Analysis of short films - "Gravity"

"Gravity" is a short film that addresses and highlights the dangers of guns and the damaging effects it can have on the youth of today and innocent peoples lives.

Here is a link to the short film "Gravity" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Eak_lmYEps

Analysis

Point of view shots give the feelings and emotions of the characters. The angles of the gun in the film really showcases and emphasises the power of it.

 The fact that the audience doesn't see the child's face at the beginning of the film because his identity isn't prominent at that time and there is little footage of the boy throughout the duration of the film, makes it all the more shocking when the ending is established as it is so unexpected and the audience don't see it coming. The many close and simplistic shots throughout the film suggests it was made with a low budget.

 The shot with the mother hanging the washing on the balcony is putting forward a comment of a typical inner-city area with a harsh reality behind it.

The crane shots are effective as they show the landscape that has been effected by the use of the gun.

 The dark and dingy setting gives a scumy and depressing feel about the whole film.

Tension is built with the same sky background throughout as the audience don'y understand why it's so important on their first viewing.








The diagetic squeaking sound at the beginning isn't a initially positive sound, it is quite a haunting sound and when the swing comes into the frame a great feeling of poverty is felt. No non-diagetic sound makes the film very prominent as it makes everything feel a lot harsher. Throughout the film many of the sounds are for the audience to envisage as the sounds are highly reliant on peoples imagination, a great deal of tension is built through this. The laughing of the youths at the end of the film when there is a shot of just the sky gives the audience an horrific feel as the harrowing reality of what has just happened sinks in. Sound effects of the boy are important when he is holding the gun outside, as his level of maturity is highlighted along with his misunderstanding of how dangerous guns actually are.

The narrative is built through the shots used, in the first minute all the main characters have been introduced, the quick shots and cut backs show that the film is straight to the point. The roughness of the area gives a look of a poverty stricken, urbanised area, full of gangs on a estate, this has a high impact and is stereotypical for an inner-city area. There are two narratives, that of the youths and that of the younger children, the constant editing back and forth between them builds up the story and setting for the audience, there are stark contrasts between the two groups, the youth scenes are full of action whereas the children's scenes reflect peace and innocence. There is a major escalation in the underground den as suspense gets built up throughout that scene after the gun is introduced. When "Ben" begins to breath heavy it is a sign to the audience that things are getting out of control.