A.

4B

Film 1; ‘The Gunfighter’ (Action/Comedy)

The short film is about a character who is known as a gunfighter for killing numerous people. He’s
surrounded by a few faces that want to kill him and he is heavily involved in each of their lives as
well as each other.

The short film begins presenting the iconography where the main character is shown walking
through the saloon doors. This iconography presents connotations of action where it presents the
historic representation of saloon cowboy era, making it apparent to the audience that it is a action
film.

The film begins with a unrestrictive narrative as we get to meet the characters. This is needed as we
get to understand the characters brief backstories which adds onto the comical effect. It then begins
deteriorating from the unrestrictive narrative which links to Todorov’s theory of equilibrium where
the comical announcement of certain things causes a disruption which again follows Todorov’s
equilibrium model.

Camera;

There starts off with a over shoulder shot showing the gunfighter. The camera gradually pans from
the right shoulder over to the other shoulder showing this character from the mans perspective and
the tilt of the camera presents the gunfighter as quite tall giving connotations of his strength and
power.

Mise en-scene;

The use of props presenting guns and weapons stashed in different places throughout the film which
presents connotations of death and violence which is another convention of the action genre.

Sound:

Throughout the film there is the use of non-diegetic sound being a voice-over which is used as a way
to present the comedic aspect.

Editing:

Towards the end there is montage where we see everyone shooting and killing each other which
again adds to the action genre.

The conventions of a action and comedy film are; violence/combat, often slapstick comedy and often
contains a hero and a villain

Film 2; ‘Amani’ (Action/Drama)

This short film is about a young boy who got involved in gang culture from a young age. After his
parents realizing they kick him out of the house and he’s forced to grow up by himself. He grows up
and rebuilds his connection with his family until his past comes back to haunt him.
The short film presents the main character and his parents in an unrestrictive narrative where we
meet the characters straight away. In this scene we could apply Todorov’s theory of equilibrium
where this scene is the initial state of equilibrium as all is at peace.

Later on in the film there is iconography presented where the use of two props; knife and a gun
which clearly presents to the audience that it is a action film. Towards this part of the film however
we reach the climax part of the film in relation to Todorov’s theory. It however strays away from the
theory as the film doesn’t reach a new state of equilibrium but instead ends on the climax where the
narrative goes on to present the moral of the film.

Camera;

Use of a wide shot in the first scene to show and perfectly capture the family aesthetic of the family
environment shown in the shot. There is also a close up in another shot of him in agony highlighting
all the damage he gas taken showing blood all around his mouth.

Mise en-scene;

The use of a knife as a prop also complimenting conventions of the action genre. Also the use of
costume in the first scene presenting him as a innocent school kid whereas further on he is scene in
tracksuits which is stereotyped to have connotations of gang culture.

Sound;

Towards the end of the scene there is the non-diegetic sound presented whilst he is being taken on a
stretcher where everything sounds muffled and there is a high pitch noise ringing which is used as an
attempt to emulate the sounds and feelings of a victim in this situation.

Editing;

Through the beginning of the short film there is the use of cross cutting between two particular
scenes the first being the scene where his parents are dressing him for his first day in school and the
second being when he is being stretchered by the ambulance because of his stab wounds. This is
used as a way of promoting a message saying that life is fragile and can change very easily and
quickly.

The conventions of a action and drama film are; violence/combat, emotional conflict and often
contains a hero and a villain, climactic and tension.

Film 3; ‘Deep It’ (Action/Drama)

This film is about a young boy and his friend who find themselves in trouble and the friend betrays
him. The friend becomes possessed with anger and decides to carry a knife until things go wrong.

This short film begins presenting the main characters in a partially restricted narrative as we meet
one of the characters before we are properly introduced to the rest of the characters in the next
scene.

This film however doesn’t follow the same narrative structure as presented in Todorov’s theory as
the story begins in the new state of equilibrium and shows the recount of the events that had
happened before. In this the iconography presenting the action genre is shown through the use of
props and costumes where they are shown in tracksuits with knifes which presents connotations of
gang violence.

Camera;

There are various wide shots of the main character sitting alone to highlight his isolation. There are
also numerous uses of close ups of the main character whilst he is on the floor after being attacked
by the girls boyfriend.

Mise en-scene;

The constant use of tracksuits which again are stereotyped to connote gang culture supporting again
one of the conventions of the action genre.

Sound;

During the film once the main character had realized that his friend had been impaled by his knife
the use of a non-diegetic score begins to play which resembled a situation where the victim of the
stab wound was beginning to lose consciousness or it was used as a method of displaying emotion
between the main character and/or the culprit.

Editing;

In the scene where the main characters friend is stabbed once the main character realizes what has
just happened there is the use of slow motion which is used alongside the characters performance
to instill a sense of emotion in the audience.

The conventions of a action and drama film are; violence/combat, emotional conflict and often
contains a hero and a villain, climactic and tension.