Initial Research: Non Genre Specific Analysis 2

"Sight" 2012 Short Film Analysis

Sight is a 7 minute long sci fi film by Eran May-raz and Daniel Lazo. A graduation project from the Bezalel Academy of Arts, the movie examines the dangers and the promises of augmented reality and gamification. It is very well though out, scripted and cast, and the nifty visual effects have the polished feel of experienced film-makers

     "Sight" - Short film

Through this analysis of "Sight", I will be analysing different aspects of what all films should generally have, for example, camera shot, angle and movement will be a title for my analysis. This is so i can look at camera angles and therefore show how these certain shots, angles and movements are effective within the film, and therefore gain research into using it in my film.

Camera angles/shots 

This film appears to me at first to be a type of sci fi film by the way the titles are shown to me introducing the names of who is starring in this picture. As well as this, the above camera angle is a POV shot, as it flows as a walking motion around the living room introducing the location to the audience, making them more involved with the short film as such.

This short film is based around what the main character sees through his eyes. Therefore the majority of the shots appear to be at a POV (point of view) shot type. As you can see from the above image at 1:17, here in the film he was looking for food and the decisions in his mind appear on the screen through a futuristic title screen animation, e.g. the temperature of the fridge and the details on each food. This shot again makes you feel part of the short film and creates interest into the eyes of the audience

Another example of a POV of view shot is describing the basic tasks such as making dinner into a virtual reality game. This is shown in the above image where cutting the cucumber is at a 'hard difficulty' just like a video game. This shot therefore would appeal to many large target audiences with the influence of video gaming style. Here in the short film, as you can see, is a shot outside of the virtual reality game that he is approaching everyday life to. Here is an over the shoulder shot of the 'date' which the main character is on. This over the shoulder shot presents the ability to engage into the conversation and see the man for the first time from another perspective without being in the point of view.

As well as portraying the world through this virtual reality scenario that he views through, he can make decisions and also do actions. Such as, shown in this pic, the ability to order items on his date and pay the bill. Engaging the audience more as to make them feel they are making the decisions to the date and may become more interactive for them.

Here is an over the shoulder shot of the main character viewing his date which he took to his place after the meal. However, as you can see the date of his also plays the virtual reality 'game' and therefore from his perspective you can view this clearly, with her being the main focus, as he is out of focus.

Here again at 6:47, is an over the shoulder shot of the main character behind out of focus because he isn't the focal point of the shot. However, as you can see from the screenshot, the women which was his date is fully in focus and in the main focal point of the audience. This presents importance to her character, and the fact she appears bigger on camera to the audience may portray the fact she may be better than him on the virtual reality 'game'. As at this point in the film she was looking at his achievements. 

Editing

In this sci fi short film, editing played a big part in providing a successful way of portraying feelings and decisions throughout the film. As the short film editing the scene of the main character doing the activity outside of the (POV) virtual reality game, and cross-cutting it to the POV shot to add the effect that you are him. 

As you can see from these two shots on the left and right, the first image on the right is the shot before it approaches the activity, and then cross cuts to the second image on the right showing the point of view shot and he sees . I feel that this engages the audience further with the main character and the film itself. This was the main aspect of the film, as it was just following a linear narrative through out, with the cross cutting between virtual and actual reality with the main character. However, face paced editing was used during the date. This could maybe signify fear or nervousness with the main character and this tempo of the editing can impact on the audience of something going wrong. 

These three images surrounding this texts were all within 5 seconds. This fast paced editing between different shots signifies the dates isn't going well and therefore creates this image with the audience creatively. 

Sound

Sound was used effectively in this film, through back ground music and sound effects to make a stronger effect on the short film. However, the main sound that was in the majority of the film was the digital sounds of when the main character switched between virtual reality and actual reality. This sound effect really added realistic aspects to the film while the audience experience the virtual reality. As I feel that without this, the effect of the digital screen title effect won't be as effective, if not effective at all. Therefore overall, sound played a huge part in this film.

Mise En Scene

Throughout this short film, the majority of the lighting is very bright and looks as if it is all lit by natural lighting. With costumes, the main character at the start of his day was dressed in normal night wear clothes. This incorporates the ideology of this man being self supportive as he is living in his own apartment with nice clothes he wears. This is backed up from the point of how the man is dressed on his date. As you can see, he is dressed in a suit and jacket. Meaning, he may have a good job, as well as being able to afford the suit. This can also be said for the other character in the film with the way she presents her self on the date with her formal clothing.

In conclusion

Through my research into this short film and analysis of the short film, I have gained valuable techniques I can use in my future film this year. One technique I have gained is the use of POV shots and over the shoulder shots. POV shots I will of course use in the future to engage the audience a lot more and add variety within my shot types. As well as this, Mise En Scene is a key within our film that we are going to make. The costumes of the film are key, so therefore we will have to produce the perfect projection of fear through the use of costume, and will be further discussed through my mood board.