textual analysis short film - pudding bowl

Pudding bowl – directed by Vanessa Caswill – textual analysis

Lilly trkulja

 

Camerawork

There were a variety of shots used throughout this short film and I believe they represent different things. The first shot I noticed was a mid - shot, I think this shot was used to really emphasise that there was something odd about her brother. This is a shot of him sat Blankley staring at her, I think this shot was held for quite a long time, therefore the audience may believe there’s something mysterious about him. I also like the use of the low angle shot, when her mum is cutting ivy’s hair off, this really emphasis how much hair is being cut off and it’s portrayed in a unique way but I think its effective and works and it’s such a simple shot to use! Another shot where the low angle was used was where the mother is staring down at ivy shouting, I think in this case it represents the power that her mum has over ivy and we almost feel sorry for her as she looks helpless sat on the floor. I like the use of the panning/tracking shot when she is pretending to be this lady on a bike, it’s like she’s in the fantasy world and I think the tracking shot following her on the bike works well here.

Editing

I liked the use of the jump cuts used when her mum is cutting off her hair, this is fast paced and exciting and I think it works well because it’s got shouting along with it, it’s like the more she shouts, the angrier she is getting, the more hair she is cutting off and it keeps us watching because we want to know if her mum will calm down. I’m not sure what the technique is called but I like the switch to the imaginary world of her riding the bike, and the hazy, colourful effect on this, I think this fits well with the 50’s/60’s theme that the whole film is set around too. Then to get back to the normal scene they used a fade which I think was smooth and neat. They used a slow motion technique when the hair was being cut off and I think this is effective as it goes silent and we see the last of the hair fall to the floor slowly, I think this then makes us excited and nervous to see what ivy is going to look like.

Sound

There isn’t much dialogue in the beginning however they do start with a classic 50’s/60’s themed music which I think is good as it then relates and we know exactly what time era it is going to be set in. I think the music works well with the photographs and magazines ivy is cutting out, it all links. After ivy had her hair cut, there is a non-diegetic gentle, quiet piano playing a few notes and it shoes ivy staring in the mirror. I think the piano is effective as it isn’t a full on sad song but it makes us feel really sorry for ivy! I think the sound works well here. After ivy becomes happier and goes to get revenge to her brother we then hear a happy, exciting song being played, upbeat and as the audience we then feel hope towards ivy and are almost cheering her on.

Mise en scene

I think from the costume it tells us a lot about ivy, the old fashioned little dress and the big geeky glasses straight away we assume she is a lonely little quiet girl that keeps herself to herself. Later on in the film there is a scene of ivy putting her mums wig and lipstick on, I think this demon straights the typical stereotype of the little girl wanting to be like someone, this is then reflected as throughout we see the picture of the lady she cut out in the beginning and we link the two. The lighting when she is pretending to be the lady on the bike it bright and sunny and she looks pretty and flawless and the boys are running after her may contrast with how ivy really feels.

When watching this short film I realised that my short film doesn't have to be too complicated, a simple storyline is effective. Also I don't need many different locations or tons of characters to make it a successful short film.