Research into Short Films

Short film- Frank

The Plot

This short film is about a lodger named Frank who shares a home with Pete and Laura. Pete and Laura are constantly irritated and hassled by loud music next door, although they complain it never stops. While relaxing in one night together, one of the flat mates leaves to go to the shops. Later, he comes home in the early hours of the morning looking shaken up, disorientated and covered in red stains. The other house mates wondered what has happened as they are ignored when they ask. The next day read in the paper the neighbour next door has died due to a speaker falling on his head. The next day, Frank has brought Laura a mascara which is then revealed on TV/radio that a young woman has been murdered with a mascara brush. due to the TV/radio is not shown in this long shot the sound is categorised as non diegetic as its off stage. At this point is where the pieces of the puzzle begins to fit together, especially when he is found again covered in red stains. Frank then approaches Pete and Laura to explain his motives.

Mise en scene/Camera shots and angles/Edits/Sound

The location of the filming is set inside a nicely decorated 'cosy' home. The characters are wearing casual clothing for every day wear. The audience are able to recognise the time of day through low and high key lighting as well as the type of clothing the characters wear for example wearing pajamas shows the early morning. Within the house is 3 people, two of the three have a close relationship and get along very well while the other has hardly any interaction portraying to the audience he is strange and different to the others as he is the mysterious character in the film. Throughout the film the lighting is either naturalistic (day light) or low key lighting through use of TV or lamps etc.

At the start of the film Laura has authority as she complains to the neighbours and has a strong, forceful attitude (swearing) within the household. However when it is revealed what Frank has done the position of authority switches to Frank and the couple now become inferior towards him due to his violent acts. he orders them to "sit down!" within a moment they do. To show his authority the camera angle is taken at a worms eye view.

when Frank has committed his first crime which the audience knows of, the camera is held in first person by using a point of view shot staring down the stairs (worms eye view) to see who is at the doors this signifies his feeling of fear that it may be the police.

The establishing shot is of the couple Pete and Laura sitting comfortably in the kitchen. This is shown by a medium shot of Pete drinking what looks to be a hot beverage while Laura rests her feet on him while reading the paper. this signifies a stereotypical couple in an average sized house portraying how and what  mid 20s to mid 30's couple would be doing while corresponding with one another.
There are constant fast cuts/edits during the opening scene as the characters talk to wanna another this is produced to convey the idea of when a character is speaking the close up shot of the camera switches to that particular person.

Halfway through the film is a long shot of the couple eating dinner in the lounge with high key lighting, an edit is then used; it fades to the couple now sitting relaxed in front of the T.V with low key lighting (only the television) this portrays the idea that time has passed and it has grew further into the night.

Before

After

during the credits at the end are images of the 'weapons' used within the film, as well as the actors, editor, writer, producer, sound specialist, cinematographer and director. To show the images of the weapons and the individuals involved the edit used is of medium speed and its as if someone is taking a picture due to the use of non diegetic sound and white flash shown to continue onto next screen shot. this effect of camera flashes and sounds is used to portray the idea of a forensic investigation of a crime committed. resulting in the genre it is trying to pursue; thriller/crime.