By Dorcas Viela
Short film analysis : The Black Hole
Plot overview
A man is at work late into the early hours of the morning, while
at work he discovers a piece of paper with a black hole on it that
enables him to pass through walls and vending machines. The Man
finds the safe full of money and tries his luck
Mise-en-scene
Setting /Location
The setting that is shown in the film is a typical office
setting which symbolises. By using a very average, everyday setting
this enables an audience to relate to the setting while also making
the setting more believable. The setting is a believable setting as
most people in today society go to or work in an office, the office
is a familiar setting with almost any type of audience. It creates
a normality of a situation, and with the added props this makes the
whole setting/location believable. The director used a very
stereotypical office setting. From the setting the audience can
tell that the era is present time, the audience can see this
through the use of the up to date office equipment as well as the
clothes that the actor wears. In the picture above, this
demonstrates the location and setting.
Makeup/Costume
The main actor is a typical man that works in an office but you
can tell that he doesn't have a really important role in the office
as he only wears a tie, a white shirt, black trouser and black
shoes. This outfit is world wide icon of someone that works in an
office and the director has used this to convey this to the
audience. His clothes also show the time era he is set in, his
clothes is modern and up to date. This shows the audience that the
time era of this film is set in the present time because the type
of clothing that he is wearing is worn by people who go to office
work today. Although the actor is wearing a suit, he doesn't come
across as smartly dressed as his top but isn't done up and hes
shirt not tucked in properly he also across as tired and this is
also conveyed in his clothes.
Colour
The colour used in the film is dull a grey and black around the
edges with only the light bit in the middle where the main actor
was. This shows the audience that the short film is not set during
the day and that he could be at work after hours. The director has
used a dark lighting to create a mood of loneliness for the actor
as well as a time setting of at night. Using the dark setting it
adds to the dramatic side to the short film.
Lighting
The lighting used in the film is very dull and dark, the
lightest part in the frame is the main actor. The dull lighting
shows the audience that the time of the short film, is set late at
night this is also confirmed with the clock in the background
showing that it is 3am in the morning. The dull lighting also
reflects the grumpy mood of the character it is also shown through
the position of his body and facial expressions. The dark and dull
lighting adds to the factor that the actor is alone late in the
office and aids the audience to anticipate that something might
happen to him. The dull lighting creates a mood of loneliness and
solitude, as well as reflecting the mood of the actor.
Iconography/Props
The director has used equipment that you would typically find in
an office, such as one of the main focuses ofthe short film, the
photocopier. The director uses other office equipment such as
computers and printers. This creates a verisimilitude for the
audience, as the idea of the props is to make a believable
setting/location.
Editing
Editing
From the photo copying machine the editor has cut from close up
of the character to an overall view of the office, this is to
highlight that he is completely alone in the office. When the
character is at the photo copier, the editor uses the cutting
method. It is cut to the character pushing the buttons on the photo
copier. This is to show the audience that the main character is
tired and grumpy. Again the cutting method is used to show him
kicking the photo copier to show that he is restless, and tired.
The technique of eye line match is used to show the character
looking at the black hole. The first shot of him looking at the
paper is a very confused look, with also a bit of wariness. Again
the eye line match is used to sow the audience the characters next
mission; the vending machine. After successfully getting the
chocolate bar, the character looks for something more outrageous to
do. He looks to the door of the where the safe with all the money
is stored. This is shown through a shot reverse shot . The first
shot shows the characters face looking very determined and with a
greed look on his face. The second shot that is shown is the door
of the room where the safe with all the money is kept, and the last
shot shown is the of the characters face again. The final scene
uses lots of different shots but the editor has added fast pace to
it, to make this final scene more intense as to whether he will get
away with it.
Cinematography
Cinematography
The medium close up shot that is used is show the audience the
main character instantly. It shows that hes tired, and you see this
by the way his shoulders are positioned. In the medium close up
shot you can also see that is shirt is very scruffy as well as how
he has done his tie, which all link to the characters feelings of
being tired. In the first shot of the main actor he looks tired and
the director has conveyed this to the audience through a medium
close up . This is also supported by the usage of a cut in shot of
his feet that show him kicking the photo copying machine; this
action is closely linked to being grumpy and tired. When the black
hole comes out of the photo copier the director uses a close up to
the show the surprise on the actors face. This is then supported by
the actor opening up the photo copier to see hat is happening in
the machine, and to try to work out why the machine copied a black
hole, this conveyed through a mid shot. To show the audience that
the piece of paper with the black hole on is not just a piece of
paper, the director uses a low Angle, to give an impression that
the black hole is watching him and waiting for him, although still
giving the impression that he is alone in the office. Again the
director uses a mid Shot when the actor pulls out the cup from the
black hole to show a surprise on his face, and this is also
conveyed to the audience. To show that the actor is getting braver
with his new discovery, the director uses a wide Shot to show the
actor having a go at trying to get a chocolate bar from the vending
machine. The actor looks around his office to make sure that no
body is there, this can tell the audience that the main actor knows
that he is being sneaky, as wells that he does not want anyone
finding out about his black hole. This is also supported by another
cut in of his hands showing the audience, him getting pulling out a
chocolate bar. The director uses a close up of the characters face,
to show that he is completely compatible about the process of the
black hole and is looking for something bigger to try, more
advantages and personal gain then chocolate bar. To show the braver
character side, the director uses a cutaway shot to show a door,
behind this door something important or valuable must be here as
the director is making the uses a close up of the characters face,
to show that he is completely compatible about the process of the
black hole and is looking for something bigger to try, more
advantages and personal gain then a chocolate bar. to show his
braver character side, the director uses a cutaway shot to show a
door,behind this door something important or valuable must be here
as the director is making the character seem braver. The director
shows the character pulling out money form a safe, in this final
scene the director uses range quick paced shots, including Close
up, Medium Close up as well as a low angle . The face of the
character is of surprise and shock, as well as greed. As the
character gets into the safe and the paper gets blown off by the
fan.
Sound
Sound
In the opening scene of the short film, a distinctive sound of a
photo coping machine is heard. From this first sound it conveyed to
the audience that the setting is an office. Also by having this
sound effect it also makes the setting a believable setting to the
audience as well. The diegetic sound of the photo copying machine
is the first sound heard, so this can also be implied to the
audience that this main object/prop in the machine. The second
diegetic sound that is heard is a supernatural type sound, a bit
like a whooshing sound. Can also be described a magnetic force type
sound, which links to the theme of the short film. This sound can
show the audience that the black hole has unnatural force to it,
and also even powerful. The sound of a magnetic sound gets louder
as the main actor gets more confident and puts his hand then arm
into it. When he goes to the vending machine, the sound of the
chocolate wrappings is louder than average. This is done to show
the audience what the black hole can do, and even to show the
possibilities of what he can do with the black hole. To the end of
the short film there is a continues sound of magnetic force sound,
and the sound of the photo copier. When he goes into the safe room,
an ambient sound of fan is there, and this foreshadows to the
audience that the fan will have something to do with how the story
ends. The ambient sound of the photo copier is still there, as it
gives reality to unrealistic situation, as well as constant
reminder of the location. There is little sound in the short film,
and what sound there is loud to exaggerate it, because it has a
significant meaning.
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