OFFF Barcelona- Analysis

I think this short film fits into one of the categories we were given to look at which is science fiction i think this because of the images shown,effects used and how camera angles reflect the mood of the video the sound also plays a big part in suggesting the films genre.

Mise en scene:

The first scene we see is of a very dark setting immediately suggesting a sinister atmosphere as a common fear is the fear of the dark and dark colours also connotate negativity. The light is low key making it hard to establish the surroundings of the setting however back lights are used of street lamps giving us a hint that they are in an urban area for example a city. The character we see is also wearing a black helmet. Helmets are connotated with protection and astronauts suggesting that he is some type of fighter that will need to be protected. The helmet could also suggest he is from a foreign area such as space maybe as he wears his helmet. Throughout the whole of the film we see images that take up the whole frame these images seems fairly random from the story plot but i think it is related to the theme and atmosphere they are trying to create. Some of the images consist of maggots,blood,pigeons,rotting fish, ink,and bacteria growth. I think these images all connote to death, rotting,and infection suggesting the main idea of the plot that there may be some sort of disease or infection that is killing people and making life rot away. The pigeons are also seen as a pest so it may suggest some sort of invasion from the infection as we do not want it around yet we may have introduced it to the world. In the first couple of scenes we see names from the producers and other people appear in the machinery. I think this is creative as it makes you look harder into the frame to see the names and to try and establish what is says and therefore catches out attention and grabs our focus. Then before we get distracted alot of quick shots and such are used to the next scenes. We see a lady wearing a mask she immediately becomes significant and this may suggest she represents the rest of the world as they try and prevent infection from a virus or disease. This is also a modern action we see people taking today to try and prevent any chance of catching something so this may be relating to the present world and be suggesting that its going to get worse in the future.We then see the scene when they are in the train station. I think they used the train station because it is a very popular mode of public transport that people can relate to and is also where people travel to different places all at once in mass groups. This may also be suggesting an infection that is spreading through the human race like the train lines spread through towns and cities. It may also be suggesting that, that is how the infection is first spread. In a scene after that we see a small child who is looking up to a building with a stopped traffic light on the left of the frame. The traffic light may represent human life is coming to a stop and that things are going to change. A lot of scenes are of different buildings and signs this may represent the different area's of the world that are becoming infected it may also represent  the way that people are moving to try and get away from the disease and find shelter. We also see a short scene of an argument between a couple this to me says that even love and relationships are braking down as well as the whole fall and people are falling apart and away from each other making everyone singled out. Like a single human cell waiting to be invaded by the disease. We then see the character of the man in the black suit and helmet showing that he has significance to the plot and the events taking place in the short film. He is still wearing black which is still suggesting he is a negative perhaps evil character. We see alot of scenes with guns involved which connotes to war and violence suggesting they may be a war going of between the human race and this disease and invaders. We also see scenes containing deer. Deer symbolises power and the feeling of being proud so when we see them in their unnatural habitat i think it suggests the feeling of giving up and loosing an on going war which can hint to the plot of the short film. The stag also represents harmony and peace so the fact that they are not int their natural habitat gives the feeling of unnatural forces and that the balance between nature and people has been broken. I think the scenes of the dead meat being tattooed is also symbolic. At first we are unaware that it is dead meat because of the close ups used and we only see its dead meat in the its last scene i think this is to represent the human population. They are just dead meat in this period of time. Facial expressions throughout the short film are blank and this adds a surreal feel to the film. We also see a scene where wires spell out the phrase ''information is beautiful'' i think this means that the human race are ignorant to what is around them and this disease may make people realise what is really around them. We also see a few scenes of buildings on fire. Fire is an element of destruction so it keeps the theme of war present. We also see a small war between the people as people start to riot and we see them fighting with the police. Their community is falling apart and people are turning against each other. We then also see the spikes growing on the faces of people and buildings again raising our suspictions of the disease theory in this plot. We see a small scene of a man with a stags head and a gun. i Think this represents the broken civilisation of the people because a stag which represents peace is only half there and is beheaded which reflects the feelings of distraught also he has a gun in hand which is a threatening symbol and again reflects the dangers that are around them at the moment. We then also see a little girl in a pink princess dress holding a gun. This shows that the young are having to defend themselves and arnt so innocent anymore after being exposed to this new reality. We also then see the other young children wearing animal masks showing that they are copying the man with the deer head and following the path of war and looking up to the older adults. The part where someone gets tattoos under their nails really goes through me and creates a sense of disgust and recoil and i think that is reflecting the feeling of this spreading disease and people are starting to become disgusted in their fellow people and are rebelling against the rules to stay alive. We see a man with a pig head and a gun i think this is saying that the human race is just turning into a bunch of pigs which is an offencive comment as they are seen as a disgusting species because of their lack of hygiene. It also represents the swine flu which was another disease that was lethal. We also see the ceilings of buildings rising i think this represents the world turning upside down in chaos. The short film ends with the machines all in the air suggesting this alien race have won. we also see the words ''year zero'' suggesting that there is a new beginning and that there is a new way of life.

