This document provides a detailed analysis of the short film "Adot: How to not chat up a girl". It summarizes the plot, which involves a comedian named Adot unsuccessfully trying to get a woman's phone number. It then analyzes various technical and artistic elements of the film, including its linear narrative structure, characterization of Adot and the woman, camera work, editing, mise-en-scene, sound, language, and target audience. It concludes by discussing potential ideas that could be borrowed for one's own short film, such as using an African accent for a main character or setting part of the story on the streets of London.

1. Detailed analysis of two short films
Adot: How to not chat up a girl
Synopsise (Short summary): This extract is associated
with the relationship between Adot the comedian and a young,
bl ack female as Adot desperately tries to get the female’s
number. However, Adot fails to get the lady’s number and
therefore acts aggressively and offensively with the intention of
pressurizing the woman to give out her number.
Narrative structure- Linear/ non-linear: The narrative structure
of this short film is a conventional linear structure as it runs in
chronological order from the period in which Adot meets the
woman on the street towards the end when Adot is unexpectedly
run over by a car. The short film is arranged in a linear structure so
that the target audience can easily understand what is happening
within the film. If the short film was arranged in a non-linear form
the film would not make sense as the main topic of the extract (the
relationship between Adot and the woman) would be presented
last as opposed to in the beginning. As a result of this, the audience
may not comprehend what is going on in the film and may well not
appreciate the comedy behind the film.
How are the characters represented? Adot: Adot’s usage of his
blue hoodie and his Dr Beats represents Adot as a frantic, young
teenager even though Adot is in his 30s. This is done to add humour
to the film in which correlates with the film’s classification of being
a comedy; also Adot’s role of being a African comedian. As Adot is
walking towards the girl Adot is looking down towards the floor
with a serious facial expression to reflect on Adot’s enjoyment of
listening to grime music. Grime music is often listened to by young,
black boys and this gives a hint of who the target audience may

2. well be. Furthermore, through Adot’s African accent which is
permitted through his use of the word ‘hi-phone’ instead of
‘iphone’, the viewers attain the impression that Adot originated
from a Nigerian descent which also targets the audience of British-
African youths. Phrases such as, ‘Don’t piss me off bruv’ and ‘sexy
buffalo’ presents Adot as an informal character and as a result of this,
Adot may well not be taken seriously hence the reason why the young,
black woman desperately tried to avoid him. The irony behind Adot
being hit by a car as opposed to the woman being hit by the car as Adot
claimed would happen shows that Adot is an extremely dopey character;
this further adds humour to the scene.
The Woman: The woman’s casual clothing of a hat and a black jacket
presents her as a normal woman who is perhaps not intimidating
towards men. The woman’s style of hat which was a black beanie hat
reflects on her Caribbean heritage indicating that Adot usually goes for
Afro-Caribbean females. The hand gestures the woman makes presents
her as confident woman as she is able to signal that she is definitely not
interested in Adot despite Adot’s loud and aggressive persona.
Use of camera: In scene 1 as Adot is trying to sell his T-shirts,
the camera is held as a close up so that Adot can be the main
centre of attention since it is his show. Additionally whilst the
camera is close up, the camera is also on hand-held movement to
reflect on the lack of stability of Adot’s words hence the reason why
Adot stutters. Following scene 1, the angle of the camera is then
positioned on a low angle to Adot’s face to enhance Adot’s
importance as the main speaker.
In the beginning of scene 2, a track movement is added in order for
the audience to follow Adot’s steps. The track movement
additionally enables the audience to view the location of the scene
in which is set at a conventionally set on a road. Moreover as Adot

3. and the young female are walking towards each other in scene 2,
the camera is positioned at a middle shot to show their body
languages; their casual clothing. The fast movements of the woman
while she is walking hints that the woman is in a hurry whereas, the
slow, composed stroll of Adot presents Adot as proud and cool.
When the pair of them meet the camera switches into a two shot to
highlight that the two of them are communicating towards each
other. This then leads the audience to the main narrative behind the
extract which is the failure of Adot’s pick-up lines. After Adot asked
the female for the directions to “number 1 hook walk”, the camera
then changes to an over the shoulder shot to show each speaker’s
reactions and facial expressions. While Adot insults the woman by calling
her ‘blind’, the camera then zooms into his face to show Adot’s angry
facial expression in greater detail which escalates the drama within the
scene. Afterwards, a shot reverse shot is added while the woman and
Adot are arguing to strengthen the conflict between the pair which
further adds tension to the scene.
Within scene 3 as the woman walks off, the focus pull is on Adot and less
on the woman as the woman is blurred out; this also enhances Adot’s
despair in losing the battle to maintaining the woman’s interest.
Moreover, at the same time whilst the woman is walking away a long
shot of the woman’s body is added to show the woman’s attire in full
body length. This camera shot additionally signifies the woman’s
attractiveness resulting in the audience feeling even more sympathetic
for Adot. Towards the end of scene 3 when Adot gets run over, a wide
shot is added to vividly show the surroundings amongst the road in
which strengthens the realism in the scene.
Use of editing: Before Adot begins talking the camera fades to black to
show the smooth transition between the title and Adot as a comedian;
when Adot begins talking the cutting rate is slow in order to elongate
the time of Adot talking. Furthermore the use of a slow cutting pace in

