Still Frame Analysis

Identity by KJ Adames

The eye-line match allows us to see the school corridors through the protagonist’s eyes. It is a stereotypical group of ‘popular’ girls who are mimicking the poster.

The mask is a very important prop in this short film. It separates individualism from the majority culture.

The protagonist’s mask differs from all the other masks as although it’s white, it has colourful decorations on it, as well as butterflies stuck to each side of the mask; this is important as we can see each character’s personality through their masks, and the audience immediately notices that the protagonist differs from the rest of the crowd. This is shown through a long shot. The poster states "This is what beautiful looks like" this highlights that the girls want to fit in with society and not experience their own individuality because society has hypnotised them into thinking this is the only way forward in life.

The director also uses a POV shot to make it look as if the audience is part of the "popular people" and we fit in with society's expectations.

The protagonist gives us an impression that she is trapped; the girl’s eyes give us an idea that she is not happy, which is also complimented by her mask, which is different to all the other masks, which suggests that she is different from everybody else in the school as every one is wearing plain masks however hers is the complete opposite. Hers is detailed and shows emotions. The white colour from the mask connotes with innocence and purity, however in this image it looks like the complete opposite, the image makes it seem as though she is rebellious or may signify perfection within her inner beauty. That may have been the reason why she felt as though she was able to break the rules and take off the mask.

She is known to be the odd one out everywhere she goes as you can see from the image that everyone is a part of a clique and she is more of the outcast in her class.

In this last image we can see that the protagonist has taken of her mask, this is shown through an aerial shot. This can signify her being set free. The director used a rule of thirds to portray the importance of the characters. This shows that all the character are on the same level because you can see every clearly.

The mise-en scene of the facial expressions from the other people in the school looks confused and stunned at the fact that she has gone against rules by taking off her mask. Although this may portray that the female protagonist has been set free from society's belief it can also highlight that she is breaking what the law has set. The image also shows how society puts people in groups depending on the way you look. The main protagonist clearly does not fit within society's expectations so she decided to be different an go against the rules only so that she is not an outcast anymore.

By Lois Kwakye

Room 8 by James W. Griffiths

As you can see from this image, there are two middle aged men within the focus. The director uses a medium long shot and two shot to show their isolation but also to show to show their position. The man on the left is new and just got put into the cell so he is trying to adjust to his new environment by touching and finding things which may interest him. You can see that he found a red box. The mise- en- scene of the red box seems to be the only thing making the room alights. It adds colour, which may signify the importance of the box within the movie. The colour red may connote with danger as well as power and determination. The box helps give a hint to the audience what the movie is about, and that the man is determined to leave the cell in which the main prop (the box) comes in handy.

Also the mise-en-scene of the two men and their body languages shows the audience the way in which both protagonists are thinking. The young man has a serious look on his face and his hand gesture is positioned in a way in which it looks like he has a plan. Whereas the older man that is isolated in the corner, have his shoulders shrugged forward to highlight that he has given up in life.

This is a medium shot of the male protagonist reaching out towards a large hand, whiles the other hand is in the box. This is because he was testing to see whether the box was magical, because it seemed as though he was testing whether or not he was able to escape. Also the large hand can signify God because it suggests that someone who is above is willing to give him a hand. The medium shot which shows the enlarged hand enotes Christianity. It also can signify death because the hand reaching out can signify his body being left to die in the cell however, his soul is being taken up to heaven. The box that he is holding is a smaller version of reality, and him putting his hand in it is a smaller version of the enlarged hand.

By Lois Kwakye

Within this still frame, there was the use of low-key lighting. This is effective to the audience member as it conveys how isolated and alone this character is.

Through the Mise-en-scene of lighting, the only light we are seeing is the light behind the isolated character. The use of low- key lighting within this scene gives off a retrained sense within this character. The low-key lighting has accentuated the contours of the character, which has heightened the sense of alienation within this character, felt by the viewer.

The use of a low angled shot, psychologically, has the effect that it makes the subject look strong and powerful. However through the use of low-key lighting the subject within this still frame counteracts this idea of being powerful.

There was the use of low-key-lighting which has a lot of contrast compared to a High-key lighting shot. The effectiveness of the low-key lighting shows contrast from light to dark, with the primary impact coming from the shadows.

The quality of the light is soft, therefore it has a lighter, diffused shadows. This enhances the characters facial expressions which gives the audience a clear view on how the character is feeling.

By Renae West

Last Man On Earth l COFILMIC 2013

The whole background is out of focus; this could have represented his solitude and reinforces the fact that he had the idea that he was the last man on earth.

