Audience

Audience is a key feature bear in mind when looking at developing a short film. My short film has a base around friendship and the main character has to become friends with a group of two different friendship groups. The main theme of the short film is yugioh (a children’s card game) which for me is a popular game in which people play to socialise together and to generally have fun, however people tend to take the understanding that yugioh is a children’s card game and tend to bully people who play it. The audience who may decide to watch this will be similar to myself and people interested in the card game may wish to watch this in order to see a persons opinion on this. The age group aimed at this are teenagers to possibly mid 20’s. As this is the main group of people who play yugioh is of this age. People may also look into this film for an opinion of people who get bullied. This may interest different groups of people just based of the representation of the main characters.  The film is also about being bullied and the impacts this may leave on one person’s life, this is also relatable to some people in their school years, as the main scene is at school, mixing the groups of at school with people who play card games aimed at a children market or commonly associated with a children’s market allows a new audience to be a main focus, as this would also be considered a niche market, the idea of the film is to address the bulling idea and how the character deals with it meaning it could possibly be a useful resource for teachers and people suffering with similar problems as they feel they can relate to the problems represented.

Poster analysis

(actual poster to follow)
Above is the short film poster for the black button, this poster portrays the image of the film and the actual black button with a finger ready to push it. This is the main point of the film and whether or not the main character pushes the button, the film name is printed in black above this printed on the right hand side, this is more unusual as people read from left to right. The name is also written in black reflecting the name of the film and comparing it to the main point of the film. The name for the film is printed in a different font but one that corresponds with the actual black button suggesting that the film may be based around an old theme, the white background also reinforces this idea is the actual theme of the film is about heaven and the choices we make and how they determine where we end up and how we end up doing them. The film poster is basic with very little information presented on it, however the final point for this is that the main choice of the film is represented above the title of the film, this makes the audience read this part of the poster first, although the font is not as bold it is the same font making it relate to the black button film and making sure that it is actually related to the film.  There are some smaller details for example the company or the people who made the film as well as another production they made along side, compared to an actual film poster it lacks some information and has a more simplistic approach, however you do not need to include all the extra information as short films are on a smaller scale and aimed at a niche market.

The life and death of a pumpkin

This short film is basic. It is supposed to be a horror film type production from the eyes of a pumpkin. It is done with a cleaver voice over that is from the perspective of a pumpkin. It starts off with him living peacefully with his family. This personifies him making it seem real and as if pumpkins can feel the same way humans do. The moral in this film is somewhat clear to begin with. However it is somewhat confusing. Personally I believe that the moral is about killing and unnecessary wastage of food however this could be wrong as people see things in different ways.  Or it could also be seen as ‘pumpkins have feelings to’ this is more of a comedic look on this film.  This also puts across the idea that all humans are evil for doing this. The knife scene is important for this. As knifes are used to show the pain this pumpkin is feeling.  This is also shown via a voice over to show the exact feelings of this pumpkin. The characters themselves aren’t characterised however you do learn a little about the two groups of characters. The pumpkin is narrating so he is meant to be the main character. Via the narrating you also learn what he is feeling and about his life in the timeframe of the film. However you learn nothing about his past or about him from anybody else. The humans are the same, they are just shown to be the evil characters as they torment the one individual as well as inflicting pain onto him. The scene with ripping out his insides is also important as this shows the humans inflicting pain. There is also no contrast shown of these two characters.

The Life and Death of a Pumpkin

The Black Button

The black button is a very good short film. It is about 7 mins in length and has the key idea of death and doing the right decision, as well as greed involved. There are aspects of the mise-en-scene that impact on the views of the characters. This characterises them to the extent that people know a little about them. There is a white room, this room suggests that it is paranormal and that the room is something from the heavens as the colour of white is associated with purity and god. This also is a part of the theme of the short film as the decision made either decides if you go to ‘heaven’ or to ‘hell’ or this is the assumptions made by the audience anyway. The people in the clip are both male this in itself has no relevance however the clothes and colours they are wearing suggests more about the characters. The character at the desk is wearing a black suit that makes him seen sinister and important because he is in formal dress. The fact he is behind a desk also suggests that he is important and in charge this also makes him seem somewhat intimidating to the audience as he assumes a ‘boss’ sort of role, in this role he is someone who comes across as if you where to not do as he would say there would be consequences. He is also middle aged making it seem more likely that he is in charge of death and life in the boss role. By being in charge of who lives and who dies it also makes him a very powerful person and someone who can intimidate others into killing off other people and changing there preferred choice. The other character is also in a suit or in a costume that suggests that he is formal. This would suggest that is also somewhat important. However this code of dress is different compared to the other male in this sequence as he wears a half black half white costume. This would suggest that he has the path of evil or good to find in himself and that this black button is actually a test of his destiny, either to be greedy and kill a person for money or to take the key to a better life. The formal dress also makes this situation seem like an interview. This is also important as it would divide people in society from the good hearted or the bad hearted. This is also the moral of this short film. Either you can be greedy and obtain all you want for a cost or you can take the key to salvation. Your actions speak louder than words.

Black Button - Short Film

First thoughts

Initial ideas for a short film:

My coursework proposal is for a short film, short films generally have one theme running throughout creating an atmosphere and questions morals. An example of this is the life and death of a pumpkin which I shall look into in more detail when researching later on. This short film is about a pumpkin and the theme is what life is like to be a pumpkin, it ends in a way leaving the audience to think about what they have seen. In my short film I need to be able to look into a way to engage the audience and inform them of the morals introduced in the short film. In a standard short film love appears to be a main trait; however I wish to choose a different line from this.

Initial themes:    

1.       Death

2.       A choice that leads to a consequence

3.       A dilemma