2. Setting
The entirety of the film takes place within a police car, spans across many days, weeks,
and even months.
Within the film, there are only two central characters, a male police constable and a
female colleague, the latter of which is initially greeted with caution until the two are
shown to bond as friends within the duration of the film. The small, frankly, cramped
setting exacerbates the closeness of the two main characters, particularly as their, at
best, amicable working relationship blossoms into a true friendship.
3. Cinematography and Sound
Throughout the duration of the film, the camera is fixed in place in a position in the car-
so that the two main characters are omnipresent. By using this technique, the two
characters are placed at similar levels to one another, indicating their equality; neither
one is superior to the other.
Within the first few instances of the characters’ interaction, sound is minimal to indicate
a tense, awkward relationship between the two. The man remains blunt in his answers
and does not wish to interact with his new colleague, yet as time passes, their
conversations become more fluid and their interactions more friendly, as they begin to
laugh, cry, playfully insult and rap Skepta’s ‘Shutdown’ together, indicating how close
they are becoming.
Other diegetic sounds within the film include minor details such as police sirens, solely
to verify the fact that the characters are police officers.
4. Mise-en-scene
By placing the characters in such a close environment, their relationship to one another
is portrayed clearly throughout. Within the film, instances in which the two protagonists
appear close are frequently displayed through mise-en-scene, such as when the male
PC, places his hand gently on his partners shoulder to indicate his care for her when
she is visibly distressed. Mise-en-scene is also used to clearly convey the genre of the
film to the audience, as one of comedy, such as when the police officers have birthday
hats placed upon their heads, clearly atypical and unusually comedic for what is
generally portrayed as a serious profession. By giving a gentle peck on the male police
officer’s cheek, a father-daughter-esque relationship is indicated between the two, who
are shown to truly care about each other
5. Editing
Very few editing techniques are used in the duration of the film, only cuts between
different scenes, however elliptical edits are frequent, to show passages of time. Within
‘Standby’ the time of day changes frequently to indicate a passage of time.
In one instance, a series of car doors opening and closing indicate the passing of
several days of otherwise tedious and standard police work, indicating the normality of
their lives and attempting to portray its reality.
6. Editing
Very few editing techniques are used in the duration of the film, only cuts between
different scenes, however elliptical edits are frequent, to show passages of time. Within
‘Standby’ the time of day changes frequently to indicate a passage of time.
In one instance, a series of car doors opening and closing indicate the passing of
several days of otherwise tedious and standard police work, indicating the normality of
their lives and attempting to portray its reality.
