My research portfolio

1. Research Portfolio
Contextual
1. Dissociative fugue and Amnesia
2. Codes and conventions of a short film
3. Codes and conventions of genre and theme
Technical
4. Narrative structure and script writing
5. Competitors
6. Short films
7. Cinematography
Audience
Historical
8. Post-production

2. Dissociative Fugue and Amnesia
The story of my short film is about a character who has dissociative fugue. I will be researching into
this topic so that I can learn about the condition, this includes thing such as the effect of the
condition, its symptoms and its representation in film and TV.
Dissociative fugue is a rare form of dissociative amnesia, which causes the person to lose their sense
of identity and impulsively travel or wander. Additionally, they will often be confused on who they
are and might create a new identity. reference
Furthermore, dissociative fugue has been made the subject in a small amount of films and TV shows,
some of these are Stranger Things, Sybil, David and Lisa. I have chosen to look at this type of
amnesia, as there is a gap in the market for this specific condition. In addition, I think that this
condition will be very interesting to explore in my short film. This may also create conversation
amongst the audience, which would raise awareness for the condition. Creating conversation is
important as it would be fulfilling the expectation from the client that was in the brief.
Though dissociative fugue and dissociative amnesia are distinctively different, I will be using
elements of dissociative amnesia with dissociative fugue. A challenge with this will be trying to keep
this scientifically accurate and realistic. If this condition is seen as inaccurate, many people will be
upset as well as miseducated. To overcome this, I will look at overlapping symptoms that I can use in
my script.
Symptoms of dissociative fugue is quite difficult for other people to pick up on. This is because their
behaviour can mostly seem normal from the outside. These symptoms are;
• Sudden and unplanned travel from home
• Inability to remember past events or important information
• Confusion or loss of memory about their identity. Sometimes creating new identity to make
up for the loss
• Extreme distress with daily functions
Dissociative amnesia symptoms are;
• Memory loss from certain time periods, events, people and personal information
• Feeling detached from yourself and your emotions
• Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety etc
• Significant stress
I will apply these symptoms to my main character in my story, this is so it can build upon the idea
that my character has dissociative fugue. However, with these symptoms the audience may not pick
up on this till the end of the short film. This is because the audience will not be aware that the
character has gone through a traumatic experience, that has triggered this within the character.
Additionally, by using these symptoms I am giving my story more depth, which will help make my
short film be more realistic. Furthermore, by using symptoms I can inform the audience on what
people with dissociative fugue go through which may cause them to research more into the topic.
Dissociative fugue is usually associated with people going through difficult times. This could be due
to; natural disasters, war, depression, child abuse etc. With this information, I could have my

3. character go through a traumatic experience and having dissociative fugue as an escape. By doing
this I would better represent dissociative fugue in my work
A few examples of dissociative fugue and dissociative amnesia in film and tv;
Stranger Things (TV Series)
Stranger Things, Series 2, Episode 6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdpX6CmVNsA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssEx6TeAoCA
In this scene, the character Will is in hospital, where he can only remember his friend Mike and his
mother who are in the room. Apart from these two, he is unable to remember anyone else inside
the room. We also learn that he saves someone from danger the day before, in which they had “hurt
him”, which could be the reason to why he is in the hospital.
This scene is effective at showing Will’s amnesia, one way of doing this is how Will acts. We see here
that Will is quite confused, which could be due to the memory loss he has gotten, which is a
symptom of dissociative amnesia. Another example of this is the way Will interacts with the other
characters, he is unaware of who they are and doesn’t speak to them.
In this scene the doctor pushes the story further, he does by asking Will a few questions. This also
helps the audience understand what has happened to Will, we learn that Will can’t remember many
people inside the room.
These combined elements work well together to show that he has amnesia, however this could have
been improved if Will had shown more symptoms. A few things he could have done are; memory
loss from the day before, which will make him question why he is at the hospital and what happened
to him. This would make his amnesia more believable.
I will use elements from this scene in my production, one of these elements are confusion Will faces
when asked about the characters inside the room and if he remembers them. This would work well
at communicating to the audience, that Aidan has amnesia.

4. Dissociative Fugue Short Film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xTC4aARzM0&t=2s
In this short film the protagonist (Annie) finds her sister after she commits suicide and blames the
death on herself. After blaming herself for not being able to stop her death she decides to leave
home as she “can’t handle it anymore”. As she gets away, she finds herself in the fugue state under a
new identity as Morgan. Her she is confused and has no prior memory on herself and how she got
there.
This short film is very effective at representing dissociative fugue. We see this as the main character
goes through a traumatic experience and then has symptoms of the condition occurring after.

