Short Film Analysis: The Black Hole

In order to analyse the short film, 'The Black Hole' I have constructed a talking head presentation in the form of a video. Below is the embedded article and a written copy of the analysis undertaken.
Link to original short film

Directed by Philip Sansom and Olly Willams, the 2008 short, The Black Hole, the featurette has numerous conventions in which I wish to adapt for my own piece. The narrative involves a bored office worker who appears to be on a early or very late shift. When photocopying he discovers a page with a dark hole which, after experimenting acts as an interactive gateway to anything the piece of paper is placed next to. Enriched with this new power the man experiments, with dire consequences.

Throughout the short, the use of mise-en-scene is highly effective and portrays the feeling, at the beginning of the piece, of total boredom. The location in which the film takes place, appears to be a typical office work place, complete with conventional props, such as telephones, desk lamps ect. This enables the film to connect with the audience and relate to their lives. Personally I feel I can also use this method of connecting with the audience. At this stage I plan to use a series of props, which have been prominent in my lead protagonist's life, to draw upon flashbacks. As my product is set in the near future objects from the protagonist's past will be reinvent today and therefore links to the audience.

The use of colour and lighting within the film sets the mood distinctively. Dark, dull characters such as white,grey and black reinforces the boredom the protagonist must be feeling and could be commenting on his loneliness. This idea of solitude is reinforced by the lack of high key lighting, which is only present on the actor. Everything else in frame is cast with low key, dull lighting.

At the very beginning of the short, after the superimposed titling fads away a panning shot reveals the location. By exposing the audience to the entirety of the office before focusing on the character it immediately gives the impression that the protagonist is on his own. Next the film cuts to the buttons on the photocopier which are pressed aggregatively by the character. The immediate and suddenness of the editing gives the impression that the office worker is fed up and perhaps annoyed. As the film progresses the use of editing gives the impression that the protagonist is almost animal like. The mid-shot of him eating a stolen chocolate which changing into a close-up highlights the way the man is eating which some may argue to be untidily and bestial. Furthermore the eye-line match which is constructed when the protagonist thinks of entering the safe room implies a greed which resembles a need for food or essentials which is displayed in animals.

From the very beginning sound is used to reinforce the setting and portray the character's emotions. The amplified digetic sound of the photocopier supporting the office location but also reinforces the repetitive nature of office work. Additionally the sigh of the worker also manages this. Throughout the short the amplification of sound is used frequently. In particular the 'black holes' power is highlighted in this way. When it is first used for the protagonist's own gain the sound of the chocolate bar is un-naturally loud, highlighting the theft. It could be argued that it is hinting of its potential power.