Research Evaluation - The Heist

Short Film - The Heist

Research Evaluation

Area 1:

How to make a short film - learning form similar examples - primary research.


Sources used

The Heist - Short Film


Description of sources used

Camera

Shot Type and Angle

Movement
Keeping with the mock-action genre of the film, classic action movements are used. For example, fast moving shots following hand movements and head turns are used to keep up the idea that there is an intense operation in progress. This effectively contrasted with the script to create the desired theme.

Handheld movement was also used to continue with this theme, as it makes the film confusing and faster than it is, making it appear intense and dangerous. In addition to this, the confusion gained from this effect can also be connoted to reflect the protagonists feelings in the film, not just the audience. For example, before it's revealed that they are in a toy warehouse, the handheld movement connotes the confusion they have because their are no guards.

Forward and backtracking is also heavily used for the same purpose, as it effectively kept up the appearance that the mission was dangerous when it was not yet revealed to be a failure, negating the goofy banter just shown in the car scene.

Editing

While the editing didn't provide comedic or other effects, it was effective in that is successfully showed the action narrative of the film without drawing attention to itself - it was seamless as it should've been, because the comedy came from the script and slapstick from the scene.

Sound

As with other parts of the film, sound both encourages the action theme of the film, and contrasts with it. The fast, upbeat music is classic for a heist film when they first enter the warehouse and are checking it, and it continues throughout the scene to connote pressure and urgency. However, the average-high, posh voices of the protagonists contrasts with this (as it's often the trope to have deep and accented voiced characters in action films), while also providing humour for the comedy aspect of the film.

What I was hoping to get from this.

As this film shares the mock-serious/ mock-action vibe which my film will use, I was hoping to get more of an understanding of how to create this theme from a technical standpoint (camera angles, movement, editing etc).



Brief summary of what I gained through my research

More of an understanding of how to use camera work to connote an action theme in a comedy film (handheld, lots of tracking etc.) Also, I learnt that contrasting in all parts of the film in effective when featuring action and comedy equally.



Reliability of the sources used
As this is a student film on Youtube, quite reliable, although as it's not professional not completely.