Research Evaluation - The Gunfighter

Short Film Analysis - The Gunfighter

Research Evaluation



Area 1:




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


Sources used

The Gunfighter - Short Film


Description of sources used

Camera

Shot Type and Angle

Again in this film, the eye line match was the most common shot type in the film. Due to the tense scenario, where any character could kill any other, this is effective in connoting to the audience that all characters are equal and so at risk - there are no techniques used to tel the audience that one person will win. As all but one character dies, this foreshadows the end result subtly. This is especially evident when the characters are shown sitting at tables, still being shown at eye level, eliminating the possibility of the camera being from a character's perspective.

Movement
Zooming in is often used when moments get tense, to connote a sense of suspense and urgency. And the fact that it is not used when the film becomes comedic rather than tense further reinforces this idea, but all character experience this zoom at one point or another, showing that they all feel similar ways and are all dangerous.
Cuts are more commonly used to transition from one character to another in The Gunfighter, as the scenes are often tense and so fast cuts support this. Movement was only used twice, which connotes to the audience that they are similar (used to transition from serious to comedic), although they don't initially appear so. For example, the camera turns and tracks towards the Henderson Boys when they are first introduced, which starts the comedy aspect of the film. And after the shootout, the camera pans to show the devastation, before landing upon the female character where she is found alive, before having other funny moments with the character.
Handheld was used exclusively in this film, to give it a realistic feel and connotes to the audience that the scenario is serious and prone to action, which it eventually is. Although the shots are not from a character's perspective, the handheld technique supports the idea that they are, which makes the audience feel attached to the characters as they feel like they see the situation from a similar perspective to the characters.

Editing

Opposite to many short films, The Gunfighter uses continuity editing for the whole film, with no cuts to other time periods or situations. This functions to provide an easy narrative to follow, which is especially important as the story get more complex, with different people opposing each other very quickly. Cuts are used almost exclusively as well, to provide a clean, flowing story for the audience to follow. This also makes any other editing techniques more important, as it connotes real change in the narrative. For example, a fade is used to transition from the establishing shot of everyone dead, to a panning shot showing the same thing. This shows that the situation is as dire as it seems, and connotes feelings of loss to the audience, as it is evident that no one is above until the panning stops.

Sound

Non-diegetic sound plays a central role to the plot in this film. As the characters are aware of the narrator, even though he is not present, it creates a unique role for the narrator. The film capitalises the noticeable effect diegetic sound often has, with the only source of non-diegetic sound (apart from the theme music) being the only way in which the film progresses. As the narrator is integral to the evolution of the plot, it creates incidental sound as him speaking always leads to action, making the narrator very effective at it's purpose in the narrative. The reliance on this non-diegetic sound also makes the theme music more effective as the audience expects it to have a large effect on the film.

What I was hoping to get from this.

I was hoping to learn how to film a mock-dramatic film from this, as my film and this are both similar in that they feature comedy drama as a key part of the film. This entails learning effective editing, camera angles and movements and sound, all of which add to the themes in the film.



Brief summary of what I gained through my research


As my film also features narration as the main plot device, I will use this film to identify ways to use narration effectively. For example, I will use narration, or rather the dream sequences that it prompts, as an indicator for events - like it's function as incidental sound in The Gunfighter.
Also, as the film uses a continual, flowing narrative (which my film will partially do), I will take inspiration for this for my film, as I have now seen that it's effective in a short film.

Reliability of the sources used

Reliable, as the film is popular and comes from a reliable source - Youtube.