SHORT FILM ANALYSIS'

-THE GUNFIGHTER-                

                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                         

The Gunfighter, directed by Eric Kissack, is a short western film. This short film would be nothing without its clever use of voice over. The film contradicts the usual idea of a voice over being a non-diegetic sound. Usually a narrator's voice over would be non-diegetic however in this film the voice over is diegetic, which creates the conflict  around which the film is centered on.The films follows a traditional linear narrative which allows the filmmakers to focus on their key idea of the narrator being diegetic sound. Most characters die at the end which makes the narrative closed therefore the audience is satisfied with a definite ending when the film finishes.The short film follows the typical equilibrium/disruption and new equilibrium plot points quite closely. The disruption is the presence of the narrator- who all characters can hear. The re-equilibrium is the aftermath the massive gunfight that breaks out which causes the deaths of the character.The costumes, acting and voice over in The Gunfighter help achieve the usual character types of a western film.                                                                                                                                            

     -THE WRONG TROUSERS-            

                                                                                                                                                                 

The Wrong Trousers (1993) is a short animated film by Nick Park. In this short story, a man called Wallace and his dog Gromit have to overcome a villain. Wallace is an eccentric inventor and Gromit is his smart dog. Wallace is the victim who is in need of a savior and Gromit, is the hero, the savior that Wallace needs. Throughout the film Gromit feels left out and replaced when Wallace finds a new house mate, a penguin. However soon this penguin reveals its evil self and attempts to use Wallace to steal a diamond. The robbery then fails and the penguin takes Wallace back to the house and locks him and Gromit in a cupboard and tries to escape. This is the disruption of the film. The resolution to the narrative takes place when Gromit frees himself and Wallace from the cupboard and they both try to catch the penguin. As Gromit is the hero of this short story, he is the one that catches the penguin in the end.The genre of this short film is animation/comedy. It also could refer to other genres such as action due to the action scene that is filled with suspenseful music and sound effects to make the action more interesting. The main binary opposite shown in The Wrong Trousers is Gromit vs. the penguin. This binary opposite creates majority of the plot. Also from this binary opposite we also get villain vs. victim and villain vs. hero. These binary opposites cause the audience to choose sides between the characters as we see a clear difference between them.Film form is carefully used to create mystery and suspense throughout the disruption of the film. One of the most suspenseful scenes of the film are set at night so dark lighting is used to create mystery. Sound is also used to create a sense of apprehension among the audience through background-music and sound effects.           

                                                                                                                                                                 

            -  WASP-            

                                                                                                                                                         

Wasp (2003) is a short film directed by Andrea Arnold. In this short film, film form is used to create an almost uncomfortable atmosphere for the audience. The first thing we see in the film is the characters and the area that they live in. The setting is dirty and messy. Also the baby that the main character, Zoe, is holding is half naked. This arguably creates an uncomfortable atmosphere for the audience and we find it hard to imagine what it would be like to live in those circumstances which triggers the feeling of being uncomfortable.The narrative structure of this short film is linear despite the confusing start. It starts off by jumping into action but the rest of the events in the film are shown chronologically. The obvious conflict of the film is Zoe not having anyone to take care of her kids while she goes on a date with Dave. For Zoe the resolution to this is to just leave them outside the pub while her and Dave are inside however the audience do not see this as much of a resolution to her problem as we still worry for the kids who are alone outside. From Zoe's perspective one of her main conflicts is not having enough money to get her kids proper food so she buys them crisps instead, the resolution to this conflict is Dave buying the chips that the kids wanted at the end. This short story depicts the struggles that a single mother, Zoe, goes through when trying to parent her 4 young children. She does care for her children and love them a lot but she also wants to have a life of her own and therefore chooses to go on a date with ex-boyfriend Dave while her children wait outside the pub for her. By the end of the short story Zoe hears her daughter screaming therefore she leaves Dave in the car and run towards her children and soon realizes the danger that she left her kids in - a wasp flew into the baby's mouth. We then get a shot of her hugging her children and apologizing to them. This shows her character development - she realizes that although she wants to have some fun and live a little, she does need to prioritize her children and put them first.