KTA 1: Short Film Conventions and Analysis of Short Films

Levi Strauss - binary opposition 

Todorov - equilibrium disruption equilibrium

Propp - Character roles

Barthes - enigma code

The Ellington Kid (2012). Directed by Dan Sully

In the Ellington kid it is structured in a way so that the the narrator is telling a story to someone but the scenes are acted out by different people as he is saying it. At the end of this short film the revelation is that the chef is the same person that killed them in the story even though the narrator told his friend that the story was made up. There are scenes in the short film that are set in the present and as he tells the story it changes between the present day and the past. There are also not really too much music so that you can hear all of the sound that they would be hearing which also makes it far more intense as you can hear the sounds that they would be hearing which makes it also feel far more real. The editing for this short film is mostly continuity editing as it all follows on from each other however there is some non continuity editing when there is a flash forward. Throughout the short film, the perspective focuses primarily on over-the-shoulder shots. This is not only to understand their point of view, but also to know that the two characters are talking to each other. But when he begins to tell the story, it changes to focus on the main victims. There, medium shots are used as well as over-the-shoulder shots to show the front / identity of the main victim. Throughout this part of the story, but more focus on the perspective of the man being attacked by the gang.

Act 1 - They set the scene at the start of the short video by showing the inside of a restaurant and someone working there. It then cuts to a shot of the shop's outside so that the location for persons observing may be established. After then, it cuts back into the shop to show friends who are eating there. This then establishes the story's setting, as well as the two primary characters in the short film. As the scene shifts to the two friends, we show them enjoying a normal chat until one of them mentions a rumour they'd heard.

Act 2 - In this section, the friend describes what occurred to the victim who was stabbed, how he escaped the stabbers, and how he wound himself in the shop where they are now. He then describes how the gang who attacked him followed him into the shop, but the storey takes a turn when he claims that the shop owner and employer each grab their own knives and lock the gang inside. After he says this, the camera swings back to both of them sitting in the shop, where a friend who was listening to the storey inquires about the gang, which is when the story comes close to an end, as he explains why he simply ordered chips rather than a burger.

Act 3 - The friend then spits out the burger he was eating in the last act, while the other laughs. However, as they're doing so, the camera turns away and slowly pans to reveal one of the staff, who has a troubled expression on his face and is sharpening his knife as they sit down, giving the impression that the narrative he's saying and hinting about might be genuine.

The short film begins with a close-up of a kebab shop employee sharpening a knife. It then switches to a black screen and introduces the name of the short film (Kid Ellington), and once that happens it cuts back to the employee who is cutting the meat with the knife, then to the rest of the kebab showing the food being prepared shop. After this it cuts into a long store showing the interior of the street/store we just saw, then cuts back to the interior of the store to introduce the two friends. After this, it shows an over-the-shoulder shot to give the perspective of the character in the film, as the guy in black/dark clothing who happened to start telling his friends about the rumors he heard. This is when the shot cuts to reveal a new character, one of them is wearing lighter clothing/clothing and the rest are wearing darker/black clothing, which helps distinguish the good from the bad. as a victim

The Fly (2014). Directed by Jack Doolan

In the Fly it is structured where the main actor is progressively getting more and more aggressive towards the fly which all culminates in the car getting completely smashed up leaving the other bank robbers in shock. When the title sequence starts the music gets very loud as well as large amounts of flashing which shocks the watcher as just before it was very calm and peaceful. Which is how the driver would feel as whilst he waits for the rest of the robbers it is calm and peaceful however when the get in the car everything will become chaotic and crazy. In this short film the equoilibrium is when the driver is just waiting for the other to arriver however the disruption comes when the fly arrives and then towards the end there isnt another equilibrium due to it being left on a cliff hanger. The whole film is like a game of cat and mouse.

Act 1 - Beginning with a long shot of a bank and the two major characters, the getaway driver in a car and the fly, the film introduces us to the setting. This is where the problem begins, as the fly irritates the getaway driver, prompting him to kill it. The clip then shows the fly bothering the driver to the point where he hits items like the windscreen and then the steering wheel in an attempt to kill it.

Act 2 - In the main part of the short film, he is becoming increasingly frustrated with the fly, swinging his arms and injuring himself in the process, demonstrating that every time he tries to kill the fly, something worse will happen to him, such as when it landed on the steering wheel and he hit it, the airbag exploded in his face. Then, while he violently swings his arms, he chews on bits of the stick with his mouth.

Act 3 - He can't take it any longer and gets out of the car, but not without a shotgun in his hand. He then begins shooting at the car because he hears a fly buzzing around him, and he is constantly shrieking while doing so. He then begins to beat the car with the gun before resting on the car's bonnet, fatigued from his aggravation at not being able to kill the fly. The police sirens can be heard in the distance at this point, and the rest of the team is shown, bewildered about what transpired while they were stealing the bank.

The point of view is intended to portray the getaway driver's struggle to kill the fly. There are other camera angles, such as close ups, that focus on him and portray his reaction/emotions as he tries to kill the annoying fly. Over the shoulder shots are commonly employed since they are the best shots for conveying the character's perspective. Close-ups of his face are also included to offer a clear indication of how he is feeling. However, some images merely show the fly, which are most likely designed to inform the audience that it is still alive and somewhere in the vehicle.