Applying the 5 Key Concepts to the Short Film 'Table 7'
Click play to watch 'Table 7'
Brief Summary
Media Language
- Titling - Very simplistic titling in black and white colouring central of the shot.
- Extreme long shot at high angle - Used at the start of the short film in order to establish the setting; blocked perhaps to represent the couples relationship.
- Restaurant setting - Decor and props help to set the scene, for example the tables, chairs and candles.
- Black and Gold colour - These colours are prominent in the restaurant setting.
- Low-key lighting - Used throughout the short film to provide ambiance for the restaurant setting and in the typewriter room.
- Costume, hair and make-up -
- Male: Costume is very formal and hair and make-up rather untouched, again mostly being coloured in black and white clothing.
- Female: Costume is also very formal and stylish, again black and white. Hair and make-up looks not too fussy but still elegant.
- Typewriter prop - This prop is very iconographic to a short film of the thriller genre, along with the cigarette prop, perhaps insinuating that the producer is intending to add to the hybrid genre.
- Medium close up shots at mid angle - Are a preferred choice of shot to be used throughout the film in both the restaurant setting and typewriter room setting.
- Cut transitions - Are used throughout the film and give a fast pace (by manipulating time) and keep the editing simplistic but effective.
- Fast pace - Towards the end of the short film a fast pace is portrayed through zooming camera movements and a sound bridge of fast pace dialogue. This is shown where the male is typing the fortune rapidly, show through the fast pace of editing, etc.
- Close up shots - Are used at high angle along with big close ups and extreme close ups showing cigarettes, the fortune cookie props and the fortune inside. Along with the zoom, this creates a sense of astonishment behind what the fortune reads.
- Sound effects - Used create an impression of shock and eeriness.
- Two mid shot at low angle - Used towards the end to provide a sense of happiness and pleasure of how far the couple have come since reading their fortunes.
- Facial expression - Of male in typewriter room shows that he is pleased with what he has done.
- Close up shots - Of the props show the set up of the typewriter and creates context behind how the fortunes might actually be made.
- Extreme long shot at mid angle - Right at the end of the short film finally sets the scene of the typewriter room setting, decor and props.
Representation
Within the short film blocking is used particularly at the beginning over camera shots perhaps to create the representation of the couples relationship being very secretive and untrustworthy, as though there is 'always something in the way'.
The colours used throughout also help to create a representation surrounding their relationship, perhaps that it is rather dark and spark-less, with black and white being used majorly throughout this also gives the impression that the couples relationship is formal and delicate with maybe a sense of simplicity. This comment is assisted through the dialogue used; "always think things are so black and white". The sound used is also very simplistic with minimal effects and soundtracks, but rather dialogue being a preferred choice.
The props used also add to the representation, particularly in the typewriter room. The props of the cigarette and Chinese writing create ambiguity and an air of spookiness, relating quite largely to the thriller genre.
The close up shot at mid angle of the light bulb prop/decor connotes an idea of their being 'a light at the end of the tunnel' in this couples relationship, practically being forced through to the spectator through the close up shot.
Throughout almost the entirety of the short film the protagonists are shown through medium close ups at mid angle, this also gives a simplistic aura to the camerawork.
As the rapid pace begins through fast pace editing and cut transitions the simplistic form takes on a more dramatic and tense one. This generates the ideology that something dramatic is just about to take place within the plot.
The camera movement of the zoom towards the end on the fortune cookies and protagonists' facial expressions creates a representation of realism within both the characters and spectators minds. Coupled with the music soundtrack, this effect creates a representation of joy and resolution within the relationship.
Audience
The target audience for this short film is very ambiguous and therefore difficult to identify. One could assume that the target demographic for the short film is grown ups, similar to 'Alone' who are aged from around 18-35. It is most likely that the target demographic for this film is females as the short film undertakes a romantic genre, though is a hybrid with drama and perhaps thriller. This could insinuate that the target demographic could also be aimed towards males in the sense that males are stereotypically known to have a fondness for the thriller genre.
The context behind the film also, I think, plays a huge part in the identifying of its target audience. The spectator should be able to relate and understand to the bickering and argument the couple are going through in order for the short film to be as successful as possible. For this reason, it could be assumed that the target demographic are couples or people in relationships.
In my opinion, the target psychographic for this short film is anyone who has a passion for fictional films and enjoys escaping from reality in a well thought through story; the idea of the typewriter room actually existing excites and entices people of all different ages, genders, etc.
Narrative
This short film follows a linear narrative and uses unrestricted narration to allow the spectator to get a complete understanding of what's going on. The use of unrestricted narration also creates dramatic irony as the spectator understands of the typewriter becoming the fortune as well as the male listening in on the couples conversation.
Bordwell and Thompson - Story: The story of the short film consists of the male and female being in a long term relationship who have begun having arguments commonly. They then decide to go out for a meal but the argument continues and they both see the relationship coming to an end. The fortune at the end of the short film creates a solution to their argument and allows them to move on to perhaps a more successful relationship.
Plot: The plot of the short film only shows the couple in the restaurant having an argument. This is then rectified as the fortunes are given to the couple and allow them to move on from the argument in the restaurant.
Todorov - Todorov's 5 stage theory is difficult to apply to the plot of this short film as the equilibrium and new equilibrium only exist in the story. For this reason I have included them but have highlighted them in a different colour to emphasise this point.
