Month: February 2023

Research

We got placed into groups of 4 to analyse a short video. The group im in got a short called mind games.

In my research there is very little information out there about the creation of the short. I have tried to see if it was mentioned or reviewed in any articles but there is nothing. Apart from a now inactive Instagram page that just had some concept art of the characters. There wasn’t anything that was of use. It did appear to be shown at a few small film festivals and won a couple of comedy short awards but there is nothing else to find.

We decided to focus on mise-en-scene as our short film doesn’t have that much to it to analyse as it follows quite classical Hollywood filming conventions.

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/mise-en-scene/

In class then we split mine en scene up and let ourselves decide who wanted to analyse which part. a

As I focused on colour I wanted to look into colour theory a little more.

https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/color-theory

https://filmlifestyle.com/mise-en-scene-elements-color-in-film/

I found the article on colour psychology to be a little more helpful in assigning meaning to each colour.

http://www.arttherapyblog.com/online/color-psychology-psychologica-effects-of-colors/#.ZAnVeC-l3BI

I then took all this research and compiled the parts relevant into this as a rough guide for making the powerpoint.

mind game plans:script

analysis 

I believe that colour was a fundamental aspect to the overall narrative to this short film. From the use of blue greys to highly saturated yellows it tells the story directly to the audience. I think this goes along with the theme of childhood and imagination that is a strong current throughout the piece. I think colour along with the characters round soft design also falls into the childlike wonder the director is trying to invoke.

One part that deviates out of this colour wise to do something more unnatural is during the matrix-esque shot. the stark black void with the neon green creates a slightly unsettling atmosphere and then the jux-a-position back to the short films reality helped with the soft comedic tone.

While the overall message is a little shallow and somewhat juvenile in a way like the classic ‘I am 14 and this is deep’ view of the school system it goes along with the brain’s childish imagination. while I believe my last point was unintentional it does add to the overall experience of creating doubt about how the testing system in school effects people’s ability to be carefree and joyful.

I do feel like the message is somewhat lost because of how it is edited. The match-in-action fade transitions somewhat suggest that what the boy is studying is also fuelling his imagination. This contradicts the message of school harming his ability to be creative and enjoy life. So ultimately it fails in showing how school is harming the boy. It is the kind of short film where you know what it is trying to convey but in the end It fails in that message.

Although the editing is what gives the short film its comedic tone with how it adds text to be like a comic book and the fast quick cuts along with the fade transitions. The films message ends up being lost to the slapstick comedy as it isn’t meant t0 be a huge think piece just a short silly animation which works but when the narrative is analysed it starts to fall apart.

Along with colour the sound design also sets the tone/mood. The non-diegetic soundtrack is upbeat throughout most of the film with softer quieter notes during the end. The diegetic sound isn’t very loud but the sounds are not aiming for realistic and are cartoony like the spring sound to create a playful environment.

The camera doesn’t enhance the story very much but it helps keep continuity for the most part. The still shots allow the audience to take in what they are viewing. The rule of thirds is also utilised and it is shot using mostly low angle shots of the characters. This usually shows which character is more dominant/in control of the scene the low angle is best scene in the scenes of the brain running wild. It is effectively him taking power back from the boredom of school.

reflection

I felt like I really struggled in this task between the group work aspect and being able to find something to say. I think I shot myself a little in the foot by picking colour as yes there is a lot to say mise-en-scene wise I was just afraid that I was repeating myself as the way colour is used is pretty conventional as well.

Finding references and sources was something I found difficult as a lot of information was live-action focused and while it was helpful having more animation specific sources may have made analysis a bit easier. Since I felt like I was carrying the group’s weight a lot I think it took away from how good my own part could be.

At least I’ll know how to go about planning for a group presentation in future and have learnt to just focus & do my work instead of waiting for people to respond to messages. Also it has helped me gain a little confidence in speaking as public speaking even recorded is out of my comfort zone.

references

J.Yan (2018) Mind Games. available from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvRhfaouBHs

Curta “Mind Games”: Como podemos descobrir qual o Sentido da Vida? (2021) available from https://feedobem.com/artigos/divertir/curta-mind-games-como-podemos-descobrir-qual-o-sentido-da-vida/

J.yan @emily_creates (2018) Instagram. available from https://www.instagram.com/emily_creates/?hl=en

J.Yan LinkedIn. available from https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiaqi-emily-yan-24b88b48

BBC bitesize (unknown) Mise-en-scène available from https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zw7hhv4/revision/2

studio binder (2020) What is Mise en Scène in Film: Definition and Examples available from https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/mise-en-scene/

Interaction Design Foundation (unknown) Color Theory available fromhttps://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/color-theory

Matt (unknown) Mise En Scene Elements: Color In Film available from https://filmlifestyle.com/mise-en-scene-elements-color-in-film/

art therapy (unknown) Color Psychology: The Emotional Effects of Colors available from http://www.arttherapyblog.com/online/color-psychology-psychologica-effects-of-colors/#comment-362575

art therapy (unknown) Color Meanings & Symbolism available from http://www.arttherapyblog.com/online/color-meanings-symbolism/#.ZA88li-l2Tc