Research Methods.

As i am with working with Ashleigh to get information from our audience we will use survey monkey which is a quantitative research method. This research method has a really good advantage as the answers are full and in depth so the answers will be more reliable. Obviously we will use secondary research method as that includes internet and websites. This links in with survey monkey as it is a website. We have also done primary research methods as that includes textual analysis and i have done this with two existing short films. We wont use qualitative research as much as that includes numbers and it won't really help us.

Storyboard of the short film.

The storyboard shows our scenes in sequence. In the first scene of the talent lying in the bed, we will zoom into her face. We will use this close-up so the next scenes of flasbacks and memories looks like its happening in her head, even though she is in a coma. We will use slow motion when it's the memory of getting hit by the car as we don't actually want to hit my friend with a car and it gives it more suspense. We decided to do a good flashback followed by a bad one as it shows that even though he hit her she still loved him afterwards. We will use a close up of her feet as she steps off the pavement and cuts to the car, so the viewers will know what's going to happen. It will end with a shot of him.

Textual Analysis.

This short film is called 'Signs' and i absolutely love it because there is no dialogue in it, apart from a voicemail message. It is about a man who has moved to the city and is unhappy until he meets a girl who works in the opposite offices. Soon his life becomes happier until she moves offices...
This short film uses diegetic sound as there is background music throughout in minor and major key depending on the mood of the scene. However, there is very little dialogue as the only dialogue there is, is of a voice message. To replace the dialogue between the main characters they use mise-en-scene of paper and pens to create the signs. I like the simplicity of the film as it uses signs rather then texting or emailing or communicating via facebook.  Their relationship is budding but in simple times as they are not using modern technology just paper and pen like old times. The lighting in this short film reflects the mood of the main male character. For example, when he is sad the lighting is quite dark and dull. Whereas, his love interest is in his life the light automatically becomes bright and sunny.

This is another short film called, 'I love you'. I really like this one as its comedy and i love the comedy genre. In this one it is about how hard it is for a man to say 'i love you' so instead he says, 'i love jews!' as his girlfriend is deaf. But soon it all goes slightly wrong...
They use non-diegetic sound in the background, which fits to the mood of the film. Unlike 'Signs' they use dialogue as a big part of the film as it helps explain it. The mise-en-scene is basic of a bedroom with lights on making it brighter. They also use a balcony and outside are trees and other flats. Another piece of mise-en-scene they use is a dummy as he falls out the window. The colours they use as the bed covers are dark and sexy and fits as they are talking about having sex. They use many long shots, for example of him standing in the doorway tring to get Catherines attention. This is a good shot to use then as yo can see fully what he is trying to do. They also use alot of close-ups so you can see their facial expressions properly.

Soul function

In todays lesson we watched a 15 minute short film called Soul Function. It was based in the seventies and was part of a dance competition. It was good as it was only made a couple of years ago and looked like it was actually made in the seventies. I preferred this a lot more than the Lumiere Bothers films!

Lumiere brothers

In 1895 the Lumiere Brothers made the first films. They filmed everyday things like people walking out of a factory and people getting on a train. Rumor has it that when the scene of the train coming into the station some of the audience ran out of the cinema as they thought is was scary! Like i said in the post about the history of short films the audience were more interested in the new technology rather than what was being shown as the content is a bit boring!

History of short films.

The first short films contained scenes that lasted a few seconds. It was more about experiencing the latest technologies then how long the film was. The films started to lengthen during the 20th century and started to now last for twenty minutes as editing and recording improved. From here feature films were made.

The film 'Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow' started as a 6 minute short film. It took 4 years to just edit and produce the 6 minute film on the Mac. He then got in touch with a Hollywood producer and raised $70 million dollars to make the feature film. Even though it flopped at the box office it is now seen as the great film that leapt into digital film- making. And films like 'Sin City' and '300' have followed in 'Sky Captain...' footsteps.

There is a few film festivals that are only for short films. For example, The International Festival of Very Shorts is a film festival in Paris that only shows films less than 3 minutes long. Another festival that concentrates on short films is Filminute, where they only show films that last 1 minute.