Short Film Analysis: The Black Hole
-Explain what product you are analysing: what type of film is it? What genre of film is it? When was it released/made? Who directed it?
Use screengrabs to illustrate your points.
- What shot is used to open the film? (size, movement)
- What does the establishing shot communicate? (Refer to mise en scene: lighting, setting, costume, actors appearance and expression)
- In what way is the main character recognisable as a kind of stock character? (Shaun of the Dead, Ed Norton in Fight Club, Neo in Matrix, Children of Men etc) What stock character is he?
- Why are stock character types useful in short films?
- What shots and sounds are used to establish the black hole as being special?
- Analyse and comment on the use of camera in 2 or 3 shots before the character enters the office? E.g the close up shot showing his increased excitement
- How is the mood changed when he enters the office? Comment on mise en scene including the use of lighting, facial expression, camera angle
- How does the pace of editing change to create a change in pace and mood? Contrast this to the shots and edits at the beginning.
- Describe the final shot of the man trapped in the safe- what camera shots, sounds and edits are used and what do they communicate?
- What could the overall message be? What does it suggest about modern life?
Theory:
-Briefly explain what Todorov’s narrative theory is.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zqdhrdm/revision/3
-Apply the narrative of The Black Hole to the theory.
- The narrative starts with an equilibrium
- An action / character disrupts the equilibrium
- A quest to restore the equilibrium ensues
- The narrative moves to a confrontation / climax
- Resolution / equilibrium is restored
-Apply the theory to a feature film of your choice
Media Studies 