A textual analysis of student past work "Evolved" the short film. A2 media coursework

1. Textual analysis:
Student work
“Evolved”
[ FILM ]

2. The short film begins with a long shot of the
protagonist, which connotes to the audience that he
is the main protagonist. His crouching position
connotes he is searching for something that could
possibly help fight against the virus, or help create a
cure. The composition of the shot shows the main
protagonist, alone, in the centre of the long shot
connoting his isolation from society as he is in the
woods. Furthermore, this is consistent with the
composition of the films poster as it also shows the
protagonist in a central position, alone in the woods.
Shot 1
The voice-over dialogue explains the
stages in how to virus affects the
human body which informs the
audience again of the narrative
because it connotes the
disequilibrium has already happened
as they already know the symptoms
of the virus.

3. The quick cuts that are matched with a medium close up
connote s the build up of the protagonists fear and
alertness as he is unsure to be out in the open, where he
is wary about what could be out there.
As the short film starts during the search for a sample,
the audience, aren’t 100% clear on what’s really
happening, which creates an enigma as they must wait
and see for all their questions to be answered and
explained. In addition, the primary sophisticated
audience like to be able to think over and question
about what’s really going on in these scenes.
Shot 2+3

4. Shot 4+5
The low angle shot of the protagonist looking
through the brush, connotes all his efforts are
futile, as he finds nothing that could aid his
search for a cure. Furthermore, this
foreshadows his death because despite all his
efforts, it connotes that no one will be able to
find a cure to this disease. This then also
connotes how humanity is weak against
viruses and diseases despite claiming to be an
evolved species.

5. Shots 6, 7, 8, 9
+10
The close up of the protagonists boots
connote the distance that he has gone to try
and find a new ‘sample’, further connoting his
will to survive and overcome the
disequilibrium. The following use of a shot
reverse shot is used to to connote how he is
unsure of his surroundings and alert as a
diegetic sound of a branch snapping
connoting that there could be someone out
there. He hesitates as he turns around in the
medium long shot further counting he is
scared, but his need to find a sample pushes
him to continue his search. The camera is
handheld and shakes which connote his
anxiety and fear.

6. Shot 11 + 12
The big close up and the camera tracks left with pan right is
used on the protagonist's head connotes his rise in hope as
he sees a potential sample that he has been looking for all
this time. The close up of the slug on the log is an eye match
as it is what he is looking at which connotes that all his focus
is on the slug. However as the camera goes in and out of
focus during the non-diegetic voice over dialogue
“Dizziness”, there is an increase in volume which connotes
he is feeling disordered and disconnected. Moreover, it
connotes that he is experiencing the symptoms of the
disease, however as his focus is diverted from this, it goes
unrecognised.

7. Shot 13 + 14
The close up of the protagonists backpack and his
rush to get his equipment out connotes his
excitement of his new discovery and his curiosity to
find out whether this new sample could finally be
the answer to the cure. When the “nausea” is
spoken, the protagonist is slowly edging nearer to
the sample to be careful, however experiences this
“nausea” and falls forward connoting he feels
lightheaded and unsteady.However, when he drops
the dish. This could foreshadow the
disappointment that he feels int the future as he
fails to get a uninfected sample.

8. Shot 15
The close up of the gloved hand picking up the slug,
or ‘sample’, connotes how he is being careful not to
damage the sample as it could be the key to creating
a cure. As his is matched with a sting, it connotes the
importance of this action, however as it is a low
pitched loud sting, it connotes an uncertainty about
the sample and whether it is dangerous or not.
It subverts the ideology that mankind is the superior species as something so small
such as a simple slug could hold the answer to a cure for disease that is killing the
earth.
The antagonist which is in the form of a disease is shown to have even infected nature
which connotes that it doesn't discriminate between species, but infects everything,
whether it has evolved or not.

9. Shot 16
The medium shot of the two people looking at
their findings connote their eagerness to survive,
but also show their findings in hopes of a
scientific development which is further connoted
by the cut to a medium close up. The fact that
they are together in this post-apocalyptic world
connote their companionship and their ability to
rely on each other in times of need and work
together to overcome this disequilibrium.

10. Shot 17
A loud sting is heard when the title
appears on screen to grab the
audience's attention as the film is
properly introduced. The title doesn't
slow down the pace of the film as the
audience can see the protagonists
through the lettering. This is effective
as it doesn't slow down the pace of the
film or create an unnecessary pause as
it eventually fades to blocked white and
then fades off the screen to black.

11. Sound:
● Throughout this half of the short film, a non-diegetic dissonant score has been
used to create an ominous atmosphere as it connotes that there is something
unnatural happening within this post apocalyptic world.
● Near the beginning there is a high pitched noise during the voiceover of the
symptoms connoting that there may be some kind of interference,
foreshadowing the protagonists becoming infected in the future.
● The heavy breathing through a mask suggests that it is from the protagonist,
further connoting his unease and slight panic as he rushes to gather a sample
and return.
● Throughout this half, there is the ambient diegetic crackling of the suit.

12. Shot 18 + 19
The Composition of the shot is effective as the two protagonists
dominate the long shot in the centre of the screen, connoting
their confidence in finding a sample. The setting has changed to
an old white walled building, connoting how it has been
abandoned for a long time, further showing the disequilibrium
had happened a long time ago. This further connotes their
isolation from society as they live in an abandoned building that
has been long forgotten about.
The next shot is a medium shot of the protagonists opening a
thick and heavy door. This connotes that there is sensitive
information within the ‘research lab’, however it could connote
the need for protection from the outside, hence their protective
Hazmat suits.

