SYNOPSIS OF THE FILM AND THE EXTRACT I HAVE CHOSEN
I have chosen an extract which focuses on the mind of a schizophrenic patient. The fact that there is a plot twist where the female doctor turns out to be a part of the voices in his head emphasizes that although a patient might seem better/healthy, people avoid the fact that not everything might be as how it seems, especially between the lines of mental illnesses. This psychological fact is proves as the majority of the audience would have believed that the woman is a very good doctor.
HOW ARE THE CHARACTERS REPRESENTED?
The extract is introduced through two workers who seem to be unsympathetic towards the patient since the only words they say to him are an imperative which orders him to stand up.
Then the narrator is shown very small through a bird eye, which shows that he is vulnerable. The fact that one of the health workers has to pick him up shows his lack of willingness to do anything, which suggests that he might be held in that little dark room against his will. The fact that he is being held in a little room and needs assistance to go to his destination show that he is a mentally ill patient, as if he was to be a criminal he would have been portrayed differently. His face expression remains neutral and he is shown exhausted until the voices in his head kick in and start to control his speech and reactions.
The characters which are in his head are introduced to the audience while he is walking in the corridor with a lot of mixed voices, which indicate how messed up his head is when they are around. In the doctors office all the characters are represented with different personalities indicated through their appearance, e.g. the little child or the muscular man, and their speech, e.g. the character which claimed everyone to be part of the state and work against the citizens.
The female doctor is portrayed as a serious individual which helps making the audience think she really is the doctor. However, when the real doctor is introduced, it is obvious that she is imaginary as well, since the patient and his voices are shown in a grey-ish and colorless way, while the real doctor is shown in the most color. Also his way of moving and speaking are more realistic, professional and seem more natural.
USE OF CAMERA
As said earlier, the short film introduces the narrator in the first bird-eye view shot which indicates how little the main character feels and is seen by the doctors. Also it shows what kind of room he finds himself in, which helps the audience understand immediately that the narrator is a patient in a mental hospital.
At 0:37 there is a wide shot where the corridor can be seen. Here is shown how dark of a place the hospital is. This indicates the depression the patient goes through. The walk through the corridor introduces the audience to the voices the narrator has in his head. The fact that the camera shifts from left to right benefits the film makers since they only need one continueing shot.
The fact that the camera turns around the female doctor at 1:10 shows that she is seen as a protagonist and the focus is on her. However, since the patient and all other voices their appearance and gestures are introduced at the same time on screen, the audience will be focussed on the doctors voice but look at the voices. This technique benefits from the fact that the audience will stay interested while the speaker sits still and there is still action going on.
In the same scene there are a lot of wide shots used which show the location which is a dirty, old, doctor room. Again this shows the environment the patient has to beare.
However, the wide shot at 1:44 is used to show positions of the characters. There is for example seen that the patient is tied to the chair, which could not be seen fore. This suggests again forms of enjailment. Also the windows are seen in this shot, where is seen that it is bright and green outside. This suggests that, again, the hospital is more like a jail than a mental institution. Grey and colourless compared to the outside world.
The over the shoulder shot at 2:04 is cleverly used to show what character controlles the patient at that time.
The several close ups of the doctor, for example at 2:10, show the changing facial expressions of the doctor.
The low angle shot at 2:48 is personally one of my favourite moments of this short film since it shows how he feels like the walls are coming upon him. Also, since the voices are in his head, the characters look imaginative at this point as he is trying to speak for himself.
Towards the end of the extract, over the shoulder shots during conversation are used for the first time, since it is the first time that they are speaking to eeach other
Finally, the last shot is a low angle shot. However, this one is different since it shows the dominance of the doctor over the patient, which is in my opinion brilliantly done since she looks superior and big.
