like film following the life of an eight year old boy who really likes football we see how he follows England and his reactions to what he sees also how he still supports Liverpool even though he does not live there anymore . He also trying to cope living in a new place moving from Liverpool to the south coast and also trying to cope with the loss of his father.

2. Genre and style conventions have been used uniquily through this film both therough the social realism and documentry genres. Jonathon talks about himself and what he likes and how he would like things to be. He talks about his best friend and how they want things to be and what they like to do together. He talks about his mother and she doesn't like football in the house and how she doesn't like to talk about his father and he also talks about his father and how he remembers his dad and what he likes to do like he is still around.

3. The film uses the short film format to depict the life of an eight year old child in ten minutes. if this film had been a full length film and like this all the way through the audience would have started to get bored and it would be less interesting.

4. The sound of this short film is very interesting using mainly narration from Jonathon. Lots of non diagetic sound is used to help set the scene and surroundings as we follow Jonathon through this film. Music is used to draw the audience in at the start of the film making them feel unaware as to what this film is going to be about.

5. Lots of themes and issues are addressed in this film. one of the main ones is Jonathons love of football and how that is all he wants to do. Another issue that links in with this is his mother not wanting him to have anything to do with football this could be because his father died at a football match and it reminds her too much of him and brings back painful memories. Jonathons love of football is depicted to that audience all the way through the film from the very beginning whaen he has the football on the beach all he wants to d ois play football. We see him watching football with his friend and then reanacting Michael Owen's famous goal this shows the audience how devoted he is. Also with the colouring in of his own tee-shirts that again show the devotion of this child to his home town and the football team there. Another big issue is family the loss of his father has impacted both him and his mothers lives greatly and we see this as he talks about him and how he wants to be like his father was.

Hannah Sell

Research Tasks - "Eight" - Chloe McGlinchey

Eight (Daldry) 1998

* I think this film is based on a documentary/social realism genre. Jonathon is an eight year old boy trying to come to terms with the loss of his father. We spend a day in his company while he reveals his thoughts and love of the game football and watching and reacting the England game against Argentina in the World Cup in France in 1998.

* Throughout the film the director has approached more than one type of genre to tell different parts to the story. Jonathon talks about himself and how he wants things to be. He talks about his mother not liking football and how he makes his mother cry a lot and how is father made his mother feel. He also brings in his best friend saying how he supports a different football team however they both support their home country: England. Jonathon is almost trying to make his dad seem alive and well, the way he talks about anything and everything.

* The short film format for "Eight" is like its a never ending story with Jonathon and his thought and feelings. He doesn't know what it would be like to have a father figure in his life, so he mainly goes on about his love of football and Liverpool F.C. The story is every minute intriguing the audience to pull them in closer and get a bind with the character.

* The sound throughout this short film has been thoroughly thought out, the non diegtic noises through out make every scene important. The surroundings that follow Jonathon make his thoughts and words seem every bit more realistic to the audience. The music at the beginning of the piece made me ,as the audience, feel fairly sad and make you wonder what the film is going to be about and where the film has been filmed and located. Narration is the main sound through the film and it brings a sense of realism and hope for the main character.

* The film is definitely about family issues, as Jonathon talks mainly about his mother and father. He also talks about his best friend "Terry" and saying how he likes Terry's parents as they let them both watch football in the house as at Jonathon's house his mother does not. He goes past work places in curiosity into what his father had done as a career and whether he may follow in his steps. His mother throughout his life has attempted to get him into other hobbies other than football; reasons for this may be because she does not want to be reminded of her dead husband as she has been widowed and is left alone with the remainder of their love together to produce their first and only child. I think that the film would appeal to people of all ages due to what is going on during the film, because of the story that is being told by an eight year old boy people may be able to relate to anything that he has spoken about.

Chloe McGlinchey

Research Tasks - "Wasp" - Matt Bull

"WASP" (click to view)

