The document summarizes and analyzes three short films: 1. The Black Hole is a 3 minute film about an office worker who discovers a black hole in a photocopied sheet of paper that allows him to steal money and items. It uses shots like close-ups and point-of-view shots to tell the story. 2. Batman Dead-End is an 8 minute film featuring Batman fighting the Joker and aliens. It uses dark lighting and shots like close-ups, aerial shots, and point-of-view shots. 3. Inside is a 5 minute film about a man with multiple personality disorder in a mental institution. Shots like close-ups are used to show his

1. Jonny Ward
Codes & Conventions Research:
Task 1.1
The Black Hole is a short film lasting just under three minutes. It was created in 2008 and is
distributed by Future Shorts who are a specialist short film label. The film stars Napoleon Ryan and
was written and directed by Phil Sansom and Olly Williams. The film uses a series of continuity
editing and cutaways to fit the story.
The film centres a round an office worker who
is routinely photocopying as part of his job.
The film starts off with a pan shot, this is used
to reveal the office and the character. The
office is fairly standard it looks grey and has
nothing to distract the audience.
Pan Shot
The camera then zooms in to a close up shot
which is used to show that the everyday man
is in fact quite bored. He looks like he is sick of
his job and is wishing for something amazing
to happen. His body position and loose tie
indicates he has had a long day.
Close Up Shot
The close up shot shows that he is tired and
frustrated, when the photocopier breaks he
takes his anger out on the machine bashing
the buttons and kicking out. This is a point-of-
view (POV) shot used as a way of showing the
audience what the character actually sees.
Point of View (POV) Shot
The machine goes quiet and then prints out a single page with a solid black circle on it. The worker
places the page to one side and continues his drink but after placing his plastic cup down he sees it
disappear through the hole in the paper.
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2. Jonny Ward
The framing in this low reverse angle shot
tells us a lot about the black hole, giving it
depth.
It also shows the surprise on the man’s face.
Frame Shot
This eye line shot brings the character down
to the audience level showing us that it is just
paper on a solid surface. The actor now has
to change his expression from surprise to
being puzzled, wondering how it has
happened
Eye Line Shot
The use of props and special effects from this point leaves us believing that the hole is real. The low
profile close up shot of the worker examining the hole and then lifting the page to put his arm
through the hole, are particularly effective.
Eye Line Shot Mid-Shot
Having discovered that the black hole has powers he tries to use it on the vending machine, stealing
a bar of chocolate. He enjoys his chocolate before deciding that on a bigger crime to rob the
company. Close up shots showing the characters facial expressions enables good communication
with the audience at this point. The shots below show his enjoyment whilst eating and reaction to a
sudden idea.
Extreme Close Up
Using the black hole to break into a locked room, he moves towards the safe.
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3. Jonny Ward
Lighting plays a part in this section of the film
the darker surroundings in the room with the
safe giving a dark side both in what the
worker is going to do and indicating the room
is isolated. In this shot backlighting causes the
worker to be silhouette.
Low Key Lighting
After successfully removing a large quantity of cash the worker is overcome with greed, he reaches
further and further into the safe finally climbing right in, in search of extra wads of cash. This
extreme close-up shows the real greed in his eyes. A medium shot is used as he goes in the safe.
The final scenes shows the sellotape holding the paper with the black hole on it coming loose and
the paper falling to the ground leaving the worker trapped inside the safe.
A pull back shot is used and as the
camera backs away from the safe,
you wonder did he ever get out?
Zoom Shot
Continuity is quite good. Care has been taken at the beginning of the film, particularly when the
clock is in the scene but later on when emptying the safe some editing has moved the scenes around
and two bundles of cash disappear.
Long Shot
The film initially looks very simple it has only one character, there is no narration or dialogue of any
kind but there are special effect noises for the black hole. The location looks like a dull everyday
office. However the film is very clever and has been well planned. It uses everyday recognisable
objects and some special effects to produce a film that keeps you watching and wondering what will
happen next and finishes with a funny ending.
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4. Jonny Ward
Extended Diploma In Creative Media Production
Assignment IG1
Task 1.1
Short Film Analysis
==================================
Batman Dead-end is a short film lasting just over eight minutes. It was created in 2003 and is
distributed by Collora Studios who are a small independent label. The film stars Clark Bartram as
Batman and Andrew Koenig as the Joker, it was written and directed by Sandy Collora, the film uses
a wide range of continuity editing and special effects to make the film more entertaining.
The film centres around Batman and his enemy the Joker. When fighting in Gotham City, Aliens and
Predators join in taking the Joker they continue fighting Batman.
The film starts off with a number of extreme close-up shots showing Batman getting dress and
preparing for his next mission. The dark background and focussed light gives a strong effect.
Close Up shots to
introduce batman.
The file continues with a long aerial shot in
which an important looking tower block is
shown and also revealing the rest of the dark
night time scene.
