Candidate C & J Short-Film Analysis - Zach

Candidate C:

Mise-en-scene:
-Black and White filter to add to the horror genre conventions

-Use of mirrors which helps the audience see more

-More often than not it is very light 

Cinematography:
-Black and White 

-Hand-held camera occasionally used (creates realism)

-Possessed objects in the film are zoomed in on to increase viewer focus

-When the protagonist is feeling fear, slow motion editing is used

-Camera is also tilted in the parts of the film to show that the character and narrative are disorientated

-High angles used in the film to show who has dominance

Sound:

-Sinister ambient background noise

-Horror genre stereotyped music which makes scenes more tense and increase fear in the films atmosphere

-Actors footsteps are loud

-Tension is increased when the protagonist screams

-Volume has been increased on the characters breathing and heartbeat during the editing process

-VoiceOver is also used to create fear for the spectator

Editing:
-Fast editing inbetween shots 

-Some shots are repeated in the film, such as close up to the protagonists boots

-A linear timeline of events through the film

-Many fade ins/outs to show a change in events during the short film

Candidate J:

Mise-en-scene:
-Car in drive way covered up with a sheet

-Use of smoke in the house and garden

-Prop - Saw (not a conventional murder weapon)

-Car scene make the audience feel more involved and creates realism

-Lighting in the film isn't great as some shots aren't very clear

Cinematography:

-Dark setting in the house

-Close-ups used often to show the emotions on the characters faces

-Tracking shots have been used which lets us follow the narrative story of the short film

-Low angle shot looking up at the antagonist near the fire at the end of the film. This shows us that the character is not in a dominant position

-Hand-held camera usage makes us feel part of the group visiting the house

-Characters looking into the camera and speaking keeps the spectator interested in the short film

Sound:
-Quiet dialogue throughout the film (many parts of the dialogue I could not understand due to the poor editing of sound)

-Radio in the car creates realism, like we are in the car with the characters 

-Diegetic sound disorientated and not very clear throughout the duration of the short film

-This could have been vastly improved if they instead decided to record dialogue separately to the sound from the video

Editing:

-Hand-held camera used

-Fade ins and outs not effectively used, especially during the car scene. This would have been used better if when that particular scene finishes.

-Straight cuts used mainly throughout te course of the film