Depict - Short Films

Salt

http://www.depict.org/2015/salt/?category_request=2015

The first film that I picked is called Salt, I chose this film because I really like how the acting is done. It's a stereotypical 1970s cabin house, with a man and his wife, the camera first sets as man walks in to the kitchen/living room to his wife cooking him soup. The man is firstly portrayed to be horrible and stubborn as he makes his wife jumps; of whom then pours a massive amount of salt into he bowl. Hence the same 'salt', she then realizes what she has down and because of his first attitude pours another massive amount in the pan. Once poured the lady then serves up a ladle to the man, who unknowingly takes a big spoonful to the mouth. He then realizes what his wife has down and asks if she will be having a bowl, she then sits with him and they laugh together. This final scene completely changing the atmosphere.

I found this clip thoroughly enjoyable as the film takes a complete turn right at the end were they look up at each other and laugh. I think that this really makes this film a good watch, as the atmosphere is very tense to start with. Not only does the emotion change throughout the film, the use of camera angles vary every couple of seconds. 


 I feel that this is one of the best shots in the short, as the camera is filmed over the ladys shoulder. The camera is directed straight at the mans face as he watches over his wife, making sure that she is doing the right thing. I think the director chose to add this shot as it makes it look like the man has a lot of power over his wife. I liked this use of camera work to make the man powerful.

The short film doesn't have a soundtrack which I think works well. I really like this clip were the man throws down his spoon into the bowl which makes his wife jump. The main reason this part is so good is because the soundtrack doesn't hide the spoon noise so the viewer can even be caught by the sudden loud noise. Which makes the viewer feel like they are there.

Cool Unicorn Bruv

http://www.depict.org/2013/cool-unicorn-bruv/?category_request=picks

This short film is created in London, the clip has just 3 actors and a horse dressed up as a Unicorn. This short film is made to be a comedy, the boy in the beanie is trying to sell the bike to the guy in the afro, when the man with the unicorn comes along and starts showing off. I really like how this film flows, the camera starts by filming the two as they talk about the bike comes along. When the man comes over with the horse, most of the camera shots are over the shoulder but in some cases the director has used shot reverse shot. Which I feel works really well in this clip as there is lots of dialogue. On the other hand there isn't too much movement that the viewer doesn't become confused about what is actually happening.

This is one of my favorite shots in the short film, its long width means that every thing is caught within the frame. I really like that fact that they have used this as there closing scene as it allows you to gain an understanding of the scene that the film was created it. The director may have also done this to show scale of the horse, making it more powerful and impressive.

In this scene the unicorn is shooting a rainbow out of its horn, this part is very cleverly done. The special effects that the editor used don't look too fake, making the rainbow shooting from the horn much more natural and realistic. The shot is also over the shoulder with just the horse in the background, the man infront is completely out of focus. Almost making this a POV shot.


The Sleepy-Astronaut

http://www.depict.org/2009/the-sleepy-astronaut/?category_request=2009

This is my favorite clip of the three short films, this specific film is about a elderly lady making a toasted sandwich. The clip uses many different clever angles to create a very abstract piece, the thing that makes this clip so original is how its filmed. Its compiled of lots of little clips to make one long massive film, the filming is almost as if its a stop motion film. But because the clip is continuous the editor has clearly just cut the clip every couple of seconds; this making it jump. Once finished in the kitchen the camera leads the old lady to her husband, supposedly the sleepy astronaut.

I really like this clips originality as I have never seen anything done like this before, the sudden stops make it feel like a photo album. I also feel that when the camera takes a close up of the lady's face this makes the film much natural and shows that it would have been made on a very low budget.

In this part when the elderly lady is laying out the pieces of bacon, the camera flows from a worm view. Then moves in a arc a complete 180 degrees to an over the shoulder shot, I really like how the camera transitions to this second camera angle. Its a very smooth movement, which works well.

I feel that this is one of the best shots in the short film, its an extreme close up. The shot really shows that the elderly lady is working hard to create this sandwich, by having the camera so close the viewer is able to see her concentration. The director has portrayed this well by having the camera close up on her face many a time. I really like how the close ups have stitched up many of the frames.