Reflective Analysis - YOUR NEXT
The title of our short film is 'YOUR NEXT', referring to the t-shirt that the antagonist in the film can be seen wearing. YOUR NEXT is a thriller/horror, we chose these genres as we agreed that it would be interesting to portray them through the use of camera shots, angles, shot lengths and the micro-elements. Through the course of making the film, I was in charge of the mise-en-scene meaning I selected props and clothing items that would contribute to the narrative and the genre.
The first shot shows our protagonist, Robyn, walking down a dark and gloomy street. We specifically chose to film at a late time as it adds an eerie feel right from the beginning, this goes hand in hand with the long length of the shot and the wide shot we used. Robyn is wearing a big coat, telling the audience that it is cold outside which again emphasizes the rather unnatural feel we are trying to attain. She makes her way to her house in the story, out of all our houses we chose this one as it has quite a Victorian and old fashioned feel to it which fits the creepy theme. The house was also the largest and that adds a sense of uncertainty, as if there is the possibility that there could be something hiding.
Robyn's bedroom is very warm and cozy which insinuates that she is safe from harm in there, so when she does have the nightmare it suggests that not even the comfort of her own home can protect her from bad, again contributing to that feeling of uncertainty. Robyn is purposely dressed in rather casual and stylish clothes as it alludes that she is just like any other person and suggests that it could be anyone in her situation. Her home is very nicely decorated and large which tells the audience that she is well off and also suggests a reason as to why Kieran could be breaking an entrance - because he is jealous of the life she leads. Robyn throws a backpack onto her bed which tells the audience that she is a college student and is why she is tired.
The most prominent prop we used was the 'YOUR NEXT' t-shirt. The top has an overall unsettling feel to it and we felt it would contribute the characters (Kieran) personality as we only had a limited time to portray him. The t-shirt is incredibly inappropriate which does reinforce the situation as being frightening and uncomfortable. The words 'your next' are not directly speaking to anyone, so it creates the illusion that perhaps our antagonist is talking directly to the audience, invading their personal space.
There is a scene in which Kieran enters the house through the kitchen. I felt that this would be the best environment because of the dim lighting, which makes the shots seem quite cold and adds an unnatural feel, emphasizing to the audience that he is not a good character. Kieran entering through the kitchen tells the audience that he is coming in through the back door, emphasizing how he is not welcome into the home and that he is not supposed to be there. There is a shot in which Kieran walks towards and passed the camera, which highlights the words 'YOUR NEXT'.
Another environment is the bathroom, where Kieran finally encounters Robyn. The room is full of large mirrors which creates the illusion that the room is bigger and makes Robyn seem defenseless. Mirrors are also commonly found in horror films, so this scene adds to the films genre. This environment also makes us feel that there will be things jumping out at us, as that is what mirrors are usually used for in horror films, creating suspense for the audience.
The characters are very opposite to one another - Kieran is tall and tanned whilst Robyn is small and fair skinned. They juxtapose one another. This emphasizes that they are completely different to one another in lifestyles, appearance and even mental health. It is obvious that Kieran is not mentally stable just in the way that he moves around the house, but his appearance also plays a role in this because of his messy hair, all black clothes and his t-shirt. He also looks of a lower class than Robyn, emphasizing that he could be jealous of her lifestyle.
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Opening points:
ReplyDeleteThe wide shot of Robyn isolates her and makes her appear small in the frame - connoting her isolation and vulnerability.
Also, refer to the dark lighting as 'Low Key Lighting'
When refering to the house, add the phrase 'Gothic' - Gothic imagery is a convention of old 'classical' horror and you mention how you chose the house for this specific reason.
The points you make about the bedroom are sound but you should mention that it creates a juxtaposition to the outside environment we have seen. Outside is dark, dangerous and makes Robyn vulnerable whilst inside is smaller - we are closer to Robyn via the cinematography and the sense of vulnerability is reduced - so when the attack does come it is more of a surprise to the audience.
More should be written about the mirrors - they reflect people or in this case, visually present two versions of Robyn - creates uncertainty in the audiences mind.
ALso, the shot of the mirror when Kieran is missing, but when Robyn stands back up we see him behind her - this is classic horror and a great nod to the conventions of the genre.