5. Codes and conventions of a short film
I will be creating a short film, so I am looking into the codes and conventions of a short film, so I
know how they are.
• The budget is usually low. This is because short film directors are independent, which usually
means there’s not much funding for their film. Moreover, money is saved on areas like
actors, locations etc
• Short films have a max length of 35 mins, whilst many short films are 5-10 mins in length
• There tend to be 2-3 main characters, as there is not enough time to create a deep backstory
or history for the characters
• Many short films tend to contain a twist, the storyline having a twist as it makes the short
film much more interesting
• Short films take an everyday situation that many can relate to, then flip it so its intriguing for
the viewer
• Storylines are usually kept simple and easy to follow, with the narrative condensed and
limited dialogue. Characters will also develop through images and actions than long
sequences
• Short films allow for more creativity and abstraction, as there’s less pressure to make it
profitable for a large audience
• Todorov’s theory of equilibrium is usually used
o Equilibrium – Everything is normal
o Disequilibrium – Problem occurs
o New equilibrium – Problem is solved, everything goes back to normal but there is a
change
• Based on normal events
• Usually are realistic and viewers relate to it
Looking at these codes and conventions, I have learnt new information about short films which are
essential to the medium. By using these codes and conventions in my work, it will ensure that my
short film fits the expectations and essential elements of the medium. An example of me using one
of these codes and conventions in my work are; having 2-3 main characters in my short film.
Typically, short films have 2-3 main characters are there isn’t much time to get in very deep with
these characters, as I have less time in my short film, I have decided to decrease the amount of
characters in my short film. Originally, I had said that there would be 3 main characters and a group
of friends, which give a total of 6 main characters. I now know that this would have not worked out
very well for a short film, so these codes and conventions have benefitted me.
Additionally, by having these codes and conventions in my short film and satisfying the needs of the
medium is important to the audience. The audience will have expectations of a short film in their
mind, so by following the codes and conventions can also reach their expectations. Using codes and
conventions will be effective, as this is the product that the client has set.

6. Codes and conventions of genre and theme
The client for this project has set genres and theme for this short film in my brief. To fulfil this, I will
need to look at the codes and conventions of these genres and themes to ensure that I fulfil the
needs of the genre and themes. The genres I will be focusing on are; romance, drama and comedy.
The theme that I will also need to investigate is realism, so that I can make sure that this theme is
throughout my short film.
Codes and conventions of romance;
• Usually set in an environment where the characters are very likely to meet e.g high school
• The film will start off with the characters meeting and falling in love. Usually there will be
some type of objective the couple will face, which may involve them breaking up or
separating e.g one might die. There will usually be one of two ending, one that is a happy
ending and the other is a sad ending where the couple does not get back together
• Most romance films have an antagonist who will be there to break the couple up or be an
obstruction
• The sound that is used is very important to the scenes. The choice of music will portray the
emotions that the characters are feeling
• Close ups shots are used to emphasis the characters feelings, this helps the audience better
understand what they are going through and what they will be doing next
• Establishing shots are used quite a lot as it shows where the story is located as well as where
the characters are from
• Lighting will usually be warm and bright for scenes where the characters are in love and
happy. Additionally, the lighting will be colder and dim when the characters are sad.
• Props like flowers, jewellery, rings etc are used quite a bit in romance films
• The main characters are usually shown right at the start
• At the start of romance films, they’ll also have one of the characters narrate the story
• Transitions like a fast cut are effective as they connote the type of atmosphere is present in
the scene
Codes and conventions of a drama;
• Shows real life situations with realistic characters, settings and stories
• Shows character development
• Purpose of a dramatic storyline to move audience emotionally
• The film makes the audience relate and sympathise with characters, done with a good
written script, high level of tension and good editing
• Set in places like; flats, run down areas, estates, at work etc
• Weapons, drugs, alcohol and cigarettes are usually a topic in these films, or is used as a prop
• Focuses on one main character, who is at the heart of attention and tension happens around
them
• Conflict is at the heart of a drama
• They show emotions at the best and worst and may exaggerate to dramatize the event
• The protagonist is usually easy to relate to and is on an emotional journey
• There is usually a plot twist or a complex plot

