Amanda White created a short film to fulfill a brief examining the aims and techniques used in two source films analyzed in a textual analysis. Her goals for the short film were to convey the theme of sudden death and its effects on someone, using techniques like camerawork, editing, mise-en-scene, and sound to build suspense and portray emotions. She drew specifically from conventions used in the source films, such as close-ups, point-of-view shots, rhythmic editing, and diegetic/non-diegetic sound. Planning materials like her textual analysis, research on relevant film techniques, and a shot list helped Amanda construct her film and achieve her aims, though she notes areas

1. EVALUATION
Amanda White - 8069
Wake 6th Form College

2. QUESTION 1: WHAT WERE THE
AIMS OF YOUR ARTEFACT?
➤ I believe I achieved the brief that was set successfully as my final short
film has a strong link the sequences I studied for my textual analysis.
From doing the textual analysis, before hand I hoped that it would aid
my understanding in how to portray specific meanings through the use of
the micro technical elements (sound, editing, mise-en-scene and
cinematography) as both of the sequences have very similar themes and
narrative therefore I hoped that I would be able to interpret both
approaches to conveying the theme ‘death as part of life’ and use a
mixture of techniques from both sequences as well as my own ideas
when creating my own film.
➤ I found that for my genre/theme of my short film and textual analysis
sequences that the main editing technique used is the pace of it. Fast
pace editing is used to create panic and a sense of rush whereas the
slower, longer duration shots are used to create tension and to imply
various meanings such as in ‘If I Stay’ the long duration of Mia’s mother
implies her lack of ability to let go and accept her death. It also
highlighted to me that I could portray my theme in my short film in
various ways. ‘If I Stay’ uses a montage to portray what is happening
inside Mia’s head where as ‘Charlie St Cloud’ used a more naturalistic
approach and used hand-held, point of view shots and fast pace editing to
express the protagonists emotions.
➤ Before I began this process of completing the brief I hoped that I would
achieve a successful and effective 2 minute short film which shows a
clear and strong link to the textual analysis sequences I studied. My aim
was to create a short movie which conveyed how sudden death can effect
someone. I hoped to achieve this by planning and researching different
camera techniques to build suspense and to create panic, and also the
conventions/iconography of a drama/thriller. I had decided to use the
more natural approach in the editing by using no transitions and just
quick or longer cuts like in ‘Charlie St Cloud’ as I hoped this would look
more effective and create verisimilitude, however I hoped rhythmic
editing would be effective to create tension. I also hoped to achieve
before I began filming and planning, a well organised and structured
filming schedule, keeping continuity so it will be easy for myself when
coming to edit it.

3. QUESTION 2: WHAT CODES AND
CONVENTIONS IDENTIFIED IN THE TEXTUAL
ANALYSIS WERE USED IN YOUR FILM?
➤ I created a short film which was the same
genre as the two films I studied for my
TA (Drama/thriller). I focused mainly on
the theme ‘death’ as this is what I
focused my short film on and what my
two sequences I chose are based on. The
iconography of this is things such as,
blood, dark, gloomy lights, tears, etc, all
which I have included in my short film.

4. QUESTION 2: CINEMATOGRAPHY
➤ In both sequences I studied for my
textual analysis many close ups are used
of the protagonists and antagonists faces.
This explicitly portrays the characters
emotions through facial expressions
therefore I used many close ups in my
short film as I wanted my audience to
connect with my character as much as
possible in the short time. Hand held,
point of view shots are also commonly
used in both of the sequences and I
believed they were effective in portraying
the panic and shock of the situation
therefore I also used this technique in
my short film as it also created
verisimilitude. Furthermore, I used the
conventions of film such as a high angle
shot to portray vulnerability and a longer
duration to create suspense.

5. QUESTION 2: CINEMATOGRAPHY - SCREEN SHOTS
➤ Here are some of the shots from my film which were clearly
influenced by the textual analysis sequences I studied. The close up
of Sam shows his distressed face but also the blood stained t-shirt in
the background (iconography for death/accident) where as in my
movie I use a high angle shot (portrays vulnerability) which shows
the blood coming from Chrissy’s mouth and Alice’s distressed
position.
➤ The other screen shot portrays the simple angles of close ups which I
took from the sequences and used in my own film as I believed they
were effective in portraying the emotions of my protagonist well.

