coursework post 2

 smell the roses

this short film uses non diegetic sound of a song in the back ground which completes the feel of the scene for the reader. the song they choose has a sad feeling to it which accompanies the plot of the film which is social media is taking over this mans life however it is a subtle track and is in the background so it doesn't distract the spectator and if there was no background music the scene would feel awkward and the viewer may lose interest. the background music also assists the plot of the film it changes the feeling of the film. once the man has decided to go out to the real world the music's beat picks up and the feeling of the film shifts from a sad lonely feeling to a happy and motivational feeling. also the non diegetic sound of the notification is a symbol of the point where the film takes a turn which intrigues the spectator.

the cinematography of the scene helps to show the repetition of the mans life. this is done by the director using the same type of shots each scene. for example when he lays in bed scrolling through social media the same medium angle is used and a wide shot if him in bed is used every time to show that is all he does every night. there was very little movement of the camera which helps to slow down the scene to show that the mans life is very dull and boring. 

the editing used in 'smell the roses' helps to set the pace of the scene. the long takes help to show the spectator that his life is very tedious. also as there are very little quick cuts this shows there is nothing exciting in he life. the cuts towards the end of the short film when he is rushing round the house helps to show the change in the film as well because they are quicker so we feel the build up of the scene and the long take at the end of him looking down the road helps the viewer to capture the idea that there is more to life than social media.

the macro element of audience can be applied to this short film because this short film was targeted at the younger generations because younger people are more attached to their phones and need to be shown the message that this film portrays which is there is more to life than social media. this film also portrays the message that younger generations need to get outside and experience the real world which is shown by the last scene.

the film follows a linear narrative of a man who is addicted to social media who is wasting his life focused on followers and then decides to change and experience the real world. constructivist theory can be applied to 'smell the roses' because the short film was produced to portray a meaning which is that there is more to life than social media. 

the sound in 'anxiety' helps to depict the story line of this short film. this is done by the use and the lack of non diegetic sound. in the bedroom scene when Madeline is trying to sleep there is very little to no non diegetic sound to keep the spectators focus on the voice of anxiety and really make the spectator think about what is being said in the scene due to there being no distracting background sounds. the sound in this short film also reflects the characters feelings throughout the film. an example of this is when Madeline decides to go out anyway, music is added which helps show the shift of her being pessimistic and down to her rushing around trying to get ready in a happy and jolly way. sound is also important at the start of the short film because the lack of non diegetic music helps to reinforce the fact that she is alone and that she has to face anxiety on her own.

miss en scene can be applied to this short film because the setting of the film is a girl is by herself because her parents have left to go to Mexico for two weeks and she has to stay by herself at home. this creates the feeling that she is going to have to face her anxiety alone and the fact she lives in this very large and airy house reinforces this feeling because there is a lot of empty space and nothing she can distract herself with. character expression is key to showing the story of 'anxiety' because there is a contrast between the two characters. Madeline has a happy facial expression at the start of the short film and then anxiety has a mean and cold facial expression which shows the contrast of the two characters. also while the film progresses Madeline's facial expression turns from happy to sad and depressed which helps to demonstrate the meaning of the short film which is anxiety change people quickly and can have a big impact on peoples lives. 

the audience that the director of the short film 'anxiety' was targeting was young people and people with anxiety. this is shown by the actor being a young person which helps the audience relate to the character due to the fact that this is a common situation in many young peoples lives where they cant go out and meet their friends because anxiety takes over.

the short film 'anxiety' follows a linear narrative of a girl that is left at home by herself who is faced with the problem that she wants to go out with her friends but cant because anxiety takes over. this short film follows Todorov's theory of equilibrium. the equilibrium is she is going out with her friends and then the disruption is that anxiety starts talking her out of it the recognition is her realising her own anxiety is making her not wont to go, then the repair is her getting ready to go anyway and then the new equilibrium is that she is going out with her friends. constructivist theory can also be applied to this short film because this short film was created with the meaning that people have to face their anxiety and not give in. 

 the sound in this short film 'roadside' plays a key part in emphasising key parts of the story and adding to the overall feeling of the scene. the lack of non diegetic music or background sound helps to allow the spectator to focus on her surroundings and get a feeling of where she might have come from. the lack of background sound also helps to show the shift of the scene when the truck pulls up and there is background music introduced. the airy music adds a mysterious feeling to the scene which causes the spectator to think even more about what has happened prior to this interaction between the woman and the driver. the sounds also help to highlight key moments in this scene because there has been non diegetic sounds added in editing like the cut of music when the man reaches for the door which adds dramatic effect to the scene and also creates curiosity for the spectator about is this man actually trying to help or has other intentions. 

parts of miss en scene can also be applied to this short film. setting adds a lot to this short film because when we see the first twenty seconds of the woman walking down this road we as the spectators are forced to wonder where she is and why she is there. also the camera pans round to show us as the spectators that there is also nothing but desert behind her which builds up curiosity for the spectator. costumes and make up also helps to interest the viewer. this is done by adding fake blood on the main characters neck to create curiosity for the viewer. also as the main character is wearing very torn clothing we as the spectators can make the assumption that she has been walking for a while. also on her right wrist she has a bracelet resembling a hospital bracelet which adds more curiosity to the scene because it opens up more possible scenarios that could have happened prior to this. 

the short film 'roadside' follows a linear narrative about a woman that is walking down a road in a desert like setting when a car pulls up and offers help which then she takes but hijacks the car. this short film also conforms to Todorov's theory of equilibrium. the equilibrium is a woman travelling down the road. the disruption is a man pulling up in his truck. the recognition is her speaking to him then getting in the truck. then the attempt to repair is her knocking him out and taking the truck and then the new equilibrium is her travelling down the road in a truck.

there is also a lot of representation in this short film. gender representation is used in this short film by making the main character a scared woman and then a man coming to help the 'damsel in distress'. but then this is challenged later in the short film when she kicks him out of the truck and steals the truck. this short film also conforms to its genre. thrillers are supposed to have a villain and a hero. the main character is the villain because she stole the truck and also this is reinforced because she did not want the police called. then the hero is the man that tries to help the woman however he could have had other intentions which is left to the spectators imagination.