5 minute film analysis.

*One 5 minute film I looked into was Mike Leigh's 'Meantime'. Mike Leigh is an established director, his previous work includes Vera drake and Calenda girls. Both brittish drama's which include big cast's and detailed scripts. In 'meantime' its central focus is on one character; a elder man who was a war fighter. You wouldn't of had long enough to form a relationship or understanding with more than 1 character in five minuits so through the 1 a connection can be formed. I found music is very significant, sums up in a minute the tone and atmosphere of the piece, in this case very deep and meaninfull. Meantime appeared more artistic than feature films, there was aural repetiton of the character saying "If I was old enough to do my time in the army, I would be alright by now". I found speech wasn't that important in the film, but in order to get the message across in this case the repetition of kep phrases was really hightened throughout. Camera shots included more close ups, upward and downward tilts and arcs around the room. The sett in Meantime was prodominatly the characters living room, very 70's decore and old fashioned appearence. Mise en scene is really vital whereas in feature films it doesn't need to be thought of so much. The sett gives you a instant snapshot impression in the 5 minuits you have. The genre of 'meantime' I found was drama but arthouse, as was experimental with displaying the characters emotions.

*When watching Rob Brandons 5 minuit films, you could tell that they were heavily influenced from what he specialises in; music vidoes. In particular a movie called 'dead leg', was filmed all in black and white. It focused on the mind and childhood influences. In this case it didn't have a central character. More a montage of images and people sharing the same emotions. It had a vague feel to it which enabled you to question more without being answered, whereas most feature features have to have a defined script or conclusion to whats happening. I feel this five minuit film didn't have any form of genre. If it had I feel it would have made it more effective.

*Also discovered from google videos a 5 minuite film called 'intrugment' like art house films it takes a simple concept and focuses in on them. In this case literall things such as pooring milk,driving,dolls and jumping. The intrugment of visually experimenting from film with them. For instance milk being poored backwards or a jump in slow motion or fragmented. The film includes 1 character which performs all the intruging acts. We can then relate to him. In regards to music, from all I have seen its key to the short films. There have been no mainstream songs though all abstract electronic,classical or foreign melodies. This makes them appear to follow a arthouse genre and alternative audience. The shots and editing in 'intrugment' are all very technical; it has an old fashion film effect which I havn't seen in any feature films. The cuts of scenes are very abrupt and fast pace as there isn't enough time for long length scenes.

Overall, five minute fims appear much more artistic than feature films. Words arn't so vital but aural sounds are. Lots of drawing and hand made art was apparent, giving it an arthouse feel and really creating an instant snap shot impression and tone is key, so the audience can understand in the short time they have.

"Buffalo 66" Genre conventions review.

Buffalo 66

Vincent Gallo wrote, directed, created the music and starred in Buffalo 66. Making it a highly prestigious but low key independent movie. Vincent is known as a very artistic figure in the industry, his a screen writer,produces, singer-song writer and a talented artist. This already gives the movie an arthouse artistic merit.

Once again the film is entirly character based, as its a semi autobiographical debut of Vincents life and background in Buffalo. This gives the film a very intense genre of being a drama. The movie is structured around 'Billy' kidnapping 'Layla' played by Christina Ricci to impress his parents when he is released from prison. There is no clever plot line or twist in the narrative, it pure and simply deals with the character of 'Billy' facing his own demons of lonliness and depression. The climax is only untill the end when he allows Layla to give him the love and comfort he has been longing his whole life.

Unlike 'Amelie' the lighting and tone of the movie is very bleak. Made from the sepia tool,shadows and a black and white tone. It conveys the more solem atmosphere of the characters mind. Throughout the movie there are lots of close ups and again direct reader appeal, to really egage you to the character. Whereas it then contrasts that shot through birds eye view ones. This makes your mind debate that there is a bigger picture and more to life than just his melancholy nature. Clever as arthouse films are known for debating and challenging ideas and issues for the audience.

The movie holds many similarities to '500 days of summer'. Theres a bizzare moment of a 2 minuit scene of song. The father sings directly to the camera in a spotlight. Like '500 days of summer' its combining other styles of musicals into it, which works as arthouse is known for not following any conventions. Also both movies appeare to have more quirky editing for instance, they both split the scene and have on one side what could have happened then on the other reality. Its really visually striking to watch and completly goes against mainstream techniques.

"Amelie" Genre coventions review.

Amelie

Jean-Pierre Juenet directed Amelie for its release in 2001 which won many outstanding awards. The film is conventionaly pigeon holed into the romantic comedy genre but it is a famous representation of an arthouse feature. The film is a whimsicle dipiction of contempory 'Parisian' life set in Montmatre. The plot surrounds a shy waitress played by 'Audrey Tattou' who decides to change the lives around her for the better. While struggling with her own isolation she finds love along the way.

The film is entirly character based, it follows the lead enpthaticually, in seeing everything from her eyes. The character therefore becomes very significant; her quirky, distant yet deep warming nature goes against most of the lead women roles which are scirpted to be seductive or dumb. Her characteristics are completly fresh and contrasting to the usual, making it work with the alternative experimental arthouse genre.

