Short Film Research: Bombay Sapphire Imagination Series

The Bombay Sapphire Gin Company is holding a short film competition, a basic script was written encouraging short film makers to interpret the script in any way they want. The result was five high standard short films with the same script but as opposite from one another as you can get. 

Much like the evidence from my previous research the genres that are generally most successful are Dark Comedy (ROOM 8, Concrete), Social Realism (Water Song) or Animated (Crab).

http://www.bombaysapphire.com/en-GB/imagination-series/our-winning-films.aspx

"At the Tribeca Film Festival 2012, Geoffrey launched the first Imagination Series script, encouraging you to enter your film of his script. People entered from 34 countries around the world."

"The judges came together in Tribeca in September to decide on the five most imaginative entries. These winning entries below were produced and premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival 2013"

Although the films are all clearly made on a high budget that is unrealistic for a student produced film, the genre and camerawork still give a lot of helpful tips and research ideas. For example, these films were chosen by industry experts who know all too well what a good short film comprises of. A clear theme in all of the films is simplicity. There is one clear idea and subject in each film and it is the camerawork, colouring, style & editing of the film that adds the effect and interest. For example, the match on action sequence at the beginning of Concrete in which the suited man is entering the building and heading to the store room is done using several wide angle shots and several pull focus shots add intrigue which contrasts with the more jovial soundtrack.

Short Film Analysis

Short films in general have the luxury of being anything from 3 minutes to 30 and still considered a short film. This wide time scope means that directors can be as blunt or sensitive with a piece as possible. For example, Late Bloomer slowly builds to a climax and we realise the storyline slowly whereas UNWIND is far more immediate, we know from the outset what is going on, where they are and what's going to happen; not to say that the effect of the film isn't still powerful. Both methods have equal pros and cons. 

  

Late Bloomer - Directed by Craig MacNeil

Late Bloomer is a 13 minute short that was selected to be shown at the Sundance Film Festival and is critically acclaimed. The simple storyline and lay out I think is dragged out slightly, it goes on a little too long, I don't think the scene in the principals office is needed but it does add to the overall effect. This dark comedy genre is a common hit with short films because there is little storyline to tell therefore the time constraint isn't a problem. The camerawork is very hollywood and glossy, lots of panning shots and use of the camera to show the characters emotion, for example, the scene in the principals office (9:32); the camera zooms in on the boy to show his desperation.

The actors in it play little part in the actual storytelling, it's the voiceover and music that carry the piece. This short is very theatre based, its performed as if on a stage with lots of over exaggeration and physical theatre ideas like girls twitching on the floor and being backlit to heighten the dramatic effect (8:20). 

UNWIND Based on the novel by Neal Shusterman.

This short is one of my favourites because of how simple it is, it uses only two camera angles, all on an eye-line match which makes the viewer very much in the position of the protagonist. The colour scheme is also very cold and adds to the almost physically painful effect that the film has on the viewer. Video effects have been added during the edit to enhance specific moments such as the doctors operation on her arm which has been slightly sped up. A constant beep effect has been added also to intensify the claustrophobic hospital feeling the film provides. The initial information text given accompanied with the close up hospital aesthetics makes the film feel like a re-enactment rather than fictional, adding to the horror of the idea. 

Unfortunately because the film lacks variety of camera-work and much of a story line the effect is lost a little, leaving the viewer a little bored at points. However I still credit the simplicity as it is generally very effective, especially as the visual is extinguished and we are left listening to the haunting sounds of breathing and a heart monitor. 

MILO example A2 Media Short Film

Although this short is clearly student produced and filmed on very bad quality cameras it is a social realism piece similar to the kind of genre I'm looking to do, it has a simple subject matter and focuses on one issue. It has a clear problem and answer which is both satisfying and moving for the audience.

The accompanying soundtrack & camerawork that switches between everyday shots of a young boy making breakfast and then cuts to shots of bottles. The audio edit is well synced with the camerawork, as the front door is burst open the sound of the clinking bottle is amplified and the soundtrack is abruptly cut. The shot at 1:44 is well-lit with the young boy in a clear white light representing innocence and the background parents in a dingier, yellow light, showing a clear contrast between the characters. Subtleties like this are what make the film noticeably better than other Student short films, its the close attention to detail. 

