This idea is different to my other ones just as it is the oldest one in terms of the year that this event was. But it was my first thought when I had to do an idea from a news story as it was such a big impact on the world. It would be a very patriotic film with a happy tone rather than sad one, because it was such a revelation event.
My initial thoughts on how to create this film are -
Use a 8mm film effect to get the 40s style
Find the most similar clothing as possible
Perhaps start the scene with the radio playing a news story about the victory
The person does not hear it straight away and ends up reading the newspaper
The film ends with a knock at the door, which will signify that their family member (brother/son) has returned from war
A very patriotic scene with flags
Perhaps them cooking getting ready for the street party to celebrate
1940s music in the background
I think that this would be the hardest idea to work from, just because of perfecting the style of the 1940s would be harder than just a modern style film. I am also limited with settings that I could use, and I don't know if there is a suitable place for me to film. However, if done right it would be a fun film to make as it would have a happy tone overall, as this was a great celebration.
Although not a regular short film because it has been made by a musician and contains their own songs. It is a short film telling us a story of sin and redemption.
The film opens with us being placed in the Garden of Eden with Adam (Shaun Ross) and Eve (Lana Del Rey). In unconventional ways John Wayne is portrayed as God and opens the scene for us. He is intersected by famous sayings by Jesus Christ, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. There are also cuts to Lana Del Rey portraying Jesus' mother Mary, who is seen to be regularly praying. Throughout the scene, it is carried by her song Body Electric -
'Grand Ole Opry, feelin' alright
Mary prays the rosary for my broken mind
I sing the body electric'
During this section Eve is tempted by the snake, and eats an apple from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which results in her fainting and thunder clapping. Adam then does the same to join his lover and the experience of paradise is over. Throughout this section, it has been coloured pink and red to give an unrealistic and dreamy look. Doing this is suitable for this scene as we are meant to be in 'paradise'.
The second part of the short film is Adam and Eve placed in modern LA. During this part, Lana Del Rey is voice overing Walt Whitman's 'I Sing the Body Electric', with visuals have Eve as a stripper, and Adam as a gang member, who is also works in a run down convenience store. Although not a typical representation of Paradise, there are references throughout that mimic such as in the store there is a sign that says 'El Paraiso' meaning 'The Paradise'. After the poem has been read, the second song starts called 'Gods and Monsters'.
'In the land of Gods and Monsters
I was an angel
Living in the garden of evil'
This song does have many meanings, but one that I think suits the most is where the 'Gods' are the celebrities, that are worshipped and looked after because they are famous. And the 'Monsters' are the addictions, sinners and all the other trouble that comes into the world, which references the 'Garden of Evil'. However, soon 'Gods' can come into 'Monsters' because humans are greedy and we all want money and fame. And because the celebrities are already celebrities she thinks 'No one's gonna take my soul away', in this case because God is dead, she isn't afraid of losing her soul.
After the song, the story carries on with Adam leading his gang to perform a robbery on a group of rich business men. During this, Lana Del Rey recites 'Howl' by Allen Ginsberg. The ending of this second part is the group looking out towards LA. In the end she says:
'Los Angeles, The city of Angels, A land of Gods and Monsters, The in-between realm where only the choices made from your free will, will decide your souls final fate Some poets called it the entrance to the Underworld, but on some summer nights, it could feel like Paradise, Paradise Lost.'
In the third part of the story the colours change to warm tones and the setting of fields and mountains is much more relaxing than the gritty setting we had previously seen. We are greeted by John Wayne who is voicing over 'Why I Love America' by John Mitchum - 'You ask me why I love her? Well give me time, I'll explain. Have you ever seen a Kansas sunset or an Arizona rain?' Adam and Eve are shown to drive up to a field, changing their black clothes to white and clips cut to them being baptised. Showing us the bad turning into good. Lana Del Rey' song Bel Air begins to play as the pair are dancing in the field.
'Roses, Bel Air, take me there
I've been waiting to meet you
Palm trees in the light, I can see, late at night
Darling, I'm waiting to greet you
Come to me, baby'
This song represents death in general. With the symbol of roses that are a common part of funerals. Bel Air is a place where the wealthy people live, and that goes back to the meaning of money, which is the root of evil and can make the 'Gods' into 'Monsters'. This could turn Bel Air into hell. Thirdly, the symbol of palm trees is of victory and eternal life. This could represent what Satan offered her in exchange of her soul, she gained victory and eternal life.
After the song finishes, Adam and Eve ascend back into heaven, as they have finally redeemed themselves. In a slight turns of events a flying saucer appears, the video goes black and white. And Elvis is singing 'you were always on my mind'. The screen goes black and that is the end to the story.
Final Thoughts-
Although I could never make such a high quality short film, as I have a limited budget and only five minutes. However, I do like the idea of redemption and it doesn't have to necessarily been the whole story. But perhaps focusing on the part where a character decides to redeem themselves either back to a good place or back to God.
Narrative: A teenage boxer must finally come to terms with his true nature and confronts standards of masculinity.
Representation: Stereotypical males - blue walls, half naked women posters. Trans community. Lower class Britain. Audience: No sugarcoating - told it as it is.
Notable Micro Elements:
Music compliments
Mirror - reflection shows duality, cracked mirror shows distortion of face
Juxtaposition between him and condom machine 'Stud'
High/low angles after friend beaten up
Walking down the centre of the road in what he feels comfortable in
My response to the film: I enjoyed the short film and thought it was very professionally done. My response to this film may be biased just because there are two well known actors as the main characters that I know and enjoy anyway. The story line was simple, but it was the characters and the cinematography that, for me, made it more interesting to watch and made it more complex than just a boy who is transgender.
