The short film uses effective cinematography and editing techniques to tell a science fiction story. Medium shots are used throughout to show both the protagonist and the environment as she explores the room she finds herself in. Close-ups express her emotions. Long shots establish a sense of isolation. A tracking shot at the end reveals her attempted escape was an illusion. The dark color scheme and advanced technology portrayed are conventions of the science fiction genre. The narrative follows a linear three-act structure as the protagonist first discovers her locked room, then attempts escape, only to find it was not possible.

1. Short FilmAnalysis
Portal: NoEscape
Name:Adam
Grundy
My Analysis Supporting Images
Cinematography
& Camera
Techniques
The cinematographythatwaschosenfor thisfilm can
be recogniseddue tothe genre of the film.Since this
short filmcomesunderthe genre of science fiction
that meansyouwouldexpecttosee cinematography
that bestrepresentsthe science fictionatbest.The
mostnotable style of shotwouldbe the mediumshot
as thisis usedmostcommonlythroughoutthe filmas
we followthisprotagonist;thisallowsthe viewerto
experience boththe protagonistandthe background
as she wandersroundthe room unknowinghowshe
arrived.Ibelieve thisshotwasusedspecifically
because it’sneithertoofaror too close tothe subject
so byan usinga mediumshotitgivesacomfortable
viewingexperience forthe viewer.Thoughthisdoes
allowusto see the characters expressionsasshe
looksroundthe room,witha close upthe viewer
wouldnotbe able to see whatthe character is
lookingatso witha mediumshotwe see boththe
protagonistandthe setting.The establishingshotwas
not actuallythe firstshotused,thoughthisshotdoes
establishthe viewerandthe characterintothe
surroundingsandtellsthe audience thatthisiswhere
the filmslocationtakesplace.The nextshotisthe use
of close upsandextreme close upswhichwere use
specificallytoexpressthe protagonistsemotions,
witha mediumshotthe audience wouldnotbe able
to fullysee the charactersfacial reactionsandtheir
emotions,itisgoodforsceneswhere the protagonist
isthinkingtotheirselves. The directorhaseffectively
chosenthese shots torepresentthe mood.Next is

2. Short FilmAnalysis
the longshot whichwasusedquite frequently
throughoutthe film,thisisaneffectivewayto
establishthe viewerintothe scene andIalsobelieve
thisan effectivewayonportrayingthe sense of
isolationforthe protagonistasshe hasbeenleft
alone inthisroom byherself andisunsure howto get
out.Lastly isthe use of a trackingshot whichwas
usedmosteffectivelyonthe final scenewiththe
protagonist.The use of thistrackingshot breaksthe
illusiontothe audience asfrombehinditappearsto
be freedomforthe protagonistbutas the camera
tracks we are finallymade aware thatitwas justan
illusionof escaping.
Colour Scheme The colour scheme whichispresentwithinthisshort
filmhasadapteda dark feelingtothe filmwithmost
of the shotshavinga dark touchto them.I believe
that waschosenspecificallyforthe beginningasit
showsthe audience the protagonistisfeelinglostand
distraught,alightcolourscheme wouldhave not
workedeffectivelyinrepresentingthe characters
feelingshoweverthe darkcolourscheme does.
Genre
Conventions
As thisfilmcomesunderthe science fictiongenre,
youwouldexpecttosee technologywhichismore
advancedthanthe technologyinmoderntimes.For
example,inthe filmwe seethe advancements in
technologywiththe use of a Portal gunand
holographicimageryonwalls,theseare formsof
technologywhichare notavailable intoday’ssociety.
Withscience fiction,the possibilitiesare endlessin
beingable tocreate newtechnologies,itenables the
directorto implementnewandinterestingideasinto
the plot.The cinematographythatyouwouldexpect

3. Short FilmAnalysis
to see iswhat wouldshowoff thisnewtechnologyis
the use of a close ups,thismeansthe directorisable
to showto the audience thisnewtechnologythat
theyhave introduced,thisemphasisesthe
importance tothe plot.In formof the settingof the
plotusuallyrevolvesaroundanalternate timeline,
thisisusuallydue tothe advancementsintechnology,
thisissomethingyouwouldnotsee inour reality.
Thisis usuallysupportedwiththe addition of
futuristicsettingslike space anddistantplanets.
Lastlyis the narrative elementof the story,usually
science fictionfilmsrevolve aroundthe storyof good
versusevil,andthiscanbe distinguishedwithinthe
filmwithmaincharacterrepresentinggoodandmen
withinthe buildingwhoare keepingherhostage are
representingevil.
Narrative The narrative has beenpresentedwithinthisfilmis
seenina linearstructure asI believe thisisallowsthe
directorto expresstheircreativevision effectively
withoutmakingthe confusingthe audience.Usingthe
three act structure,I will be able toanalyse the
narrative structure of the filmandhow the storyis
presentedtothe audience.The first actwhichisthe
introductionintroducesthe audience tothe plotand
the maincharacters alongwiththe location,for
example inthe firstscene we meetourmute
protagonistalongwiththe roomshe islockedin
whichimposesthe questiontothe audience onwhy
has she beenlockedinthisroom.Throughthisact,
the protagonistnoticesaway of escape andtherefore
starts to planon howshe will escape thoughthisis
keptsecretfromthe camera in orderto notraise
suspicion. The secondactis the confrontationin

4. Short FilmAnalysis
whichthe protagonistattemptstoescape withthe
use of the portal gun,here the audience alongwith
the protagonistare introducedtothe antagonists
(guardsmen) andtherefore the conflictbeginsin
whichshe attemptstofighther wayout.The
conclusiontothe storyI believe waspresented
effectivelyandkeptthe audience insuspense tothe
final momentsinwhichthe protagonistrealisesshe is
unable toescape as itis justan illusion.
Editing
Techniques
Many editingtechniquesare presentwithinthisfilm,
one mainexample wouldbe the use of visual effects
towardsthe end,for example the use of the portal
gun whichallowsthe protagonisttoteleportfrom
one locationtoanotherby placingportalsonsurfaces
and walkingthroughthem.Anothereditionof visual
effectscanbe seentowardsthe endwiththe wall
whichwasusedto fool the protagonistintothinking
that theyhad escapedhoweverIbelieve thiswas
achievedwiththe use of greenscreeningand
Computergeneratedimagerywithwhatisportrayed
behindthe wall.Ithinkthisjustbecause the
presentationdoesnotappeartobe as realisticas
seenfromthe beginningandtherefore makesme
thinkvisual effects.
Title Credit Design The title creditsonlyappearat the veryendof the
filmwiththe endcredits,sothismeansthere would
onlybe a single fontchosenwhichwouldnotbreak
the consistencyof the font,usingmultiple fonts
wouldseemunprofessionalforashort filmof this
lengthsothat iswhythe directorhasstuck to the one
font.Thisfontworkseffectivelyforportrayinga
science fictiongenre asIbelievethe fonttoappear
futuristicandfitswell inthe science fictiongenre,I

5. Short FilmAnalysis
alsobelieveitfitsthe science fictiongenre well due to
itssimplicity.