USE OF EDITING
The first thing that is noticeable is the slow cutting rate. This indicates the seriousness of the situation in the movie, also allows the audience to concentrate on the location, scene and characters. However, when a aggressive character starts to speak, the cutting rate speeds up, and when a woman or a child starts to speak it slows down. This is due to the mood that is around at that moment. Also when a lot of voices are speaking at the same time the cutting rate speeds up drastically, which suggests chaos and confusement. An example is the scene at 2:50.
Shot reverse shot is used when Daniel is speaking to the female doctor. This shows their conversation and focusses the attention on the two trying to speak, although there are a lot of other characters trying to mix in the conversation
USE OF SOUND
Both diegetic and non diegetic sound is used. The short film starts with a horror sound which tells the audience immediately that it is a controversial and depressing film. The fact that the sound fades to another tone which is softer while the camera starts at blurred and becomes focussed mixes perfectly. However, when Daniel is standing up the sound becomes louder and an echo of children noises starts to fade in. The audience understands immediately that other people are going to be involved. Also this gives it a scary effect.
A similar technique is used in the Titanic where Rose and Jack are trying to escape out of the dark corridors full of water. Since the scene is dark and scary with lights going on and off, it creates a scary tension. Sounds of lights and electricity are heard at 0:50 to draw the audience's attention to the broken lights.
The non-diegetic voice over at 0:58 where is said that Daniel suffers from a multiple personality disorder gives the audience context about the short film. Immediately the characters are introduced by the camera but also by non-diegetic sound of rumbling and mixed speech. However, since it is all done voice-over and no one is shown talking, it is clear that they are the personalities he is overpowered by.
At 2:48 there starts a horror sound again where he remembers the first letter of his name. This draws attention to the scene as an important thing is said and there has started to be a turning point where the patient feels different than before and is not in control anymore.
Around 3:00 the music starts to become louder as the characters are speaking, again creating tension. However, when the doctor stands up while putting her hands on the table, there is a last bell sound echoing and the music stops. After this, the scene is quiet and the audience will draw more attention as something important is being said.
USE OF EDITING
The first thing that is noticeable is the slow cutting rate. This indicates the seriousness of the situation in the movie, also allows the audience to concentrate on the location, scene and characters. However, when a aggressive character starts to speak, the cutting rate speeds up, and when a woman or a child starts to speak it slows down. This is due to the mood that is around at that moment. Also when a lot of voices are speaking at the same time the cutting rate speeds up drastically, which suggests chaos and confusement. An example is the scene at 2:50.
Shot reverse shot is used when Daniel is speaking to the female doctor. This shows their conversation and focusses the attention on the two trying to speak, although there are a lot of other characters trying to mix in the conversation
USE OF SOUND
Both diegetic and non diegetic sound is used. The short film starts with a horror sound which tells the audience immediately that it is a controversial and depressing film. The fact that the sound fades to another tone which is softer while the camera starts at blurred and becomes focussed mixes perfectly. However, when Daniel is standing up the sound becomes louder and an echo of children noises starts to fade in. The audience understands immediately that other people are going to be involved. Also this gives it a scary effect.
A similar technique is used in the Titanic where Rose and Jack are trying to escape out of the dark corridors full of water. Since the scene is dark and scary with lights going on and off, it creates a scary tension. Sounds of lights and electricity are heard at 0:50 to draw the audience's attention to the broken lights.
The non-diegetic voice over at 0:58 where is said that Daniel suffers from a multiple personality disorder gives the audience context about the short film. Immediately the characters are introduced by the camera but also by non-diegetic sound of rumbling and mixed speech. However, since it is all done voice-over and no one is shown talking, it is clear that they are the personalities he is overpowered by.
At 2:48 there starts a horror sound again where he remembers the first letter of his name. This draws attention to the scene as an important thing is said and there has started to be a turning point where the patient feels different than before and is not in control anymore.
Around 3:00 the music starts to become louder as the characters are speaking, again creating tension. However, when the doctor stands up while putting her hands on the table, there is a last bell sound echoing and the music stops. After this, the scene is quiet and the audience will draw more attention as something important is being said.
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