'Jean' has given the movie bright lighting throughout; warm yellows, greens earth colours. Cleverly giving it a fresh naturlistic feel. He also like in '5oo days of summer' opens with a narrative voice. Informing us of 'Amelies' childhood. This seems to be an effective and arthouse convention. When Amelie thinks back on her encounters with her love interest, its shown through a montage effect. Yet this film has no inclusion of black and white. The music of the feature, is all forign and not mainstream. The more classical french melodies enhance the setting/environment and the fact that its a foreign feature.

In regards to 'Jeans' camera work, there are many fast whip panns. With soundeffects behind them, creating 'amelies' fast working mind in discovering things and people who need help. It also like '500 days of summer' has the direct reader appeal from Amelia talking to the camera, as if she knows she is being a film. This seems to be another arthouse genre technique.

"500 days of summer" Genre conventions review!

500 days of summer

Marc Webbs movie of 500 days of summer is described as " The Rom-com remixed-Fresh,funny and very original." quotes by Heat. This statment I found entirely true. Scott Neustader the writer has brought a really unique twist on the sterotypical love story. The tagline of the movie is "This is not a love story. This is a story about love." The content plot follows many arthouse perspectives. Its taken a modern theme of love that everyone can relate to but brought a whole new opposite approach by making it an "anti-romantic comedy". The film is very character based; it follows a non linear structure, jumping between 500 days of the character 'Toms' relationship and meeting with 'Summer'.

Due to the casting of the two leads being well established Hollywood actors. It made the film a blockbuster hit showing at most multiplex cinemas. Whereas usually arthouse films have a more private exhibiton. Although its mainstream success takes nothing away from its quirky arthouse style. Which is shown clearly in the movies narrative voice. It gives it a fairytale atmosphere of a grandad telling a story but really heightens the movies character based focus. As the voice informs us of the characters background, childhood and personality traits. Yet the rest of the music choices for the movie are modern day alternate bands. Such as "the smiths", "doves" and the soundtrack for the film was a new release from indie band "Temper trap". This conveys how the films aimed at a more individual alternative audience.

In regards to camera shots and editing, the film includes many montage clips;shots from differnet days merged together. This is a clever way of representing 'Toms' whirl wind love. It also has reaction shots/noddy. The shot mimics an interview feel where the characters answer how they feel to love and reply talking/looking directly at the camera. I really found this effective as it takes it away from the mainstream films where there is no connection with the camera. Throughout the film has prodominatly more close ups of the two shots and shot reverse shots. As its entirly structured around the two characters has a more engaging effect to their story than long wide-angle shots would have.

Key moments of the film which I felt echoes art house conventions. Was its use of black and white clearly demonstrating a characters flashback. Its use of subtitles in a scene where 'tom' describes in French how his love feels like an intense foreign film. And the movies use of drawings, theres a moment when the real life image is rubbed away and the character becomes a drawing. This is very clever as includes art (which is art house's sub-genre). Lastly, a bizzare scene which mocks the musical genre as the lead starts singing. Its randomness and sudden burst of energy keeps the movies upbeat and humorous tone.

Film Competitors.

When looking for my 5 films that fit into the genre it was very difficult as arthouse is hard to define and not very mainstream. The films mainly get released into privates cinemas and film festivals so to get your hands on them you have to pre order from speicalised sites.

Ones I have studied are
-amelie
-500 days of summer
-buffalo 66

Genre.

I have chosen the genre of arthouse!

"An art film is typically a serious, noncommercial, non-pornographic, independently made film aimed at a niche audience rather than a mass audience." Wickipedia 17.05.10

"Film critics and film studies scholars typically define an 'art film' as a '...canon of films and those formal qualities that mark them as different from mainstream Hollywood films' which includes, among other elements: a social realiserm style; an emphasis on the authorial expressivity of the director; and a focus on the thoughts and dreams of characters, rather than presenting a clear, goal-driven story. " Wickipedia 17.05.10

"Art-house films tend to be emotional works in which the main characters have unclear motives. After watching one of these films, many viewers are left emotionally drained from the roller coaster of feelings they have just experienced." Ehow article 17.05.10

From these quotes and reserach I have discovered that art house is a genre in its own right, therefore has no sub-genres. This really suits my ideas at the moment as the genre gives me the chance to be experimental with them, as it follows no conventions.

Original brief.

My options consisted of...
-A promotional package for a new film. Which would include a 30 second teaser trailer, a film magazine front cover and a poster for it.
-Or a short film in its entirety lasting 5 minutes, a poster for the film and a film magazine review page.

Out of these I have chosen to do the 5 minuit film. Although I am more familuar with trailors, I feel I want to create something with artistic merit and a 5 minuit film would enable me to create this. I have a deep interest into film and feel creating the review would suit my opinienated nature and also the poster I am already familiarised with due to our earlier foundation production. I understand that the resarch into 5 minuit films will be harder than a looking at mainstream trailers. But the fact that it will be more of a challenge will be more engaging for me to get into, as I want to create something less mainstream.