RESEARCH: ME & YOU

During my independent study, I looked at a short film called Me & You. The short film was directed and written by Jack Tew and is clearly a film dependent on a gimmick. Me & You is a sublimely well-executed gimmick; in this case, we watch an entire relationship unfold from a single vantage point that was of an overhead view of a young man's bedroom. 

But, beyond sex and sleeping the storyline isn't as naughty as that location might indicate, we see a sincere relationship develop between a young man and women. As the relationship changes and evolves, so does the bedroom which fills with a collection of things lying in an untidy state; simply changing from neatness to cluttered chaos. The state of the bedroom cleverly reflects the wellbeing of the relationship and we see both progressively get worse. I found it astonishing how despite the fact that this is a film focussed on two characters whose faces we can barely perceive, I managed to grow and build an attachment to their journey and was engulfed into their story. 

Me & You combines both humour and heart; it also helps that the film was appealing to look at with thanks to David Wright whom took charge of photography directing and manages to cram a lot of visual phenomenons into its single angle. The lighting plays a huge role in the movie showing the variety of times in the day coming through the window as well as the light from the games console and laptop. 

RESEARCH: NEXT DOOR

Yesterday in the lesson, I watched a short film called Next Door. The short film was directed by Drew Mylrea and is a fresh addition in high-definition to the post apocalyptic science-fiction genre. The short film is filled with some impressive, low budget effects and is an exciting exercise in both storyline and tone. The short film lasts just 12 minutes, but it achieves both heart and laughs from the martial law scenario film. 

Next Door is a smart, science fiction comedy about a government collapsing on itself. It features totalitarian police regimes, terrorism where you'd least expect it, and an insight into an entrepreneurs lifestyle through the idea of creating "mugs on mugs". The short film is absurdly engrossing through polished special effects and visual effects and computer generated imagery (CGI) although the plot is rather hectic and haphazard. 

Drew Mylrea manages to gain full control of the audiences attention by creating an exciting science fiction piece that has a hint of familiarity in terms of a small love story but then turns the audience expectations on it's head. We see the Nevin fall in love with his neighbour, who happens to be a recognised and most-wanted terrorists and because of love Nevin exits his comfort-zone; but then after all he opts for comfort over risk.      

RESEARCH: HIGH MAINTENANCE

In today's lesson I watched a short film called High Maintenance. The short film was directed by Phillip Van and the writer was Simon Briggs. It is about the near future, a women whose robotic husband fails to meet her standards returns and upgrades him for a better version with standards that she now fails to meet. The title of the film is cleverly processed as the term 'High Maintenance' can be used to describe a male or female partner who has higher than normal expectations and has a greater requirement for affection or attention. However, 'High Maintenance' is usually a term used to describe technology that needs a lot of work to keep in good condition and in this case the movie combines both definitions. 

The storyline is engaging and generates enigma with a plot twist towards the end of the short film. High Maintenance builds audience thought where we begin to assume only the males are robots and that the women dictate the outcome. But then there is a plot twist at the end that shows her husband turn her off with a flick of a switch, this clearly states that both male and females are robots. The plot twist builds suspense and prolongs the audience's interest. 

The short film includes techniques that would be considered intentional and clever, such as at the commencement of the short film there is an amplified sound of the couple eating their dinner but the chewing and clattering sound of the cutlery hitting the plate is purposely made uncomfortably noticeable. The purpose is to highlight the awkwardness and tension of the scene making it obvious there is abnormality about the scene.