Editing:

The titles we see at first look like they are from a computer giving us a modern science feel already.  Quick shots are used throughout the short film of disturbing images i think this adds a sinister feel to the film and resembles different thoughts that runs through someones head and makes the short film seem busy and hectic relating to the plot. We see slight use of a red filter as the train passengers walk by this may indicate the spreading of the disease. Red also symbolises danger. As the passengers walk by a speed up is used again to create a hectic feel and may also be a sign that the disease/infection is spreading quickly. The transitions of the frames throughout the film are quick cuts this again gives a hectic feel to the film and also keeps the viewer interested as something new is also shown in a matter of seconds. some of the frames have a vignette effect this adds a dark sinister feel to the edges of the frame and makes the viewer feel closed in and the darkness surrounds their view. An action match is used when we see a frame of some rails passing in a frame then straight away in the next frame we see different rails passing by so we see two different scenes but the action match of the rails keeps them loosely linked and is a smooth transition even though its still a quick cut. We see the paused explosion which gives a dramatic effect and also gives us a chance to see some more credits. Some scenes look gritty like they have been filmed with an old camera. A difference in view or camera keeps the audience interested and acts as another perspective. We see the spikes appear on the peoples faces and the ceilings this is a computer edit but looks abnormal and could be the effects of this disease/infection that's spreading. When the kids wearing the animals masks run away the frames are sped up giving us a small sense of panic. The last scene also fades in so we are gradually introduced to the last outcome of all that has happened in the short film and adds dramatic effect and tension and this is the only slowly introduced frame.

Sound:

At first we hear the drums. The drums really add tension and is a strong beat which sound like a strong sturdy heart beat which could be parallel to what the man in black is feeling. Violin is then added which is fast pace and this connotes to fear. This is clearly suggesting that the film will also represent these negative feelings. We then hear alot of scratching edited sound which sounds quite creepy and sinister. The sound of machinery is also often used like the sound of drills and such this creates a sci-fi feel because we think of modern technology and gadgets. These noises are non-diagetic so they are not heard by the characters and have been edited in. The high pitched train noise sounds like that of a squeal and catches the audiences attention and also hints to the terror of the plot and connotes instant panic. We do hear the digetic sound of people talking so we are still connected to the situation and it adds reality to the plot. The ink splatters on the frame sound like knocking like they are knocking on the frame so your eyes will answer and will keep looking at the film and keep interested. We hear an almost constant wind or violin noise in the background to give the film an eery feel. When we see the close up of the man with the gun a high pitched squeal sort of noise is used which can be parallel to the cry for help the people are screaming. The score of music in the background is very low key and sounds daunting and gives us the scary feel. Drums begin to pick up the pace. People start to panic and heart beats start racing. The music then becomes very contrapuntal as we hear an old soundtrack being used that's very happy and upbeat whilst a man who has been beaten is in the frame and this may reflect the surrealism of the situation. The drums come back in fast and pounding creating tension and has slow repeated beats in the background which could represent the exhaustion that the human race is feeling and is struggling to live. We then hear the noises of the maggots which demonstrates sound perspective as you'd have to be really close to hear them so the sound has been magnified. The sound of maggots is also a repulsive sound and makes people recoil and flinch again giving us the feeling of disgust and sickness. The score of music then begins to build up and become louder and a faster pace this could connotate to the arrival of something. Something is coming. And in this case its the arrival of the alien race. All together the music then makes a loud final which sound like a mass noise to create a big impact.

Camera angles and movement:

A close up panning shot is used in the first scene. This is also an establishing sho5t as we see the character and a view of the city. This is so we get an idea of the surroundings. A rolling shot is used when the titles are shown at first so we feel like we are there ourselves and keeps us involved with the story. A close up is used on the middle aged woman so we clearly see the white mask prop and it starts our curiosity to why she is wearing it. A wide angled shot is used when the people in the train station are walking past and we only see the torso's and this makes it easy more the audience to relate and feel connected to the plot. A low angle shot is used as the man writes so we get a clear view of his face and then a close up is used on his hand and the writing stating that there is some significance to what he is writing. An eye line math is used as we see the kid look up and we then see the building at a low angle this allows us to see the building from a different perspective. Then a low angle rolling shot is used looking up at some more signs and buildings so we feel like the general public and that this is a global matter. All the quick shots used are an extreme close up so we are forced to look at it and the images become confrontational and intimidating. All are extreme close ups except the man who is strapped in the chair. This is a classic hostage scene and this can suggest that the human race is hostage to the disease/infection.  An establishing wide shot is used in a scene where the buildings are on fire so we see the whole of the city in ruin. Rolling shots are used for the shots on the roads to make us feel like we are in the car experiencing the plot.  A rolling shot is used as the man who has just done graffiti runs away so we feel like we are rebelling and running with him. A tilt shot is used to the machines in the sky so we feel like we are looking up to them. A panning shot is used around the explosion so we see the whole dimesion of the explosion making it look more dramatic. A long shot is used as we see the man getting beat up at the back of the frame and adds perspective to the frame. A crane shot is used so we see all the buildings in the scene. The last scene is an establishing shot of the city invaded by the machines.