Echo 


Sound 


Lewis Arnold's short film uses diegetic sound to create a sense of realism. This is incredibly important for the emotional effect on the spectator, especially with the plot twist, as the story is made to feel believable up until this point. The way the phone calls create emotion and suspense, despite not having another voice on the other side, is really effective, something I am definitely inspired by. Other diegetic sounds such as foot steps, breathing and the ambient noise of the streets, create an unsettling atmosphere and again add to the realism. 



Cinematography 

Slow but deliberate camera movements mirror the protagonist's internal struggle, making sound and visuals work together to overwhelm the spectator in the film's mood. Wide shots, close ups, as well as the composition which frames the protagonist central to the scene brings the spectator along with her emotional journey, putting us in her point of view throughout, and makes the fact she has tricked us and the other characters in the short film even more drastic. Low key lighting and a muted colour palette further enhance the bleak and naturalistic tone of the short film. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

  Short Film Treatment  I want to create a psychological drama short film that explores the lived experience of anxiety and distorted perception. The story follows Jess, a 30-year-old woman living in South London, whose walk to her therapist’s appointment becomes an overwhelming ordeal as her anxiety intensifies, causing her to misinterpret those around her. What begins as a normal journey, quickly turns into a sensory and emotional assault, where every sound and glance feels threatening. The idea for my short film, stemmed from my interest in mental health disorders and how the world can be perceived differently for those who   suffer from them. Tyler Perry’s film Straw influenced me significantly. In the film the protagonist is consumed with grief, and this causes her to imagine the presence of her daughter. We watch her imagined day, and then we see what really happened - from where my idea for restarting the same day originated.  Act 1 Begins in the protagonist's...
Read more
Short Film: Characters, Costumes & Props (initial ideas) Characters The Therapist : The main protagonist of the film. A 45 year old woman living alone in South London. Jess is struggling with mental illness, making it difficult for her to leave her home. She has few friends and has trouble in social settings. However, it is later revealed that Jess is a therapist. She hides her struggles from her workplace, no one would know what she is going through and what her home life is like.  Dale: Dale is a patient, a 50 years old man, he confides in Jess. He is finding it difficult to go to work due to his mental illness, without knowing he is a lot like Jess.  Costumes/makeup & hair The Therapist : She dresses between smart and casual, making her job less obvious. Her hair is tied up and she has light makeup on - maybe we watch her apply her makeup during the first Act where she prepares herself for the day ahead. Dale : Simple, casual clothing - shirt and trousers. His hair ...
Read more
Image
 Slap Editing  The editing in the film is sharp and deliberate, tension is created through cutting quickly between Connor's point of view and the reactions of other characters. The use of rapid cross-cutting during the party sequence helps to convey the rising aggression in the room and also Connor's anxiety when expressing himself in front of his peers. The rhythm of the editing hugely impacts the mood of different sequences, for example it slows down during private moments becomes fast paced during social settings.  Representation  Representation is hugely significant in 'Slap' - Traditional views of masculinity and self-expression are challenged. Connor, a boxer is the main character of the short film, we see him explore his identity through cross-dressing and makeup, breaking away from the stereotype around male athletes. The film also explores the hostility of peer pressure and how this can effect the ability of expressing yourself, Connor shows how this ca...
Read more