Week 3 Reflections
- louiseanastasia123
- Sep 22, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 18, 2025
In preparation for class we were given a list of short films to watch:
Submarine (duration 20:50) -https://vimeo.com/233685439
Listen (12:54) - https://vimeo.com/196593911
Hail Mary Country (18:36) - https://vimeo.com/286448015
The Shining Star of Losers Everywhere (18:38) - https://vimeo.com/176459945
Mining Poems or Odes (10:49) - https://vimeo.com/131406587
Milk (2005 10:13) - https://vimeo.com/73536813
Things we considered while watching it:
-World building and overall mise-en-scene
-How effectively each department contributes to the overall film and how well the narrative is communicated within the short form.
-How efficiently time is utilised and do the stories remain engaging?
-Characters POV and their relationships, do we care and make a connection with them.
-Mode of address and clarity of direction and premise across by the filmmakers (For doc).
After discussing 'Submarine' in class I found this one to stand the most to my specialism. Elements of film form worked well together in the edit to drive the narrative. I was especially drawn to the dance sequence, the seamless transition from dancing in an empty room before panning out and round to a dystopian environment, filled with people in masks dancing in the now packed bar.
Notes made during class discussion:
-Beings with distorted, deliberate peaking sound design, exposition of the world we’re in before TV becomes diegetic sound.
-Lingering establishing shot was earned, lots of telling factors from the production design.
-Photos show she cares about memories, clenched fist poster shows she stands for something important/passionately, blocking out the outside world with lights on and the curtain closed during daytime, Comfortable presence in the environment, routine smoking and watering plants. Her own space, no other presence. Subconsciously get a sense and understanding of the character.
-Can only linger this long (for 18 seconds) if you’re actually learning something.
-Sound transition from inside to outside, supports earlier reference from the tv. Colour shift from warm inside to bright light breaking into her space.
-Window breaks when frame is slightly off centre, foreshadows something odd is about to happen.
(This 3-minute setup is too long for our 10 minutes).
-Other characters help us learn about her through those interactions.
-Not a clear plot, just a premise.
-Don’t empathise as much as we should with her.
-Like the stillness.
-Careful with how much exposition you can get across without being too on the nose, spoon-feeding the audience. Grandparents' comments during the packing of the car scene about protesting and family. Building up character through the people who surround her.
-Locking off the frame through the window before its interrupted by the grandpa and his cardboard boxes.
-Changes from a yellow dress to funeral clothes, along with the rest of the palette.
-Tattoo jumping from one elbow to another, signifies change? - Continuity isn't noticed by everyone, and it doesn't always matter.
Full Notes:
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