6. QUESTION 2: MISE-EN-SCENE
➤ Mia’s costume in ‘If I Stay’ is a light colour, resembling her
innocence therefore I asked for my main protagonist to
wear a top which is either white, or baby pink as it helped
convey that death happens to everyone regardless of purity
etc. linking back to my TA. Furthermore, red is a visible
colour throughout ‘Charlie St Cloud’, it is in the ambulance
and also on Sam’s hat as it connotes danger, therefore I got
my actress who is playing Chrissy to wear something red to
foreshadow something bad is going to happen to her.
Furthermore, in ‘If I Stay’ and ‘Charlie St Cloud’ therefore
are several props in the background to help reinforce the
setting (nurses, medical equipment for ‘If I Stay’ and life
saving resources for ‘Charlie St Cloud’ therefore I believed
it was important to use a prop to show who’s house they
are in in my film therefore I asked Francesca Rogers to bring
a family photo which I used in a close up therefore my
audience will know where my film is set.

7. QUESTION 2: MISE-EN-SCENE
TA My Film

8. QUESTION 2: EDITING
➤ Both of my sequences for my textual
analysis use a quick editing pace to
create a dramatic and tense atmosphere.
I used this convention in my own short
film as I wanted to create a similar
atmosphere to what the sequences I
analysed set out to make.
➤ I also followed the convention of using
longer durations to create suspense and
tension and short durations and cuts to
create panic in my film which is also
evidently applied in my TA sequences. I
mainly followed the editing style of
‘Charlie St Cloud;’ as this uses
continuity, match on action editing
which creates verisimilitude which is
what I wished to create therefore I
applied this to my own film. In the
editing process.

9. QUESTION 2: SOUND
➤ From analysing the sequences for my TA
it was apparent that both diegetic
(dialogue and ambient sound) and non
diegetic sound (sound track) were
needed to create the desired atmosphere
I wanted. I believed the sound of the flat
line in ‘Charlie St Cloud’ was very
effective and reinforced the theme of
‘death’ therefore I used this for the
sound of the phone line to help
exaggerate the panic more.

10. QUESTION 3: HOW WERE THE
PLANNING MATERIALS USED IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF THE ARTEFACT?
➤ I learnt the conventions of the micro elements
which aided me to spot them in my TA and
understand what the conventions used
portrayed. All the planning tasks and research I
carried out helped with the construction of my
short film, however I found analysing my TA
sequences and the 3 short films which were in
the same genre of my own film were the most
helpful. This was because it gave me ideas of
how to portray similar meanings through the
use of the technical elements.
➤ I also found creating a shot list was extremely
useful as it gave me a better understanding of
how best to shoot my film due to the time
restriction and numerous number of shots and
camera angles I wanted. However, on the day the
shot list was not exactly followed as some took
more time than I believed they would and the
whether effected the exterior shots. Therefore, I
would be sure to check what the whether is like
on the day of filming if I were to film again.

11. QUESTION 3:
In particular the editing and mise-en-scene was mainly influenced partly by my TA but by “The List” short
film I analysed. Where as my cinematography and sound was influence by partly my TA and “2AM: The
Smiling Man” short film.

12. QUESTION 3:
➤ I believe I could of researched more into
camera techniques to have a wider variety
of camera shot and techniques used to
make it more interesting and it would
expand my knowledge on how create more
effective cinematography such as a pull
focus.
➤ My film has a strong link to my TA and my
planning. Majority of my planning is
focused on the genre drama/thriller and
the theme ‘death’, which is reflected in my
own film.

13. QUESTION 3: SCREEN SHOTS OF PLANNING IN RELATION TO MY FILM

14. QUESTION 3:
My Film:Planning:

15. QUESTION 3:
My Film:
Planning:

16. QUESTION 3:
My Film:
Planning:

17. QUESTION 4: HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS
THE ARTEFACT IN ACHIEVING THE
AIMS?
➤ I believe that I achieved my original aims for my TA by
analysing the sequence, which influenced my ideas for
my own film. I wanted to create a short film which
reflected the same theme as the one I studied for my TA
(death) which I believe I achieved by the use of micro
features and uses similar techniques to ones used in the
sequences I studied for my TA and the conventions of
my genre which I found during the planning stage (e.g.
Iconography)
➤ After showing my film to other people I received some
feedback, positive point and improvements. The
conventions and editing style I used was noticed by the
audience which showed that I had applied them
effectively.
➤ If I were able to do another edit I would make more
cuts, creating a faster editing pace during the inside
‘999’ scene to create more of a panic and tense
atmosphere. I would also make some parts of my film
silent to represent the numbness and confusion my
protagonist, Alice would feel. If I had the chance to start
over again, I would do even more planning so I was
certain I knew exactly what conventions and techniques
were best to portray my theme and genre, and in my
filming I would use more camera angles and techniques
to make my overall film more visually effective.