What could I use? Using a mirror to show duality is an interesting concept. I also know that using mirrors makes the actor most vulnerable as they cannot hide anything that they do or how they look. So, if I do use this idea it will increase the emotional state.
What could I develop? The music did compliment the film well all the way through. And I will come back to this short film for inspiration for when making mine.
What could I challenge? I possibly couldn't use this type of story line as I have no experience in this matter, and wouldn't want to use it without proper research and having been told what transgender people have gone through, and their different experiences. This is because I wouldn't want to offend or look clueless in the matter.
Narrative: A woman contemplates whether or not to keep her baby, while waiting for her lover to arrive in a small cafe.
Representation: Thoughts of an unplanned pregnancy, train - lots of thoughts all at once, time pressure that women can have children. Audience: Hear her thoughts, everyone has different views on unplanned pregnancy's and the blurb might impact how people go into watching it.
Notable Micro Elements:
See woman through door window - worker shuts it so the screen is clear and the story begins
Zoom in slowly
Voice over
Can still hear background noise
Lights dim - focus on her
Mans back blanks screen - indicating she's going to tell him
She's wearing white - dark background
My response to the film: I quite liked this film and I felt closer with the character as I was able to hear all her thoughts, opinions and questions. The minimal speech makes it realistic and does help with the character development, such as the coffee she ends up having spills everywhere, and does choose a different drink at the end that would be more suited for the baby. The use of train shows her 'train of thoughts' and how overwhelming situations like that can be. Furthermore, what happens in the background influences what she is thinking, which smoothly develops the story.
What could I use? Using voice overs for thoughts as this connects the character with the audience. Also, I do find these sort of plots interesting as you can have multiple versions just because everyone have different views on something, and everyone's situation is different depending on the relations and setting.
What could I develop? The idea of background activity changing the course of the plot or characters thought, but to perhaps have some that interact with the characters or the plot to make it more interesting.
What could I challenge? I wouldn't make it as theatrical, such as the train or chiaroscuro, to bring it more down to earth and realistic.
Narrative: 17 year old Caroline breaks down after receiving a phone call delivering some tragic news, but her reaction soon reveals there is more to this call than first appears.
Representation: Untrustworthy people, troubled youth, addiction, grief. Audience: We're onlookers with no addition to the story.
Notable Micro Elements:
Establishing shot of normal high street
Close ups
Long take in cab - pov long shot
Quick cuts with phone call
Profile in bed - isolates herself
Put on right side of shot - lots of space showing she's isolated
Sound muted at end - intense
My response to the film: I found that I didn't like this film at all. This includes the plot and characters. I found the story line didn't teach me anything at all and we were put right at the beginning again, with no changes in her life apart from the face she was once caught. I also didn't like the way she treat her brother even though he was be caring and only wanted what was best for her.
What could I use? I found the only good part was the establishing shot where it wasn't obvious right at the beginning who the main character was. She blended in with the grey setting and it was until she was speaking on the phone that we were told.
What could I develop? The close up shots for showing emotion is quite good to use, especially in intense situations.
What could I challenge? To have a resolution to the plot, or at least have something happens that changes the beginning so that it doesn't go in a complete circle.
Narrative: Three black teenagers are becoming frustrated while waiting for their friend. A young white lad walks past wearing super tight jeans. The boys look on until one of them asks the pivotal question, "How can a man wear jeans that tight?" This sparks a hilarious debate about race and culture.
—Destiny Ekaragha
Representation: White women wanting to be a part of the black community, and young people/young black men. Audience: We're watching the guys, and so are not part of the conversation.
Notable Micro Elements:
Camera always moving
Clothing colour pops out compared to the grey estate
Font and music at the beginning sets the tone
The urban location shows potentially deprived people, which has the same vibe as Do The Right Thing film.
My response to the film: Not the most interesting short film, and I wouldn't say I really liked it. But at points I did think it was funny and I thought it was interesting how their conversation was carried, with comparing tight jeans to white women, and then eventually talking about their cultures history, such as slavery.
What could I use? The establishing shots at the beginning gave an indication to us on the type of people we would be seeing. And I might use the use of bright clothing with dark backgrounds, just because of how much your characters will stand out.
What could I develop? Having the characters in only one setting is quite good to use for character development. Or if I am wanting to go for a more narrative type film.
What could I challenge? The lack of a distinctive plot line is what I didn't really like.
Narrative: An Emergency Services Operator in a Fire Control Room has just started a long night shift when she picks up a call from a desperate young mother. An hour previously, Gemma had fallen asleep in front of the television and has now woken to find the room full of smoke. Her three year old son is trapped in his bedroom upstairs. Flames have started to creep down the stairs that Gemma must use in order to reach him. The operator’s guidance is all that Gemma can rely on in order to survive.
Representation: The struggle of being a fire service operator, which is having to remain calm and help people who could be in a life or death situation. And then they instantly have to go onto another call without having the opportunity to recover with what they have just been a part of. Audience: We're placed in the operators point of view, and there is no visual aid only sound.
Notable Micro Elements:
Overlapping voices
Only hearing the victims voice and the sound effect of fire
Close ups of the operator
Slow moving in terms of giving different shots and angles
My response to the film: This film did make me cry, and I think it is because of how intense this film actually is. I think what made it scarier was not being able to see what the victim was seeing, so we have to use our imagination. And if you've never been in the situation that is put towards us, then it is hard for us to comprehend what the mother must be going through, as well as, the poor operator who has to keep collected to save people's lives.
What could I use? Having voice overs, it could possibly make a situation more tense or emotional.
What could I develop? The use of close ups, but instead I would like to experiment of having different angles and seeing if having more close ups or longs shots is better.
What could I challenge? The plot is not something I could copy just because I think without proper research of hearing actual 999 calls or being in a similar situation. You would not be able to present it in the right way.
