Research into Short Films

What is a Short Film?

A short film is a film that typically lasts less than 35 minutes, they normally have only a few characters (two to three) as they don't last long enough to explore each character in enough depth. In order to keep the interest of the audience during a short film they contain a twist or dramatic occurrence that will intrigue people to keep watching. Short films normally have a low budget so are very minimalistic.

What to consider when creating a film poster:

• Juxtaposition of the main themes or characters of the film
• Anchorage of text with images 
• Still images extracted from the film 
• Film title 
• Studio name/logo
• Director 
• Starring 

Music video analysis: Rizzle Kicks- Lost Generation

Lost generation is an example of an experimental music video as it’s content explores non conventional themes. The video shows the two members of the group Jordan Stephens and Harley Slyvester going through current reality TV shows in an undermining way. The video starts with the two mixed race early 20 year old males walking through an urban park after a night out drunk. This is filmed as a two shot to show the bond between the two males. This is an activity stereotypical of people that age so by there lack of concern they conform to the stereotype. When they return home there drunken antics continue reinforcing the negative stereotype. There names appear in large white letters on the screen underneath ‘starring’ in a film style implying the boys are the stars of the show. The tv is switched on to show a cctv effect live feed of the living room where Jordan is sat. This suggests that anything will be broadcast as reality tv if producers believe that they can make money from it. This is reinstated by the

lyrics ‘change the channel and see somebody else’s life displayed’. A mock up of and large the Britain’s got set pops up in their living room with buzzers and large X’s. This shows how cheap and easy the show is too make. The video continues in this fashion with the Jeremy Kyle set popping up in their living room too again expressing dislike for that style of tv show. This is reinstated by the lyrics ‘living in a lost generation’ suggesting everyone has been misguided by exploiting executives. The two boys are in a mock up of the big brother diary room eating popcorn suggesting that everyone in the house are there purely for entertainment purposes. There is a section of lip syncing done here too. This is a classic convention for music videos which is done to reinstate the purpose of the media product and show who performs the song. The video finishes with the boys surrounded by cameras in a car park showing how nothing in life is private anymore. Too express there dislike to this they end the video with the boys punching a camera to the ground and it breaking.

Music video analysis: DJ Fresh vs Diplo ft Dominique Young Unique- Earthquake

DJ Fresh vs Diplo featuring Dominique young unique- Earthquake The music video begins with an aerial establishing shot panning across the New York skyline with the river Hudson in the centre of the screen to make the location of the video clear. ‘Earthquake’ fades into frame in a cracked font and red lettering to imply the dangerous themes of the video. Next is a cut to a close up reverse track of a person walking. This ambiguity is ended when the lyric devastate is said when a long shot is used to reveal 6 vigilantly style characters with a path of destruction behind them, suggesting that they keep themselves out of danger. When the song drops the destruction crescendos amplifying the effect of the drop through visual carnage. The video continues with the group of vigilantes purposefully walking through the streets avoiding the surrounding devastation. The first people the group see are two youths sat on their door step, seemingly ignorant to the mayhem around them. This could be a metaphor for how dangerous city life is, especially in a huge city like new York. The destruction escalates through the video climaxing with a giant green monster chasing the group. Again they avoid any danger. The video ends with the 6 characters shown as part of a comic book each in a unique iconic stance. The camera tilts up from the comic book to show the actual characters stood in the same positions with the sun set in the background, connoting the end of their ordeal.

Music Video Analysis

There are three main types of music videos Performance based, narrative based, abstract/artistic and deconstruction.

Performance based music videos are where the band/performer is ‘performing’ the song within the music video. Examples of bands that follow this music video convention are Nirvana – smells like teen spirit, Linkin Park – What I’ve done and System of a down - Chop suey.

Narrative based music videos are where this is a clear storyline for example Taylor swift – Love story, it is based on the story of Romeo and Juliet and this is evident throughout with a girl and a boy sneaking around seeing each other in the woods. The lyrics also relate to the video.

Abstract/artistic based music videos are where the video does not follow any conventions and is surreal. An example of where we would see this is Gotye – somebody I used to know. This video does not follow any convention but is simply artistic and different.

The Christian Mets model can be applied to music video development. The four theories experimental, classic, parody and deconstruction are used music videos.

Experimental music videos are the early stages where the codes and conventions of a music video are first divided. An example of where we would see an experimental music video is in The Beatles film called a hard day’s night, this film was a large music video of the album that The Beatles had recently produced. 