Making A Short Film

http://shortofstories.wordpress.com

The website, Short of Stories | Screenwriting for Films, is an excellent blog that allows a virgin short-film maker to get an idea of how to go about composing their short film, inconsequential of the genre. Much like the Little White Lies magazine, this blog has an arty design and way of discussion that is friendly and informal.

Some of their key areas, I've listed below:

• Short films competitions and ratings of the competitions
• Creating characters
• Summary notes on each subject for quick reference
• General research links and ideas
• A history of successful short films
• The importance of each area and the key things to consider in your preparation process
• Ways of funding your short film - the 'Lemonade Stand' theory
• How the market and target audience has progressed & studies into genre
• Interviews with industry experts 

Theo & I are going to be reading this  website often and have used some of their ideas already in our approach to audience research and how to create the film and effectively show our story without being overt. 

Short Film Research: Sky Arts - Playhouse Presents

Sky Arts 1 host a series of short films/plays that last 30 minutes each, each episode is its own contained piece but together they make the series Playhouse Presents which I've been watching since the first series a year ago. The series includes some incredible names such as Emma Thompson, Kylie Minogue, Daniel Radcliffe, Matt Smith, Shelia Hancock, Catherine Tate, Tom Jones & Paul O'Grady. This famous list of english actors have all starred in their own individual episode of which the genre is generally social realism or comedy.

http://skyarts.sky.com/playhouse-presents

One that I'd like to focus on that has inspired me greatly is Cargese, directed by Matt Smith (current Doctor Who) not only because I think the script and filming is excellent but also because I auditioned for the short film myself and had the opportunity to meet Matt and talk to him about it. Five months later when I saw it on TV I knew that this was the kind of thing I wanted to create for my short film and having been able to work with the director I hope will aid my endeavours a lot.

http://skyarts.sky.com/playhouse-presents/cargese-video

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10089944/Cargese-Sky-Arts-1-review.html

The short; Cargese is about two teenage boys, its set simply in a south london council estate in the cold months of winter. There is nothing around to do for them and one of the boys mother is dying from terminal cancer so life is currently pretty dismal. The telegraph article neatly summarises the short film and its style as 'experimental art house theatre' gritty locations used such as abandoned car parks or roof houses; urban locations are all places that I can get easy access to. Also the film uses a very small cast of only 5 + a few extras. The film was shot in three days and only three or four locations were used, no sets. The actors involved were all relatively unheard of and all below the age of 25 so the cast was very urban and new. The story line is also very simple, social realism at its best, the story is focused around one central character around whom a few others revolve. In the 1/2 hour short only one major event happens but is detromonious to all involved and we are left feeling moved and shocked by the piece.

The colour palette used is very cold and replicates the cold of the environment and winter which is trying to be created. The camera work is a combination of tripod and steadicam work to allow the piece to feel as realistic as possible. The style of the piece is exactly the kind of genre I want to achieve in my short film and so watching it and working with the director has been extremely helpful and inspirational to me in the creation of my film and the ideas used to make the story.

A2 Coursework

Both tasks (the trailer & short film) are things that I watch regularly and both influence me to either see the film or watch more by that director or related person to the film. 

Short films especially interest me because they can only afford to have a simple storyline due to time constraints, however they aim to have the same impact or project an equal message as that of a full-length film. This condensing of 1&1/2 hours into 5/10 minutes is exciting because you get all the drama and build of a feature film in the time it takes to do something as mundane as making a cup of tea. 

I also think I would find making a trailer less fulfilling than a short film because a trailer is not the final product, the film is and therefore you have to have in mind a product that you will never actually make. In creating a short film I will see the entire process through and hopefully be satisfied with the end product. 

For these reasons and due to my audience research & analysis of 3 trailers and short films I've decided to create a 5 minute short film for my A2 Coursework piece. 

Research of Short Films

The Return uses a relatively simple story line and a subject that is relevant to most people. This makes the film immediately relatable and therefore more gripping for an audience. The camerawork is aimed to intrigue us, they show glimpses of scenes and flashbacks, piecing the story together bit by bit so we only find out what has happened close to the end.

Simple but effective locations are used to express the relative nature of the situation and the possibility of it happening to anyone. The film uses stereotypical characters to represent anyone in society, the careless teenager busy on their phone, the housewife mother and the innocent child.