Within the short film blocking is used particularly at the beginning over camera shots perhaps to create the representation of the couples relationship being very secretive and untrustworthy, as though there is 'always something in the way'.
The colours used throughout also help to create a representation surrounding their relationship, perhaps that it is rather dark and spark-less, with black and white being used majorly throughout this also gives the impression that the couples relationship is formal and delicate with maybe a sense of simplicity. This comment is assisted through the dialogue used; "always think things are so black and white". The sound used is also very simplistic with minimal effects and soundtracks, but rather dialogue being a preferred choice.
The props used also add to the representation, particularly in the typewriter room. The props of the cigarette and Chinese writing create ambiguity and an air of spookiness, relating quite largely to the thriller genre.
The close up shot at mid angle of the light bulb prop/decor connotes an idea of their being 'a light at the end of the tunnel' in this couples relationship, practically being forced through to the spectator through the close up shot.
Throughout almost the entirety of the short film the protagonists are shown through medium close ups at mid angle, this also gives a simplistic aura to the camerawork.
As the rapid pace begins through fast pace editing and cut transitions the simplistic form takes on a more dramatic and tense one. This generates the ideology that something dramatic is just about to take place within the plot.
The camera movement of the zoom towards the end on the fortune cookies and protagonists' facial expressions creates a representation of realism within both the characters and spectators minds. Coupled with the music soundtrack, this effect creates a representation of joy and resolution within the relationship.
Audience
The target audience for this short film is very ambiguous and therefore difficult to identify. One could assume that the target demographic for the short film is grown ups, similar to 'Alone' who are aged from around 18-35. It is most likely that the target demographic for this film is females as the short film undertakes a romantic genre, though is a hybrid with drama and perhaps thriller. This could insinuate that the target demographic could also be aimed towards males in the sense that males are stereotypically known to have a fondness for the thriller genre.
The context behind the film also, I think, plays a huge part in the identifying of its target audience. The spectator should be able to relate and understand to the bickering and argument the couple are going through in order for the short film to be as successful as possible. For this reason, it could be assumed that the target demographic are couples or people in relationships.
In my opinion, the target psychographic for this short film is anyone who has a passion for fictional films and enjoys escaping from reality in a well thought through story; the idea of the typewriter room actually existing excites and entices people of all different ages, genders, etc.
Narrative
This short film follows a linear narrative and uses unrestricted narration to allow the spectator to get a complete understanding of what's going on. The use of unrestricted narration also creates dramatic irony as the spectator understands of the typewriter becoming the fortune as well as the male listening in on the couples conversation.
Bordwell and Thompson - Story: The story of the short film consists of the male and female being in a long term relationship who have begun having arguments commonly. They then decide to go out for a meal but the argument continues and they both see the relationship coming to an end. The fortune at the end of the short film creates a solution to their argument and allows them to move on to perhaps a more successful relationship.
Plot: The plot of the short film only shows the couple in the restaurant having an argument. This is then rectified as the fortunes are given to the couple and allow them to move on from the argument in the restaurant.
Todorov - Todorov's 5 stage theory is difficult to apply to the plot of this short film as the equilibrium and new equilibrium only exist in the story. For this reason I have included them but have highlighted them in a different colour to emphasise this point.
- Equilibrium - Before attending the restaurant and having the argument.
- Disruption - Arriving at the restaurant and having the argument.
- Recognition - The male typing the couples fortunes after listening in on the argument.
- Repairing the damage - Apologizing to one another for their actions.
- New equilibrium - Moving on from the argument and continuing with their relationship.
Story -
Plot -
Barthes - Enigma codes:
- Couples dialogue, facial expression and body language - Why are they fighting?
- Male in typewriter setting - What is he doing? Who is he? Where is he?
- Fortune cookie prop - What will their fortunes read?
- Dialogue - "I don't want anyone listening in" creates the action code that someone is listening in - shown to be the male.
- Facial expression, body language and dialogue - Suggests that the two protagonists (couple) are in an argument.
- Man versus Woman - Major binary opposition conveyed in the short film.
- Black versus White - Interesting in the sense that these colours have been used throughout the short film, perhaps as a less evident binary opposition representing either of the two in the relationship.
- Hate versus Love - Shown to become a binary opposition towards the end of the film where the couple have gone from hating each other to once again loving each other.
Other theorists unmentioned are difficult if not impossible to apply to this short film.
Genre
Rick Altmans Semantic and Syntactic Codes Theory -
Syntactic Codes
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Setting, props and décor – Restaurant very typical of a
film of the romance genre.
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Binary Oppositions – A binary opposition between a male
and female is common in all three genres. The use of the binary opposition
between hate and love is also very generic of the romance genre.
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Costume, hair and make-up – Common of the thriller genre
as well as the romance genre; being formal and dark in colour.
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Low-key lighting – Iconographic of the thriller genre and
typically used in romance and drama genres.
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Shot sizes – Medium long shot and mid shot common of all
three genres with two shots also being used relating greatly to the romance
genre.
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Soundtrack – Contrapuntal soundtrack to romance and drama
genres but the soundtrack is parallel to the thriller genre.
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Steve Neales Repetition and Variation Theory - This short film becomes difficult to apply Neales theory as the thriller aspect begins to come through. As the short film is a hybrid of genres repetition and variation can barely be applied. Though, one aspect of variation is how rich colour has been used in the shots (rather than mise en scene) - typical of the romance genre and varying from the thriller genre.
David Buckinghams theory is difficult to apply to this short film.
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