Classic music videos are the more successful videos of the early stages of music videos. These videos follow the typical conventions of a music video. An example of where we would see this is Michael Jackson’s – Beat it. MTV produced the first of air TV music channel; the first song to be played was ‘The Buggles - Video killed the radio star’ in 1979.

Parody music videos are where a video has been re-made and mocked. An example of this is Weird al yankovic – eat it. This is a re-make of Michael Jacksons – Beat it however it mocks the video as well as lyrics.

Deconstruction based music videos consist of a previous music video being used however it is then slightly manipulated. An example of this is Robert Palmer’ – Addicted to Love which has been re made but slightly manipulated by Julia Bolino.

Music video theory

Performance based music videos are where the artist performs their song in the video. Examples include Bruno Mars- When i was your man and Nirvana- Smells like teen spirit.

Another type of music video is an abstract music video. This is where artistic and sometimes unexplainable themes are explored in the video. They do not follow codes and conventions. Examples of this include Fatboy slim- praise you and massive attack- tear drop.



Artists can also produce a narrative music video where a story is told often about the song with elements of the video linking to the lyrics. Examples of this include Ed Sheeran- The A team and Taylor Swift- I knew you were trouble.



Many videos combine a performance with another element. For example Fall out boy- sugar we're going down has a performance but also has a narrative. A performance can also been combined with abstract elements as done by Gotye featuring Kimbra- Somebody that I used to know.



Christian Metz' theory can be applied to music videos. In the 1970's came the experimental phase with famous videos such as queens bohemian rhapsody. This is where codes and conventions are developed. Prior to this if songs were played on tv, it would be on top of the pops or a live performance would be shown. The first music video was should've known better by The Beatles form their 1964 film and album hard days night. This video was almost made accidentally as it wasn't meant to be shown individually only as part of the film.

The classic period came in the 1980's with videos like Michael Jackson Beat it. The classic period of a genre usually comes at it peak of popularity. For music videos this was the 1980's because of MTV. It was launched in 1981, the first song it broadcast was The Buggles- Video killed the radio star (1979) to symbolise the upcoming music video revolution. MTV broadcast 24 hours a day allowing music videos to be watched all day round. Videos from the classic period fit the codes and conventions set during the experimental phase and are most popular.



A good example of the parody phase is Weird Al Yankovic- Eat it (1984). This phase is where the classic phase is combined with comedic elements. Eat it was a parody of Michael Jackson- Beat it (1983).



The deconstruction phase pays homage to the classic phase. It takes themes and ideas from the period of music videos peak popularity and applies them to modern trends with songs by modern artists. A good example of this is Shania Twain- Man I feel like a women (1996). In this video Shania is at the front with a group of men behind her playing instruments behind her. The men are dressed identically with no real expression. This makes the men seem like objects not people. The inspiration for this came from Robert Palmer- Addicted to love (1986). The videos are essentially the same but the roles of the genders have swapped.

author- Jack Lowes

Research into music Videos

Types of Music videos;

Performance based videos- These videos include the artist or band performing the song in the shot, rock bands are the main genre that use this style as it shows all members of the band performing their instrument. Artists who use this genre effectively include those of Aerosmith, The Who and Bon Jovi.

Storyline/Narrative based videos- These videos portray a story that often links to the lyrics in the song itself, love songs are the main theme that uses a narrative in its videos as it helps the audience to visualise the situation. Examples of good narrative videos include, The Arctic Monkeys 'when the sun goes down' and Taylor Swift 'Love story'.

Artistic and Abstract Videos- These videos are normally un conventional and dont fit a particular genre this is due to there random and creative style. An example of an abstract video is Gotye's 'somebody that i used to know'.

Christian Metz Model:

The Christian Metz model can be used in the same way when explaining the creation of music genres as it can film genres. The theory is that each music genre would pass through four phases, experimental, classic, parody and deconstruction.

A Very British Gangster Analysis

A very British gangster

From the opening sequence we see a very gloom and dark setting, the establishing shot of Manchester shows us the area in which we are going to ‘learn’ about. We then see the name of a company ‘Dare Films’ in association with another company ‘five’ and director ‘Donal MacIntyre’ in a white text.  A train passes by and we hear diegetic sound from the train. Then there is a sound bridge of a male from Manchester talking, the frame then cuts to shot of three males in area almost filling the screen with Manchester in the background, this could imply that they have power over Manchester as they are bigger than them in the shot. The man in the middle is slightly closer to the screen and looking directly into the camera this again shows his power over the two males to his left and right. The two men to his left and right are smoking this is a ‘cool’ thing to do as they look away.

