Analysing a Short Film

Narrative Analysis in Media Studies 

Here is a short video explaining the conventional ways in which narrative is told. There are seven key components in a story. The narrative analysis defines how the story is told. 

Here are a few short films that I have analysed:

About a Girl

2001 

Directed by Brian Percival

A young girl talks candidly to camera about her life with her mum and dad and her hopes for the future. But she is hiding more than we think. Brian Percival was an established commercials director when he made his first film from a script by his wife Julie Rutterford. The film, with a standout performance from young actress Ashley Thewlis, won a multitude of awards in 2002 including the BAFTA for Best Short Film.

First person narrative of young working class girl who is determined to be in a band with her friends. Stereotypical working class family and surroundings. Mum and Dad not interested in her by showing her alone in most of the scenes. Dad leaves her outside the pub and standing in the cold when he is playing football. He also doesn't want her staying with him. Shows the parents to be un responsible and not caring. The setting is very industrial- Factories, canals, chimneys. The setting is very grotty and stereotypically 'working class' This is portrayed in a very obvious way.

The Anti-Social Network

2013

The Anti-Social Network is a comedic short film about a social media addict named Lucas (played by Sam Mac). He is so consumed, the boundaries between his real life and his virtual reality are obsolete. A chance meeting with a girl named Leila (played by Shae-Lee Shackleford) forces him to come to grips with the ultimate paradox. 

The Anti-Social Network was written, directed and produced by Shae-Lee Shackleford. She created the film to be a humorous observation of the social media driven world we live in. The film is aimed to 'poke' fun at is the obsession we have with online interaction, sometimes to the detriment of our real everyday lives and relationships.

Equilibrium- Hates his job, lives alone with two cats and spends his entire time on Facebook. Detached from the real word. Meets a girl but cannot come to terms with the real world. She dumps him because of his obsession with social networking.

Dis-Equilibrium- Facebook closes and he has a breakdown. Realises how addicted he's become and tries to win the girl back.

Equilibrium- Gets the girl and throws his phone away- Showing what really matters.

Orange Drive

2013

Directed by Mark Lester

A year in the life of a guy in his car