13. Shot 20, 21, 22 + 23
The medium close up of the two protagonists finally introduces them, as their identity
was never revealed to the audience. There is no score, however there is the diegetic
sound of the suits as they walk.
When the male protagonist is looking at the sample, his anger is evident as the slams
done on the table saying “God dammit”. This connotes his disappointment due to the
futility of his efforts which confirms the stereotype that men can become aggressive if
things don’t go their way.
When the female then confirms the failure of the sample, she stays calm and proposes
they go out the next day. This linked with the males behaviour connotes that this isn’t
the first failure they have had, and are rather frustrated with their lack of success.
This subverts the traditional stereotype that women are emotionally unstable, but
instead confirms the modern representation that women are rational.

14. This medium shot of the male protagonist
alone expressing his anger confirms the
representation that men typically hide their
feelings away from others. However the
medium close up of the suit as he finds the
hole, connotes the realization that he may be
infected, however he hides it and keeps it
secret from his female companion as he
understands the fact that he is in trouble.
Shot 24 + 25

15. Shot 26 + 27
The high angle medium close up shot connotes their
vulnerability and helplessness against the virus as it
has already infiltrated and infected him. This is
followed by another high angle shot of the female
connoting how she is oblivious about the danger as she
sleeps next to her infected companion. The non-
diegetic high pitched sound connotes how his life is in
danger. The low key lighting foreshadows the male's
death, and the setting shows their lack of possessions
and connotes their reality that they are out in the open
with no true protection, as they hold onto their fake
sense of protection.

16. Shot 28 + 29
Firstly the low key lighting connotes that the male cannot escape
the danger as he is surrounded by darkness, lead only by a small
lamp. This lamp however connotes the small ounce of hope he
has for his survival as he is infected with the very thing they were
trying to cure. The non-diegetic whispers create an ominous
atmosphere as it connotes that he is hearing it in his head,
showing he is slowly succumbing to the disease’ symptoms.
The medium long shot of the male gripping at his chest connotes
he is at stage 1 “increased heart rate”. The use of an overlay of
the male while in the Hazmat suit connotes that that must have
been when he was first infected by the deadly virus and it
becomes more evident that he is struggling against the
symptoms as they reveal themselves one by one.

17. Shot 30, 31 + 32
The use of a sudden flash of yellow high key lighting in this long shot
connotes that the virus is having a strong impact on his senses. This
further connotes he is weak and vulnerable as he is slowly being
taken over, losing control of himself.
The second long shot then has an overlay image of him in the
hazmat again, further emphasizing how he is slowly losing control of
himself as he is having these strange flash back images. The blue
light used is harsh and unnatural, mirroring the virus’s true nature
as it connotes that he is mentally unstable and becoming vulnerable.
The third shot of the male looking into the mirror connotes he can't
believe what is happening to him and what he is becoming as he
loses himself again to the pain. This also connotes the intensity as
the over the shoulder shot focusses more on his reflection than on
him, connoting his change.

18. Shot 33 + 34
The camera tracks left at floor level along his
body on the floor. This is used to connote how
it is now morning and shows the aftermath of
the night before and how the male struggled,
eventually giving into the pain. Standing up in
a medium close up of an over the shoulder
shot looking into his reflection, he realizes the
state he is in before seeing the female behind
him. This connotes his fear as his companion
finally finds out the dangerous secret he had
been keeping from her.

19. Shot 35, 36 + 37
The close up of the male’s hand connotes he is trying to calm down
the situation as he tries to connect with the female again.
The close up his face then connotes his acceptance of the situation as
he tries to encourage the female to do what’s right and kill him,
before the effects of the disease spread any further. This connotes
that he wants her to stay safe incase she gets infected too, connoting
his wish for her to keep surviving.
Shot 38 + 39
A shot reverse shot is used between the female and the male to connote
the rift between their relationships. Before, when together, they had
been together in one shot, where as now they stand alone, connoting
further their feelings of isolation as their trust in each other is gone.

20. The camera peds down the males protagonists body, to reveal his
submission and surrender to the female. This subvert the traditional
stereotype that men are stronger and more dominant than women,
however this can also be seen as a confirmation of this as he is taking
control of the situation himself and asking her to do what he asks; kill
him. The camera then peds back up again to reveal his face once more
and his confidence in protecting her, as well as encouraging her.
Shot 41, 42, 43 + 44
Shot 40
The close up of the female connotes her regret and sadness as
she is going to lose the person she cares for as well as her
companion, as they need each other to survive. The close up
also connotes how she is in power as she holds the knife,
however she is hesitant and nervous, confirming the traditional
representation that women are unable to lead and are
emotionally unstable.

21. Shot 45 + 46
These help to provide closure for the members of the audience, who may later
question what happened to the female character ‘Jane’ and the consequences of
their death.
Summary:
we think that features such as the costumes and the scores were very effective as they worked as
iconography, showing the genre easily. Additionally effects such as the image overlay and the lighting
were also very effective in showing how the virus was affecting the male protagonist. Elements such as
these could be effective in our own production as we want to focus also on how to create the right
atmospheres through the use of lighting and iconography of horror. Items such as the costumes and
location are very important as they can impact the production as they are used continuously. However,
in this production the camera continually went in and out of focus when it might have been
unintentional. We will aim to make sure we keep control of the camera and make sure it is in or out of
focus when needed.