Aerial Shot
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5. Jonny Ward
Extended Diploma In Creative Media Production
Assignment IG1
Task 1.1
Short Film Analysis
A medium shot is used which frames batman
and shows his bat symbol. This suggests that
the batman is a powerful character in this
film, the batman franchise has had.whilst the
bat emblem reminds us of all the success
The film is very atmospheric using dark lighting, mist, fog and rain together with a number of high
and low angle shots.
Low angle shot High angle shot
Batman finds the joker up to no good and a fight starts. These two extreme close-up shots shown
close together are used to show the expressions on their faces, this shows how much the two rivals
hate each other.
Extreme Close up Shots
The film uses a lot of point of view (P.O.V.) shots, this one shows Batman’s surprise as the Joker is
snatched away over the roof top. The close up of the angle of Batman’s head indicating the height of
the building, with the second shot showing the jokers legs disappearing.
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6. Jonny Ward
Extended Diploma In Creative Media Production
Assignment IG1
Task 1.1
Short Film Analysis
Batman soon finds out that the Joker was
taken by an Alien. Costumes are used to
create the alien and predator characters that
attack Batman.This eye line shot shows that
batman has immediately re-spotted the alien
and he is looking straight at it.
Eye Line Shot
This is a different type of P.O.V. shot it shows
what the predator is seeing when Batman is
stood in front of it. It uses a heat sensing
camera to give a colour negative effect. It is a
good effect and is used to tell us that the
aliens are nothing like humans.
In contrast to the dark mood of the film, the
fight scenes use very high key light to show
power. All the clashes between the two rivals
cause sparks and light, it shows the intensity
and again that the alien is not of this world.
More Predators join in the fight.
The final scene uses a wide angle and is taken
from outside the fighting group it shows us
the trouble Batman is facing being
surrounded with no possible escape between
his captures. It leaves us thinking this might
be the end of Batman.
Long Shot
I think the film is really good it brings together characters from two different films that I have seen
and makes them fit in and look right. It has a lot of good action scenes and looks like a real Batman
Film. There is a small amount of dialogue in this film but most of the audio is special effects noises
to signify the predator and alien. The clever use of light and costumes draws the audience in to the
action.
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7. Jonny Ward
==========================
Inside is a short film lasting just over five minutes. It was created in 2002. The film stars Jeremy Sisto
as the main character, Daniel. It was written by Eric Giz Gewirtz and Trevor Sands who also directed
it.
The film is abouta mental patient with a multiple personality disorder based in a mental institution.
The film starts off with the patient in a
padded cell. This high angle shot shows his
isolation.He is sat quietly and gives no
impression that he is anything other than
normal.
This is an over the shoulder shot to show that he
is being taken down a dark corridor by the guards.
Over-The-Shoulder Shot
This shot is a long shot to show that this is a dark
creepy place, the low key lighting helps to put this
in place. As this shot takes place there is a sudden
scary audio track that plays, this creates a horror
theme to the film.
Long Shot
Close Up
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8. Jonny Ward
As Daniel is taken down the corridor on his way to an office to be interviewed by a doctor he is
joined by more and more people on his journey there.
He goes inside an office where he is interviewed about his problem by a doctor. As the shot starts it
is a pan shot which introduces a new location and character, the camera then moves right the way
round the back of the doctor to create an over the shoulder shot as she talks to Daniel.
Pan Shot Over-The-Shoulder Shot
As Daniel talks to the doctor other people in the room speak at the same words at the same time. The
people are all from Daniel’s personality disorder, at this point you begin to realise he has a problem.
Mid shots are used to show this. There is a lot of noise in the room as all the people speak this shows
the confusion of Daniel’s mind. Some people speak angrily others are quite calm. This is a really
good effect using men, women and children to create a confusing crowd where no one single
person can be heard but the noise from everybody can be heard.
As the doctor calms Daniel down all the
people start to disappear until only Daniel
and the doctor remain. A Two-Shot is used
here to show that all the people have
disappeared and shows that the doctor and
Daniel are having a one on one
Two Shot
conversation.
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9. Jonny Ward
As the door opens another doctor enters the room
he sits at the desk and then there is a twist in the
story as we realise that the first doctor was also
from Daniel’s imagination. This low angle close up
shot shows Daniel’s facial expression and also it
makes the first doctor look as if she is a powerful
touch to the story as this is when we realise that
she is on his side. Close Up
Shot
I think this was an odd story and it me took a lot of time and quite a few watches of the video to
understand what was going on. It was a good concept as towards the end of the story there was a
shocking twist to the story which I would not have not suspected. The film consisted of dark light
and horror sounds to make the film a bit more dramatic.
References:
The Black Hole
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5_Msrdg3Hk
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1430144/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1430144/plotsummary
Batman Dead End
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjp0I_okX0w
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374526/
Inside
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjTOs1L3SBg
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298934/
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