The palette of the editing makes gives the film a stylised effect much like an advert which I think encourages the moral meaning behind the film, promoting safe driving.

 
Concrete won the Bombay Saphire imagination series short film challenge. It's a comedy with thriller elements and is clearly a higher budget, professionally made short. It has a variety of excellent locations and props including an all turning and twisting secret box.

The budget and experience put into this short clearly shows in it's exciting story line that keeps us wondering right until the last couple of seconds. It also has an wide variety of camera angles and shots with a colour palette that enhances the feel of night time and the mystery behind the box, dark colours and boosted effects.

Trailer Research

Trailers are composed of the very best parts of a film, it's made to entice the audience into paying for a ticket and sitting through a full 2 hours of cinema. This is a lot to ask of a person so the trailer has to be very exciting and give the audience a strong idea of what kind of film they're going to be seeing. Depending on the films budget they may choose to show incredible graphics or locations because that's what's best about the film or lower budget films may choose to show exquisite moments of acting and focus on characters rather than CGI or locations. I've chosen a wide variety of trailers to look at ranging from high end hollywood blockbusters to arthouse films made for only $500'000 and have tried to highlight the differences and strong points of both trailers. 

Man of Steel from acclaimed producer Christoper Nolan & Director Zack Snyder

This trailer is a perfect example of the summer blockbuster, an estimated $225million was spent on making it and therefore the trailer reads big. The entire point of the trailer is to excite and convey the epic proportions on which this movie was made. Specific shots such as the opening shot which immediately shows explosions and a world in turmoil, setting up the storyline in the first 8 seconds.

The film focuses on action and effects rather than characters and acting, the actors in the film are known but few are A-List actors, Henry Cavill who plays the lead is certainly an up and coming talent. Therefore the films budget has clearly largely been spent on the spectacle and look of the film and this is highlighted in the trailer.

The entire trailer is set to a soundtrack that slowly increases in rhythm, pace and volume to emphasise the climatic storyline and suspense involved. The trailer builds to a climax at 2:55 when we finally see the title appear in bold letters across the screen and we are left wanting to see the film and anticipating the story. This kind of trailer is made to wow the audience and send people running for the cinema.

Silver Linings Playbook Directed by David O. Russell

Silver Linings is a love story between two mentally ill people. Only $21 million was estimated budget for this film. The genre of the film is a cross genre, this is the first USP of the film, its a comedy but also a romance and socially realistic. The trailer clearly displays this by starting with comedic moments that are accompanied with breaks in the soundtrack to highlight it. The trailer ends with a more serious soundtrack and the title of the film is said by the lead character to suggest a resolution to the story that we find out if we watch the film

It's set in one town and the locations are very basic, meaning that the focus is on the actors. Several award winning actors were hired including Robert De-Niro and Bradley Cooper. The trailer therefore focuses on these actors and specific moments between them, very few shots are shown of landscapes or locations.

This trailer entices an audience primarily with A-List actors and a unique new genre. Then focuses on specific moments in the film between characters that are either funny or romantic to give the audience a clear idea of what to expect.

Open Water Directed by Chris Kentis

Open water was shot on just $500'000, a tiny budget for a film. It's a horror/thriller set in the middle of the ocean where two divers are left behind overnight after a deep sea dive. The trailer uses a basic format of word association, it uses titles like 'leaves two divers behind' followed by a shot of two divers surfacing from the water and this format creates immediate stories in our head, we don't see the action but are frightened by the thought of how easily a scenario like this could occur.

The trailer uses atmospheric sound of water and eerie notes to intensify the trailer and effectively scare you into seeing the film. Unlike the other trailers the film is clearly shot without tripods or high quality cameras and this gritty docudrama style is displayed strongly in the trailer by not showing any clear shots, everything is moving and brief. The edit of the piece also strongly contrasts the opening shot of the sunlit beach and steady camera with the final shot of a shark fun hitting the free-hand camera.

Bridge to A2

For my A2 Coureswork I've been given the choice of making a trailer for a film or a short film. Both of which provide huge challenges and hard work. My initial feeling is toward a shot film as it is a final product and a finished thing where as a trailer is only a taster of a full project, not actually making the film may be less satisfying than making a full short film that is it's own project.

However I''m going to explore both choices and research for a while before making a decision. I'm looking forward to the year ahead and the exciting challenges it will bring.

THE FILM

PreLim Film