Elevator- Short Film Analysis

Conventions;

Title

Producers name mentioned first in plain and basic text font using black and white text and background, which sets the tone for dry humour of the short film. The title of the film is featured in the bottom centre of the screen. Coming in on the first scene where the main character and the setting is introduced again in simple white text.

Length

3.37 minutes, quite a short duration against the average times for short films. However for this subject there isn’t a need for more footage as the message has been well expressed and the characters addressed in this space of time, there is no wasted footage. Meaning the audience will appreciate the film and its humour without getting bored.

Characters

1 main character featured amongst two separate groups, designed for the audience to compare him to those in each elevator.

Camera work

Figure 1 Title intro, credits.Figure 2 Title in first scene

Figure 3 Two different elevators in the same building, main focus of film.

Again we have seen many wide shots in this genre of film, especially shorts like in “The Black Hole”. Using eye level wide shots are great for engaging the audience with the environment as well as keeping the focus of the narrative.

Twist/ Plot

This short film uses this feature as well as an implicit message which cross over, with the short duration there doesn’t seem to be a need for a running joke as well as these two features. Watching the start of “The Elevator” you think the joke has already started, the man is uncomfortable with the thought that the elevator may crash due to the collaborative weight of the characters. However the joke comes in when it appears the man is not as smart as he thinks for leaving and going into an elevator with smaller sized people as they carry a worse consequence.

Figure 5 Last scene and the joke is revealed, triggering a message in the audience.

Implicit/Explicit meaning

Figure 4 Main character leaves the first elevator and waits for the second one.

The implicit meaning is humorous, and light hearted. Sending a message that people should not be naïve and believe there first judgments of people and situations.

Acting (physical)

Each group is different and within each the actors are in sync with each other to create a ripple effect and a dramatic feel for the audience. There is no dialogue which leaves room for the viewers to focus on the interaction between the characters and the message behind the film.

Comedic Ironic Sound

Without dialogue the route for sound in this short was non-diegetic, meaning that all the sounds have been added on and they work well. The coughs and sneezes are timed well with the acting, the over exaggerated sounds are effective in the end. Dramatically building up suspense for the end where the message is revealed seeing the swine flu treatment sign.

Mise-en-scene/location

The lighting appears natural of the environment, all the faces of the characters are visible and the colours of the environment are quite bland, reinforcing the type of location the film is set. The sub characters are somewhat different as some are colourfully dressed adding a bit of life to the aesthetics of the film relevant to the comedy side of the film.

Figure 6 Diverse characters in an office like elevator.