The left side of the frame is also filled with more ambient light than the right side. This could be used to signify the fact that he did still have hope and that he didn’t have to kill himself. The positioning of the poison, done through mise en scene and use of props shows the path he took which was the wrong one. This idea of the wrong decision is reinforced by the fact that the side of frame they were positioned in was dark the lack of light maybe used to covey the idea of hopelessness and death.

The bottle is positioned in the intersection of the rule of thirds. This draws attention from the viewing audience, this could be because that is what he used to end his life instead of waiting to find out that he was in fact not the last man on earth.

The extreme long shot is used. This is used to show the location, and how empty and dull it looked. This was reinforced with the use of lighting. Ambient lighting is used which makes it look dull miserable and lifeless, reinforcing the idea that he was the last man on earth.

The phone is positioned in the centre of the frame. This may have been done to demonstrate that his phone was the mans most valuable tool, however because it was not in the intersection of the rule of this it wasn’t on his mind and he didn’t think to make a few calls. It also adds an element of humour to the scene because the phone rang seconds after he made the decisions to kill himself, proving that he was not in fact the last man on earth.

The characters positioning also reinforces the idea of solitude. He is positioned so far back in the frame which makes him look small and insignificant compared to all the objects in the frame. This could highlight to the reader the actual scale of the mans situation, having the whole world to himself.

By Jean Rwamihigo

This use of low-key lighting creates a shadow, which signifies dark, deep tension, which is then strengthened by use of the colour green in the spotlight. Green represents enviously, bitterness, which could obviously hint that perhaps the woman in black is feeling one of them.

The woman is wearing a traditional Victorian style dress in the colour black.

Black represents death, evilness and mystery.

Mystery is associated with fear, which could be what the Close up of the young girl could be feeling.

The fact that an extreme shot was used to show the scenery of the house and the lady in the back mixed with the medium close up of the girl shows what the main focus is (the girl) is a good coloration.

Moreover, the young girl is holding a small dolly baby, which reinforces the youthfulness of the young girl and shows her passiveness. However the ‘doll’ baby doesn’t look like a ‘toy’ from the 21st century, which again shows that this short film may be placed on another time era.

The medium close up of the girl shows her sucking her thumb.

This shows to us that the girl is still young, and sucking her thumb is her comfort.
Perhaps comfort from the women in black in the background.

The props and layout in the house is shown from an extreme long shot and majority of the props are large for example the door. This again emphasises the Victorian theme.

'Suckablood' by bloody cut films

By Tyanna Nelson

In this shot, deep within the medium tones, lighting is used to possibly show fear. Moreover in films, lighting is there to represent someone malicious which could be why its shown in this establishing shot.

The tree’s in this extreme long shot looks like daggers.

Daggers convey power and danger and perhaps the trees are used indirectly as a warning sign of danger.

This is an establishing shot of what it seems to be the outside of a castle and a gate surrounding it.

Due to the deep blacks and deeper tones created by the low-key lighting connotes a secretive feel that perhaps the castle is haunted. Which due to the huge black gates around the castle, which makes the shot look cagey.

By Tyanna Nelson

'Guilt' by Marc-Sarria

In this Long Shot there is a silhouette of a male in the centre of a car park.

The use of the dull/grey low-key lighting displays a secretive, shadowy atmosphere, which makes viewers feel on edge.

This long shot shows that the male is isolated as it’s just him and what seem to be two objects in his hands, which signifies that he may have a motive, perhaps meeting someone.

Due to the horizontal shadows on the ground, it makes the car park look longer but the fact that the character is at the front of shots.

The numbers on the wall in the car park remind me of a jail of the different cellblocks due to the big, bold printed numbers which reinforces his isolation (imprisonment)

By Tyanna Nelson

This still frame conveys a gloomy, sinister atmosphere straight away due to majority of the shot being black. The colour black represents mystery and is associated with fear and the unknown. The black figure of what seems to be a young girl reinforces the connation which black represents of the ‘unknown’ as you can only see the silhouette of the person not any other detail.

In addition to that, the shadow of the person also reinforces the mysterious feel as well as giving of the impression that the shadow is foreshadowing the person as it seems larger that the character, meaning that it’s perhaps showing the darker side of the person.

The positioning of the figure is in a low angle shot, which represents that the character has a sense of importance. Along with that, the brighter light behind the character shows contrasting forces, for example the darkness shows evil and the light shows hope.

By Tyanna Nelson

We created a still frame analysis to show to the audience that we can analyse in depth still images and still pick out the deeper meaning behind the image. (Lois, Jean, Renae and Tyanna)