1. This short film uses the social realism genre to make the film realistic and of real life situations. Situations that the audience could relate to because of the difficulties they face.
2. This really is an extraordinary and exceptional film. Gritty, real, touching and also incredibly tense and full of suspense. The free flowing nature of the camera-work adds to the already vivid realism, almost docudrama style. As a viewer you are drawn into this impoverished and deprived world, you feel immediate empathy for the central character in her desperate situation. She shows warmth, love and humanity to her children side by side with an appalling judgement about their well-being and safety. She is contrasting yet totally believable and genuine.
3. What makes "Wasp" so unique is its almost seamless fusion of the two documentary styles. Writer/director Andrea Arnold scripts a fictional story intended to look so authentic that it can pass as direct cinema. This is done so effectively that not only is a casual viewer unable to tell whether it is fact or fact-based fiction, but in most cases actually assumes the story is authentic and the characters real. The acting (particularly by the children) is so well directed and edited that you feel certain that these are real people.
4. With this film set in a real life situation, the sounds the audience hear is of the natural surroundings of where they live. In a what seems to be a run-down area on the outskirts of a city, the sounds of traffic and the hustle and bustle of the area is normal to them. As this film is a social realism, they don't use sound to emphasise any major events, but try to make it as real as possible.
5. This film puts the audience in the position of the main character (Zoe) within the daily routine of her life with her kids. Living in bad conditions, things don't get any better when the other people living near have a negative approach towards her. She thinks things could change on meeting an old friend who takes her out, but doesn't realise that she has her 4 kids.

Matt Bull

Research Tasks - "Wasp" - Chloe McGlinchey

Wasp (Andrea Arnold, 2003)

* I had identified this short film to be of a social realism genre. The style of content throughout the film was well thought out and every detail mattered in pretty much every scene. The mis en scene was particularly powerful, due to what was put into it and exactly how much. the characterisation was extremely important because of the type of people they are, it is important to stress this to the audience so that they know just basic details of the characters in ways the speak, act and walk.

* This film uses genre/style of conventions uniquely in order to connect with the audience. The way the characters act towards each other and their living in everyday life in order to succeed or fail. The aspects I find interesting throughout the piece were in fact the character relationships. The way that the Mum "Zoe" was towards the female , who accordingly hit one of Zoe's children, when she sticks up for her family she does it with violence and heart as they need to be protected by their mother in order to not be taken away by the authorities.

* The advantages of using the short narrative in this particular film word very well. My reason for this is due to the close relationships towards "Zoe" and her children, the way the director has more or less got straight to the point and views of this small but dysfunctional family. The opening of the film flows well with the film as it starts to give a taste between the female and Zoe. You can immediately see what "Zoe" is willing to do to protect her family. The ending of the film may seem disappointing to some people but to others may be the perfect ending for it. As the irony of the car not pulling away quickly, it may make you think what may happen but as "Dave" smiles towards "Zoe" he then pulls the car away and the camera then follows. It then cuts to the city lights at night with "Hey Baby" playing in the soundtrack.

* With the film being related to social realism, the sounds the audience hear are diegetic (which means characters and audience can hear these sounds), you can mainly here the surrounding area in which the family live. The sounds of traffic, and other city inaqualities are everyday life and do not bother Zoe's family. The film tends not to build up suspension during any major events as the film is meant to be viewed to seem real as possible.

* The director has chosen to position the audience behind the eyes of the main character "Zoe". This gives the audience an oppourtunity to see how she copes everyday life with poor living conditions, no job, no money and four young children to care for. As the film starts to end, "Zoe" ends up meeting up with an old friend "Dave" who takes her out (down the pub) she thinks that she can turn her life around, with just one meeting. However at the beginning of seeing dave she fails to tell him that she has four children. But as the end approaches he almost seems like her own knight in shining armour.

Chloe McGlinchey

Research Tasks - "Conversation Piece" - Matt Bull

"CONVERSATION PIECE"

1. The genre used for this short film is social realism and is portrayed by the mise en scene of the surroundings of the story. Filmed in what seemed to be an apartment or small house, we view as the audience the lives of the characters within their home, and the traits they take on during a normal day.
2. A stereotypical view is taken on the characters themselves when you first witness the female character of the couple, working away in the kitchen preparing a meal, whilst the male character is just lounging around, reading the paper and eating food left in his pocket. From this style of film using social realism, it allows the audience to fully engage with the characters, as they themselves could relate to what is happening but on a regular basic.
   
3. Using the short film format, the film itself is able to progress through the story quickly though telling every part of the story. The music over the dialogue gives the film a comic value, as the music slightly resembles the words they are saying.
   
4. There are not many prolific sounds in the film itself, giving another perspective to the story as the dialogue from the characters is replaced by sound from the record that the male character plays, varying from pitch and volume, dependant on the intensity of their speech.
5. One sleepy Sunday morning, Jean notices a chip on a treasured vase. She accuses Maurice, her husband since whenever. He denies it. Employing a variety of tactics, Jean attempts to get to the bottom of the situation. This unique musical-of-sorts matches every single syllable of dialogue to every single note from jazz player Rex Stewart's 1966 improvised recording 'Conversation Piece'.

Matt Bull