Short Film Analysis

1. SHORT FILM ANALSIS
WHAT’S VIRGIN MEAN?

2. 
This short film ‘What’s virgin mean’ is regarded as a comedy
genre. The plot of this short film is about mother and a
daughter who are having a conversation however there is
slight twist the storyline as the young girl is asking her
mother a really awkward and embarrassing question hence
the title ‘What does a virgin mean’.

The film stars Kate Issit as the mother and Rebecca Duff, s
this short film is 2 minutes and 34 seconds long focusing on
the conversation asked by the daughter. In the film we can
see that the mother is trying to figure out a way to tell her
daughter

3. 
The film starts of by showing close up sots of both mother and
daughter doing there own thing, while the mother is cooking the
daughter is sitting at table and drawing a rainbow. However
even though this is stereotypical the director has done this
purposely to remind the audience of the relationship and age
gap.

The setting creates a warm atmosphere feeling for the audience
as they can relate to it, through the shots of the mum cooking
shows she is a loving, maternal parent figure. The extreme
close up allows the audience to the see young girl as innocent.

The director has worked with the camera person making sure
there is close ups of both characters showing what they are
doing and also the facial expressions emphasising the
relationship between mother and daughter.

4. 
The lighting in the scene are shown to be pleasant and happy,
in the background we can hear diegetic music being played by
the radio adding to the mood in the scene. However the mood
in the scene is changed quickly due to the young girl asking her
mother ‘What’s virgin mean’. The music slowly begins to fade
away and the mother is shown to be in a awkward position
where she has to answer this question.

The mother is shown to be in this position by a close up
showing her reaction to her daughters question. At the same
time she has been forced to answer this question that her
daughter has asked , how she answers back is shown through
her facial expressions struggling to give an answer.

The mother is shown to be thinking carefully about how to
answer this question as the answer she may give can corrupt
her daughters childlike, innocent mind.

5. 
‘What is a virgin’ is a question you would not expect a small
child to ask however this leaves the audience feeling just as
awkward as the mother but still finding it funny allowing the
humour kick in.

The music which becomes faded out begins to add to the
awkward moment of the mother and audience therefore
allowing this short film to become a comedy.

Non – diegetic music begins to kick in as the mother begins
to answer then becomes fast paced adding to the
embarrassing position the mother is in explaining what her
daughter has asked ‘What is a virgin’ beginning to talk about
sexual intercourse.

6. 
Several two shots are used showing the relationship
between mother and daughter. Close ups are also used
showing the facial expressions of the mother attempting to
answer her daughters question.

The mother isn't aware of her actions as she becomes to in
to it by playing with props such as the green vegetables, and
using the bowl allowing her to become fierce while she is
talking.

However this contributes to the situation becoming funny for
the audience to laugh at.

7. 
Symbolism is used within many short films including this one.
When the mother is trying to explain how to make a baby it
involves the mother holding a vegetable which can possibly
be seen as sexual symbolism therefore only adults will
answer this allowing it to be funny to the audience.

Another sexual symbolism being present is when the mother
is whisking a cake mixture in a bowl and becoming carried
away in explaining the terms of how to make a baby. Yet
again here the audience will understand this concept and
find it humorous. Also known as iconography.

8. 
While the mother tries to explain the concept of how babies
are made she gets carried away what she talking and
becomes too involved.

We begin to hear non – diegetc music to show this, the
music is fast paced relating to the mothers emotions to the
audience. The witty music being played and heard fits in well
the comedy genre as it is a typical convention.

The director decides to cut to the scene of the daughters
reaction of what her mother is saying. This expressions
shows she has no idea what her mother is talking about is
confused which shows her child like mind is preserved.

9. 
Towards the ending there is a mix up to the question. The
mother has answered the wrong questions which elaborates
on the humour being seen and heard.

The daughter was looking at the virgin oil bottle which is
directly in front of her which is why she asked her mother
‘What’s virgin mean’, the actual question was extra virgin’
This shows the highlight of the film allowing the audience to
find it hysterical.

10. 
In this scene there is a shot of the mother slowly turning her
head in shame and even more embarrassment after what
she has heard.

The director has used a high angle shot showing the
audience her daughters perspective which is small. The
music being heard has changed to a more upbeat and fast
tempo music linking with the comedy genre.

11. 
After the mother has turned around in embarrassment the
film ends with credits showing the audience who was
involved in the production and names of the actors.

The title is shown for the first time to the audience as it
allows them to grasp the short film more and lastly the title is
in font which looks like to be written by a child connoting to
the comedy genre being explored.