As a class we analysed the work of student Craig Dean Devine. The short film 'This is the life' which lasted around 6-8 minutes, was the genre of social realism. Craig Dean Devine used a variety of intimate shots which made the audience feel connected to the characters.
The elements of a short story must have a beginning, middle and end. The opening scene was set with the family at breakfast. The camera was situated as if you were also with this family at breakfast, this allowed the audience to feel sympathy and to connect with the story line. Although it was a short film the camera also borrowed a few documentary conventions. Such as the use of hand held, this is not typical of a short film but was used to portray the characters emotions and relationships within the film.
There was a high angle close up of the mother at breakfast, showing that she felt a sense of stress on her. This was mirrored through her needing help to get the children ready for school.
Music is also used in short films for pace and atmosphere. Non-diegetic music was played as the children left to go to school, the music was pastoral and complimented the event well to display that it was a everyday occurance and the people in the house hold was just getting on with everyday life.
In order to portray the characters working class background and for the audience to empathise with them, Devine uses a variation of extreme long and long shots. This takes you away from the emotions and being involved with the family to simply observing their life. We are then brought back into the emotions as the dad is introduced to us with some shot reverse shot close ups on the farther and the children, giving us an insight into the bond between them.
The middle of the short film gives us more understanding to the relationships of the characters, now that we have been introduced to them. When the working class dad pick up his son from school, there is a long shot to show the car and the boy. along side this there is a voice over that tells us the child is the last to be picked up. This suggests the boy is not a priority to the farther. Devine then uses a shot reverse shot of the farther and sons conversation and the close ups show desperation from the farther, waiting for the son to get in the car. The scene continues in the car and through the use of semiotics and extreme close ups we see the tobacco that is linked to the farthers time in prison. happy non diagetic music is then played as the father teaches the son how to drive, the music mirrors the tranquil atmosphere and all signs of tension has evaporated. In the transition from the middle to the end we see the farther at his propation office. The offices mise en scene creates a cold and dull atmosphere. Which makes the audience relate to the farther and sympathise for his time in prison.
Now that the characters have been introduced, and explored we get a sense of closure in the ending. We hear the of a sound bridge moving on the probation scene and go to the father playing with his kids, the non-diegetic music becomes more upbeat as we see the farther in a eutopic setting from the tough time in the characters lifes, the lyrics of the song is then heard portraying how the family are coming together again.
