1. Amy Willett
Shot-by-shot Analysis of Signs (short film)
Shot Description Lyrics Length
1 Close up of man laying in his bed without his A constant beeping sound 8sec
shirt on with piano music in
background
2 Close up of man getting up out of bed Beeping sound continues 2sec
along with music
3 Long shot of the man moving the covers off of Previous sounds continue 6sec
him and sitting up in bed facing the window
4 Close up of man doing his tie in the mirror, he Piano music gets a bit more 4sec
looks depressed and tired solemn. Beeping stops
5 Long shot of man at breakfast table, eating Piano music is still very sad 4sec
cereal, mood is still very sombre
Scene 1: This scene sets the story, and sets the mood of the main character, Jason. He is sad, and
unhappy, it is easy to tell because he is slow to get up and the rooms are dark and cold looking. The
music is sad and slow.
6 Long shot, man with others on a train, he is Music continues and the 3sec
standing with his head down, showing his sounds of the train moving
upset are also noticeable
Scene 2: This scene shows the Jason’s journey to work; the mode of transport suggests that he is a
normal, office type worker. The mood is still cold, also suggesting that he is not happy about going
to work.
7 Long shot of man and others on escalator Music continues, there are 3sec
sounds of other people
within the scene
8 Long shot of a woman that the man has seen, Music and sounds continue 2sec
on the other escalator
9 Close up of the man, he is looking in the Music and sound continues 4sec
direction of the woman, then glances away
before looking at her again
Scene 3: this scene shows another part of Jason’s journey to his workplace, again there are many
others in the shot, suggesting he has an ordinary working lifestyle like many others around him.
However, by his glances towards the woman, I can see that he could have other things on his mind,
such as a relationship.
10 Medium close up of the man walking through Music continues, the sound 4sec
a crowd of people changes to people walking
and talking
Scene 4: This is the third and final part of his journey to work, still portraying his unhappiness and
average place within the working community.
11 Long shot of man entering his office and Music continues in the 4sec
standing still to look at the room background, and the sounds
of phones ringing and typing
take place

2. Amy Willett
12 Wide shot of the office, from the man’s point Music continues, and office 4sec
of view. People are on computers and a type sounds take place over
woman walks across the shot the top
13 Close up of the man walking off the shot The music and office sounds 2sec
continue
14 Close up of the man sitting at his desk As above 4sec
15 Close up of the man, he looks to his left, then Music and office sounds 4sec
turns back to his desk continue
Scene 5: This scene shows us what a normal day at Jason’s workplace consists of. He seems fairly
isolated from the other colleagues as he doesn’t speak to them. His mood is still sombre and
depressed.
16 Long shot of the man standing at a printer, Music continues, and the 2sec
looking down at it sound of the printer
becomes prominent
17 Extreme close up of the printer, we can see The sound of the printer is 3sec
what is being printed out, shot zooms in slightly louder and the music
slowly to get closer is still noticeable in the
background
18 Close up of the mans face, showing he is The music continues, and the 4sec
sombre, the shot zooms in slowly again sounds of the office are
towards him more noticeable
Scene 6: This scene shows more of his daily activities. The image of the copier printing out hundred
of the same sheets suggests that it is monotonous, like his life is.
19 Long shot of the man on a bench looking at a Music continues 3sec
woman eating opposite him
20 Close up of man watching the woman Music continues 2sec
21 Medium close up of woman, over the Music continues 3sec
shoulder shot, she is eating, then looks at him
22 Close up of woman, she walks towards the Music continues, and can 4sec
man, and you see him smiling hear the sound of her
walking toward him
23 Long shot, woman walks straight past the Music continues, the sound 3sec
man, his face drops of the woman walking can
be heard
24 Long shot, woman puts her rubbish in the bin Same as above 2sec
25 Close up of man’s face, he is upset Music continues 3sec
26 Wide shot of man sitting on the bench, profile Music continues 3sec
27 Wide shot of man sitting on the bench, shows Music continues 3sec
him from behind
Scene 7: Again, he is looking at a woman, suggesting that he still wants a relationship, or someone
to call his own. It is apparent that this is what is making him so down.
28 Long shot of a boardroom full of people with Music continues and the 12sec
the ‘manager’ walking past the doorway managers voice

3. Amy Willett
29 Medium close up of the man in the Music continues, laughter is 8sec
boardroom with others, all laughing around heard over the top
him. He then joins in with the laughter, half-
heartedly
Scene 8: This scene suggests again, Jason’s isolation from his colleagues as they are all laughing at
the ‘managers’ joke and he doesn’t seem to understand it.
30 Medium close up of man walking down the Music continues 3sec
same street as earlier
31 Long shot of a couple kissing on train, with the Music continues, sounds of 7sec
man sitting behind them the train moving can be
heard
Scene 9: This scene shows his journey home, whilst on the train he see’s a couple kissing, which
obviously makes him upset.
32 Close up of answer machine Music has stopped, the 3sec
sound of the answer
machine can be heard
33 Medium close up of man looking at the Sound of the man’s mother 6sec
answer machine on the answer machine
34 Wide shot of the man watching the Sound of microwave and the 3sec
microwave answer machine still playing
away to itself
35 Wide shot of man sitting at table, eating Sound of answer machine 8sec
36 Long shot of man sitting on his bed, getting Sound of answer machine 7sec
undressed continues
37 Long shot of man getting into bed and laying Sound of answer machine 10sec
down, he turns off light ends and it is silent, the light
clicks as he turns it off
38 Black out Silence 1sec
Scene 10: This scene shows the end of his daily routine, he cooks a microwave meal which makes
me think that he doesn’t have the time to cook; it also suggests the need for a woman to help him
with these things. The answer phone message is from his parents, they are talking about how they
hope he is enjoying his life and how much fun he is having. It is ironic because he feels the
complete opposite, he is away from home with no friends and feels alone.
39 Long shot of man sitting on the train with Music begins again 4sec
others
40 Close up of man on the escalator Music continues 3sec
Scene 11: This scene shows his journey to work again, he is still unhappy.
41 Close up of man in office at his desk looking at Music continues, office type 4sec
the computer screen sounds can be heard
42 Extreme close up of the mans face looking to Music continues, and it lifts 6sec
one side, out of the window slightly, it suggests he is
slightly happier

4. Amy Willett
43 Wide shot of woman at a desk through the Music continues, and stays 3sec
window, she is working at a higher pitch
44 Close up of the mans face from profile, looking Music continues 4sec
at the woman
45 Medium close up of woman at her desk Music continues 5sec
drinking water
Scene 12: This scene shows someone new has entered his life. We can see he is interested in her,
because he is staring at her. Later on in this scene she holds up a note saying ‘Take a Photo’, Jason
looks embarrassed and awkward, until she holds up a second note saying, ‘I’m Kidding!’ This now
shows that they are both interested in one another.