7. • Use close ups, POV shots, shot reverse shot and have handheld camera movement. This
helps build realism
• Usually fast paced editing
• Locations foreshadow or reflection the emotion in the scene
• Clothing reflects characters personality e.g troubled characters wear dark clothing
• Neutral tones and low-key lighting are used
Codes and conventions of a comedy;
• Comedy films can be set anywhere but usually are set in suburban areas like high schools,
bars, neighbourhoods etc
• Establishing shots are used often to show changed location, characters, new themes etc
• Shots are usually well light with natural lighting. The lighting usually is on the main
characters
• There tends to be a lot of close ups, mid shots and long shots. These are effective when used
with establishing shots
• There are a few props that are used are; beer bottles, bongs and guns. Drinking guns and
violence are some common themes found in comedy films. Some of the props can hurt a lot,
which is done in slapstick comedies
• There are 2-4 main protagonists, in which they all have their own journeys
• Smarter characters can be also be placed next to a stupid character to emphasise that they
are stupid. This contrast is used with characters who lack in a certain area e.g social skills
• Diegetic sound is quite important so it must be clear and can be heard so that the audience
can laugh at the jokes
• Bright and happy colours are used to show the scene is happy
• Low and high angles are used to exaggerate a character's power and status
• The editing is reduced to give the effect of realism. Additionally, comedic timing is key, so
editors build dramatic irony and time the joke right
• A few themes that appear in comedies; love, work, music, crime, alcohol and drugs
I will be using these codes and conventions in my short film, by implementing them into my script
and other areas of production. Using these codes and conventions will be crucial for the plot, as I will
be changing the story and how possibly how the story effects the audience.
For this short film I would like to cause the audience to be shocked as well as have sympathy for the
characters. To create this effect, I will
The story is meant to cause shock and sympathy from the audience. To create this effect, I will be
using the codes and conventions to create comedy, which will be used to create a light hearted and
happy atmosphere. This would then be contrasted by the drama that will be

8. Narrative Structure and Script Writing
One of the most important parts of any film is the writing itself, and with a short film this becomes
much more important. This is due to many elements, such as; a lower budget, short runtime, small
production etc. Many filmmakers will create a short film to tell a story, which is why I have chosen to
create a short film. “I love doing short films because they’re much more intimate” (T, Natalia)
A story is a sequence of events, which is known as the plot. Whereas a narrative is the way that
events are put together and presented to the audience. A narrative in account of a string of events
occurring in space and time, these do not unfold randomly and are connected by the logic of cause
and effect (N Hill, 2016).
Narrative Structure
Before writing a script, I first must know the narrative structure as well as the story. This will serve as
a blueprint for the script. Most narrative structures have a 3-act structure which they follow. These
acts are; setup, confrontation and resolution. As each act progresses, the story will also do the same
and stakes will raise also. The second act is usually the longest act and will take up half the film. I will
be incorporating this into my short film and make my second act the longest, which would allow me
to have more story here.
This diagram shows each act and what will happen in each one of these acts. From this, we see that
there are multiple aspects to each act such as inciting incident, second thoughts etc. This is very
informative, and it provides a better look into the three-act structure.
I will use the information from this diagram as a reference for my narrative structure during pre-
production. I will be making bullet point notes on what will be going on in the narrative during each
act, which will allow me to have a basic idea of the narrative. This idea will be written in greater
detail and expanded upon when I start writing my script.
Furthermore, by planning the narrative using bullet points gives me an advantage, as I am quickly
able to change details within my story, rather than doing full rewrites of my work. This in turn will let
me have a better script in the end which will result in a good short film. As a result of me
understanding the narrative structure, I can tell a story that audiences will understand and as a
result feel something.

10. Competitors
Creating content for YouTube is very competitive, as there are many content creators on the
platform. There are millions of channels that will create content for a specific audience e.g gaming,
vlogging, short films etc. I will be looking at YouTube channels that focus on uploading short films,
which they may or may not produce, as well as some production companies who create short films.
I will be looking at their channels, their content and how they cater their content for their audience.
This will be useful to me as I can make sure that my short film fits the Add Oil brand, and that it
appeals to the target audience. Additionally, looking at the competitors gives me insight into the
market, and if there are gaps or specific things, I can do to attract more people to watching the short
film.
ALTER
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMOB6uDg7e-h8OuCw8dK2_Q
Alter is a channel with 300k+ subscribers on YouTube. The content on their channel is solely horror
short films. They upload 2 short films per week, of which majority of their short films are between 4-
10 minutes. However, they have some short films that exceed this and are long as 23 minutes. Alter
doesn’t create all the content on their channel, as some of these have been submitted by other
filmmakers.
Apart from YouTube they also have a Facebook, Instagram and website which also allows people to
watch content on. The Facebook page has 1.7 million followers, here they upload the short films as
an alternative to YouTube.
The short films available on this channel are all in the horror genre, and cover a range of different
topics such as social media, relationships, cannibalism etc. It’s clear to see that these short films are
targeted at a more mature audience, as they feature a lot of graphic elements such as gore.
The target audience for this channel are people who enjoy the horror genre, as well as short films.
This is evident as this channel has gained a following for its content, which is in the horror genre. The
age range of this channel could be 16+ as a lot of the themes here are intended for a mature
audience.