We then see the title ‘A VERY BRITISH GANGSTER’ in a text next to a bridge in a graffiti style, the low angle shot with the three men walking down the street again seems to give them power over the street as they are higher, the men walk with a sort of swagger in suits. We then see titles of the producers as the three men slowly walk to towards the city of Manchester. The titles then follow with the name of the dubbing mixer, associate producers and film editor. Whilst these titles are shown the three men are again in the shot walking down the street with a car behind them but they do not move, the headlights from the car give the men a sort of spotlight. However with the spotlight the men are still blurred and you cannot see them properly; this could be to the fact that they are gang and are always being watched but never caught. Slow motion is used throughout these shots.

We then see a CCTV shot of a gang of 6 men in suits walking up some stairs again showing that they are always being watched. The next shot is the gang leader looking over a club implying he has power over everyone. The next shot is a close up on a males hands the nails are dirty and he has a lot of gold on his wrists and fingers. We then see an extreme close up of the gang leader’s face in an undercover sort of interview; he explains the crime that he has committed. 

By Jordan Weir

Analysis of the documentary 'A Very British Gangster'

The start of the documentary shows an establishing shot of Manchester this is used to show the location of the documentary, this was shot at night to represent the bad things that happen at night. We then hear  a voice bridge over the ambient sound of the train with a strong Manchurian accent saying 'this is Manchester' the shot then changes to a shot of three men standing on a platform looking down on Manchester as if they own it. The man then goes on to say 'by day its run by police, by night its run by gangsters' suggesting why it was shot at night. A close up on the middle man is used to highlight that he is the main man and we can assume that he is the 'very British Gangster'.
The scene then changes to a bridge in a backstreet which the three men walk under whilst the title 'A Very British Gangster' appears in a style that looks as if it was projected representing a police-like spotlight. The men then walk past being show in a low angle shot to show their powerful nature. During this scene there is non-diegetic sound added of stereotypical 'gangster' music.

A very British gangster analysis

The documentary begins with an establishing shot of Manchester. This connotes the criminal nature of the documentary, as Manchester has strong reputation and culture associated with criminality and violence. There are 3 men then walking through a derelict underpass with incidental gangster rap music playing. This non diegetic music reinforces the theme of crime and violence. The three men are shot from a low angle giving them a sense of power to the audience. There are simple captions juxtapostitioned at the bottom of the screen, not taking away focus from the three men in frame. Dominic Noonan has been at the head of an organised crime operation since the 1980's and has spent 22 years in prison for numerous offences including armed robbery and escaping from prison. He is stood in the middle too show his power and the respect he has from those in his association. The title 'A very British gangster' appears in a spotlight on the underpass, This again suggests a criminal lifestyle suggesting they're being chased for crimes they have committed. The men are then seen through a monitor in black and as if they were on cctv implying they are being watched. This opening sequence is narrated introducing Dominic as 'one of Britain’s most notorious gangsters'.

Dominic is then being interviewed by the film maker Donal Macintyre. His jewellery is in frame suggesting the wealth he has from his life of crime. He describes graphic crimes he has witnessed and been involved including someone being decapitated and their head being put on a pool table. But he doesn't appear at all phased by this and is modest about it. This implies he has been involved in very violent crimes.

Dominic is a large man and often looks down at people giving him power in many situations. This is true at his home. He is the head of his house hold so dictates how life is for the residents there. His house is very full with clutter implying that they don't have time too tidy and the house is male orientated. There is also a bullet proof vest left in the living room suggesting that the children there are subjected to crime from an early age. He has tried to replicate the environment that he grew up in which was a 2 bedroom house with 14 kids living there. His mother burnt it down in an attempt to get moved up the housing list.

The documentary then goes onto tell the audience about Dominic's role as an architect of the strange ways prison riot in the 1980's.This was done by showing archive footage of prisons and of the riot itself. In an interview Dominic revealed he was proud of what he achieved from that riot.

Author- Jack Lowes

Research on Documentaries

Components to a Documentary: 

• Introduction of main protagonists
• Titles 
• Personal anecdotes/ experiences
• Interviews with professionals
• Interviews with public
• Hand held camera (main shooting method used in documentaries)
• Fly on the wall (film everyday life)
• Archive footage 
• Voice overs