The document analyzes four short films based on their cinematography, sound, editing, and mise-en-scene. It summarizes each film's key features for these elements. Film 1, "Slip of the Tongue," uses close-ups and cuts to convey a story told through a narrator. Film 2, "Black Hole," builds tension with office setting and sounds as a man discovers a mysterious paper. Film 3, "December," takes the perspective of a cut-down Christmas tree through shaky camera work and ambient noise. Film 4, "Happy Sushi," creates an ominous tone with music and cuts while a matchbox helps a man in a restaurant.

1. Short Film Analysis
I analysed 4 short films, making note of their micro features, these where:
1. Cinematography
2. Sound
3. Mis en Scene
4. Editing
Film 1: Slip of the Tongue
Overview:
Slip of the Tongue is set at a bus stop and features male and female protagonists. It is about the
social interaction between a male who is drawn to a female by physical attraction and her responses
to his advances. But on a deeper level it is about the strength shown from both females and an
ethnic minority.
Cinematography:
The variety of shots used in Slip of the Tongue such as the establishing shot at the beginning which
tells us where about the scene is going to take place and the many close ups on the male and the
female which capture their facial expressions as the scene goes on. After every time the narrator
states something from the boy’s perspective a close up of the girls face is used to shows her reaction
to his previous statement.
Sound
A narrator is constant in the background of this piece and the pace of the poetry that is used conveys
the overall tone of the piece. The narration relates entirely to the cinematography and the action we
see on the screen is paired up with the description given from the narrator, allowing the audience to
fully understand the message of the short film both through audio and visual mediums.
Editing:
This piece constantly uses fast cuts throughout the entire film especially at times where the pace of
the narrated poetry or the action on the screen is moving quickly. These cuts exaggerate this feeling
of speed and urgency as they are matched to the narration which in turn engages the audiences and
holds their attention to the action unfolding.
Mis en Scene
In the piece the Mis en scene is kept fairly simplistic, with the majority of action taking place
underneath the bus stop (possibly used so that the audience focus on the dialogue and the actors
not the set) and the camera except when going to flashbacks rarely moves from inside the bus stop.
The actors costume is fairly simplistic, I think perhaps not too impose on the importance on the
context of the film.
Film 2 Black hole

2. Overview:
Black hole is about an office work in his office who finds a piece of paper whilst photocopying that is
a black hole. The clip shows the process by which he learns about the papers abilities and how he
can use it potentially to his advantage. The clip only features one character this is the man who
discovers the black hole.
Cinematography:
This clip uses an initial medium shot and pan of the man and the photocopier to establish the scene
and the areas of the Mis en Scene that will be particular important as the clip unfolds. The pan
enables the camera to capture the office as the setting and establishes this to the audience. As the
clip continues several close ups are used to capture the man’s facial expressions e.g. when he is
eating the snickers bar and looking inquisitively at the paper.
Sound
The use of suspense building beeping sound in the background, from the photocopier that is
constant through most of the clip is used to build tension, as we as an audience are unsure what the
black hole may lead to and what consequences it may lead to for the man. As his hand gets closer to
the black hole the sound levels escalate telling the audience of the sinister nature of this black hole.
Editing:
This clip uses long to medium length takes in order to allow for the narrative to unfold at the
beginning of the clip but then as the clip went on and the tension levels started to increase as the
situation became more serious (with the man stealing money), the cuts in frequency and takes
became shorter allowing for this tension to be amplified.
Mis en Scene
The Mis en Scene in this clip its again quite simplistic with a simple grey colour based office scene
potentially connoting a lack of ambition or a dull feeling or perhaps a more sinister feeling one of
danger and mystery. This bland colour therefore does not draw any attention away from the central
action that is taking place and although the man’s initial facial expression and body language is
negative it is important that the attention is not drawn away from him as this will soon change. This
change is of vital importance to the scene.
Film 3: December
Overview:
Decembers is a short about a Christmas tree played out like a murder and you as the audience take
the perspective of the tree that has been cut down. You are chopped down and taken to a person’s
house where you are cut up further and then you later take the perspective of a Christmas tree on
Christmas morning, with the man who chopped you up down is standing in front of you possibly as
the father of the children.
Cinematography:

3. A hand held camera is used throughout to give a more realistic perspective as it is meant to be
filmed through the eyes of the tree and therefore the shaky effect that the handy cam is highly
appropriate for this clip. A low angle shot is used constantly throughout the clip to enable us to
capture the feeling of being on the ground and being dragged from above.
Sound
The initial rustling sound of feet gives the feeling of an approaching person, swiftly followed by the
hack of the sword suddenly makes the audience jump as these binary opposite sounds cause a
reaction from the watcher. This is followed by further rustling sounds and sounds from moving the
body along the floor; these sounds with no music accompanying make the experience feel more
realistic thus adding to the eerie atmosphere created. This trend continues throughout the clip with
the sound of the chainsaw, children shouting etc. adding more and more to the creepy atmosphere
created throughout.
Editing:
A Long take is used at the start this clip, this allows us as the audience to really feel like we are being
attacked and that someone is approaching in real time. However once chopped down the cuts
increase in pace and are rough a jagged cuts showing the rough journey in the back of the truck
again another way of adding realism to the clip.
Mis en Scene
The forest setting is initially a stereotypically creepy setting for a murder to take place but the later
setting of the house with children (supposedly a warm loving environment) adds largely to the cold
feeling of the clip as these are opposing locations for a creepy setting however because they both
have some relevance to the murder which we are made to believe has occurred this adds equally to
feeling of discomfort with the audience. Plus the use of low key lighting throughout until the
Christmas day scene where high key lighting is introduced really enforces the change of scenery even
though the feel of the scene is much the same eerie one.
Film 4: Happy Sushi
Overview:
Happy Sushi is about a man sitting in a restaurant who has ordered food but who has a wobbly table,
he uses a match stick box to prop up the table, but it slips out and the table continues to wobble, the
match stick box keeps appearing to be moving away on its own. The man leans down to check the
box and it is open and the match sticks are swearing at him as he is leant down once more the chef’s
knife slips from his hands and hits the wall above the leaning man’s head, he is save by the match
box which has ‘You’re Welcome’ written on the back of it.
Cinematography:
In this sequence a medium shot is used initially to show that the focus of the clip was going to be
something to do with the man and the table. This is then followed up by wide angle shot which
shows both the man and the woman (someone else in the restaurant) and the waiter and chef. This

4. allows the scene to be set more clearly and other characters to be introduced). The many later close
ups on the match box and the man show the evolution in their relationship as the clip goes on.
Sound
In the background of this scene oriental esc music can be heard (diagetic) and the dialogue of the
two employees can also be heard (also diagetic). This music has a cold and eerie tone adds realism to
it this builds the tension within the scene and although the action on the screen doesn’t suggest that
something dramatic may occur this music tells us as an audience that something may occur soon.
Editing:
The fast and frequent cuts in the scene aid the music in creating this tension because they are
opposing, also to the pace of the action however this suggestion that seething may be to come is
what gains the audience’s attention. A later shot reverse shot is introduced between both the man
and the woman and the man and the chef, these are used to show the characters reactions to one
another at different times in the scene.
Mis en Scene
Within this clip few props are used but a few a key the mobile phone in the man’s hand is used to
create a distraction within the audience as it is not relevant at the end but it draws their initial focus
to the man and holds it there. Another key prop is the match box with happy sushi on it as this is the
prop that the whole clip revolves around. Its clever positioning on the table next to the man means
that it isn’t the immediate focus but rather attention is drawn to it later on.