11. Wong Fu Productions
https://www.youtube.com/user/WongFuProductions
Wong Fu Productions are an independent production company, who “like to tell stories, whether
they’re funny, sad or thoughtful”. This is evident in their videos, as they make content with these
themes, an example is interracial dating and how it can be complicated. This could be a thoughtful
story, as it’s a topic that is talked about a lot.
They upload content on a weekly basis, with usually 1-2 videos per week. Majority of this content
are 7-15 minutes long, additionally these uploads tend to be a mixture of short films and web series.
Their target audience seems to be teen and young adults, who may currently be in college or
leaving. This is due to a lot of their content being cantered around romance and dating, which is
usually consumed by teens. Additionally, they have a web series that resolves around dating after
college.
Furthermore, they are also targeting a specific demographic which is people of Asian ethnic
backgrounds. This is evident as the name of their production company is “Wong Fu”, Wong is a
common Cantonese surname. On top of this, they have a high amount of cast and crew who are
Asian which further strengthens this.
The content on this channel is of a high production quality, with interesting story ideas with a sense
of realism to them. The reoccurring genres on this channel are drama, comedy and romance. I have
found these films to be well written, which has made the films very entertaining. A common theme
that is seen in the short films they have is realism, this has allowed many of the short films to feel
relatable to the audience.
I have noticed that on their channel a lot of their content is quite repetitive, as they upload many
videos on the same topics which are dating and romance. However, the general reception of the
audience has been positive, implying that they enjoy this content. This is supported by the amount
of views and likes on these videos.
MYM

12. MYM (Million Youth Media) is a UK based YouTube channel, which hosts short films by the youth in
the UK. They currently have 235k subscribers on their channel. They claim that their short films “cut
deep; raising awareness, challenging perceptions and changing mindsets”. Additionally, these short
films are done by young people working with industry professionals.
https://www.youtube.com/user/MillionYouthMedia
Most of their content is written, directed and produced by Fully Focused Productions, who are the
founders of this YouTube channel. The social media for FFP, is the one that is used for this YouTube
channel. Majority of their short films are 6-15 minutes, however there are many that exceed 20
minutes. Additionally, they upload trailers and teasers prior to uploading the short films. This allows
them to get people excited for the short film.
A lot of the short films cover issues that young individuals in the UK will face, and these short films
are in the drama genre to give a realistic feel. Some of the issues that the short films cover are;
family issues, violence, mental health etc.
Their target audience of this channel are young individuals from the ages of 14-20-year-olds. Their
geographic of their audience is national, as the channel covers many issues that happen in the UK.
Additionally, their local audience would be London.
Robert Randall
Robert Randall is a filmmaker with 1.4 million subscribers on his YouTube channel. The content on
the channel consists of a short films and web series', which are uploaded once a month.
https://www.youtube.com/user/randallbc
By looking at the videos on this channel, it's clear to see that the target audience for this channel are
American/Canadian high schoolers. We see this as the videos are set in American/Canadian high
schools, with actors from these countries. Additionally, storylines and various aspects of short films
are also those of what would relate to people from there.
A lot of the content on this channel ranges from 10-20 minutes, however a very high number of
videos have a longer runtime ranging up to 38 minutes. Majority of the videos are produced and
directed by Randall himself, with young actors on the project.
Whilst looking at short film channels, I had come across a common occurrence. Many of the short
film channels were based in India and created content for Indians and people who spoke Hindi as
well as the other common languages in the country. Some of these channels have a big following, an
example is Pocket Film India, who have 2 million subscribers.
By looking at these channels, it shows that there are a lot of Indians interested in short films,
additionally this may suggest that there is a gap of short films with Indians or in Hindi. Knowing this
information, I could get a diverse cast, which would attract some of their audience, into watching my
short film and be invested into any future content.
https://www.youtube.com/user/LargeShortFilms
https://www.youtube.com/user/1takemedia