Wednesday, 4 July 2012

Codes and conventions of short films.

Length: A short film will most commonly last between 3 to 15 minutes, however some can last for 40 minutes.
Storylines: Storylines are generally kept simple but are sometimes hard to follow as they contain a sense of ambiguity. Narratives include linear, open, closed, circular which is usually condensed with limited dialogue. In particular, voice over’s are also used instead of dialogue which usually focuses around the central protagonist. For example, The Man and The Rat is narrated to follow the storyline.
Character: Due to the length, short films will usually introduce between 1 and 3 main characters. The central protagonist will remain central in the frame and an example of this is ‘Geri’s Game’ were he is the only character. This is done in order to keep the audience engaged and be able to follow the storyline without confused or diatracted with new information or new characters. Short films will last only long enough to connect the audience with the characters.
Twist: Including a twist is a common convention in short film which allows the director to tell a short story in an interesting way or in their own style.
Creativity: Short films tend to include creativity as they portray ideas in original yet vague way. This is made through a number of creative shots which enables the director to show their own style. This is particularly evident in Tim Burton’s work as he portrayed alternative sinister ideas through ‘Vincent’ which was carried through his other work in ‘Corpse Bride’.
Niche Audience: Short films tend to have a smaller yet niche audience, compared to mainstream work in feature films. Due to the creative nature, length and simple storyline, short films include a unique style which appeals to a much more specific audience.
Emotion: Short films are used to convey a strong emotion to the audience whether this can be sadness, happiness, or anger to make certain comments  in society.

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