4. scene 1 as opposed to a fast cutting pace also signals that not much
drama or action is taken place hence the reason why the cutting rate
speeds up as Adot communicates with the young, black lady.
Moreover, amongst the series of pictures of Adot and the celebrities a
parallel action is added to reveal the variation of celebrities Adot
assumingly met; this adds realism towards the situation. In addition to,
whilst the parallel action is also taken place in scene 2, a jump cut is also
added so that Adot’s mentioning of the celebrities he assumingly met
can be backed up with valid evidence. This editing technique further
makes Adot’s words more believable towards the audience.
In the beginning of scene 3, a title and a quick fade is added to yet show
the transition between scene 2 and scene 3. These editing techniques
also make the film more flexible and fluent towards the target audience
as the audience is able to recognize the change in scenes. Whilst the
young black female is walking unexpectedly towards Adot, a match on
action is added to quicken the action as it allows the audience to skip to
the main scenario of the short film faster. Moreover, while Adot and the
young, black female are communicating the cutting rate is fast to
stimulate tension between the two as the yelling from the two insinuate
that they are in a conflict.
Mise-en-scene: location, lighting, costume, props, make-up
The location of scene 1 is within a confined room so that the main focus
can be on Adot. The background of the room is white so that Adot can
contrast amongst the background since Adot is wearing dark clothing.
The lighting is normal (3.0 key lighting) to represent a standard
perspective however, the focus pull is on Adot to make Adot the main
centre of attention as Adot is the main speaker. At the far right corner
there is a display of colourful T-shirts to make the scenery more
appealing to the audience in order for them to purchase it. Adot is also

5. wearing the ‘drop me your digits’ T-shirt in black to show that he is a
part of this brand which can further increase the brand’s popularity.
Moreover, Adot’s T-shirt being black can also hint that the genders of
Adot’s target audience for this specific promotion are males because
black is often worn by males. There are no props as props are not
relevant within this specific scene since Adot is just communicating with
his fans. Adot is wearing no make-up but facial cream to enhance his
skin colour.
The location of scene 2 is in an urban street as it is a convenient place for
a male to meet up with an attractive female. Once again the lighting is
3.0 to match with the normal perspective from the audience. The young
lady is black to represent the type of women Adot would usually target
for. The black beanie hat reflects on the woman’s cultural heritage as
beanie hats originated from the Caribbean. Moreover, the woman is
wearing a black jacket, jeans and a scarf to suggest that the film was set
in the winter season. Additionally the fact that the woman is wearing
casual jeans, a jacket and a scarf suggests that she is a normal citizen
within that town. Adot on the other hand is wearing a heavy, blue jacket
and black, loose jeans to reflect on his masculinity in which further
makes the story more realistic. Adot is also carrying the prop of Dr Beats
to make him appear more attractive to the female audience as Adot is
able to wear an expensive gadget. In terms of make-up, the young black
lady is only wearing black eyeliner to highlight her natural beauty as
opposed to ‘fake’ beauty. The use of minimal make-up makes the
woman more appealing to the male part of the audience as she is able
to look attractive with barely any make-up on.
Sound: Amongst the title, the non-diegetic sound of grime music is
added to appeal to the audiences’ interest. Moreover, an explosion
sound effect is added within the title to give off a dramatic impact
towards the audience as explosions often indicate danger. Whilst Adot is
talking there is a quiet instrumental in the background (post-

6. synchronised sound) to keep the audience more focused on Adot’s
words. However, as the series of pictures are added in scene 3 a voice
over of Adot enables the audience to hear from first hand, about Adot’s
relationships amongst different celebrities. Whilst Adot is walking on the
road, the music of Giggs-Talking the hardest is played to give off the
impression that Adot is not a guy to be messed with.
Archaic lexis such as, ‘whom’ used by Adot reflects on his poor grammar
and this further makes the situation funny as Adot is unable to argue
clearly. However, different to Adot the young lady speaks much more
coherently in English hinting that she is more educated than Adot.
Moreover, sound effects of cars make the location of the street appear
busy reflecting on the everyday experiences in London town. (Add more)
Target audience- Who are they? Targets British Africans hence the
reason why Adot generally talks in an African accent; why the location is
established in the streets of London. Targets young people hence the
reason why Adot plays the role of a young, black boy.
What ideas could you use in your own short film?
Adot’s strong African accent can be used on the main character (Kofi) to
add more humour to the film. Moreover, the idea of the location being
set in the streets of London can be used in scene two of my film as the
location is easily attainable and spacious. Adot’s mini introduction at the
beginning may be used in my short film so that the audience can attain a
brief description of the main characters. The idea of music will be added
in my short film to intensify situations; to make the film more
entertaining.