Initial research into short films - Popping the Question - Matt Bishun

Film Title: Popping the Question

Found: Virgin Media Shorts

Date: 2013

Director: Kingsley Hoskins

The film is from YouTube, but I originally found it on Virgin Media Shorts.

Film Synopsis:

• This short film is about a man who tries to propose to his girlfriend but fails with every attempt.

Media language

• The director has chosen to use lots of cuts to show the panic of the man as he tries to propose successfully to his girlfriend.
• The image below shows many pieces of paper screwed up, as the man tries to figure out a creative way of proposing. An OTS shot is used to show the view of the man on a chair.

• The title of the film is also represented in this image, used as credits before the first scene starts. 
• As we get further into the film, we are made aware of the man's girlfriend. Here, a LS is used to show their strong relationship. The director has chosen to use an intimate setting (the living room sofa) and they are both holding a glass of wine, which indicates that this is a special occasion.
• Both characters have changed costume. This tells us that time has passed and the type of clothing worn by both reiterate that this is a special evening. The man is wearing a purple shirt and the woman is wearing a necklace and a beige blouse. 

• One of the man's many techniques in order to propose to his girlfriend was to put the engagement ring inside her drink. This, like many of his other attempts, failed and the image below is a CU of the ring being coughed out. 

• Another attempt fails as the man is starting to panic at the prospect of him not proposing to her that night. The man places a large present in the middle of the room to draw his girlfriend's attention towards it. A CU is used at this point as she walks towards it. Her facial expression tell us she is excited and nervous.

• This leaves her frightened and she falls to the floor immediately with shock. The next frame is an example of a camera shake to imitate her dizziness. This shake is a sense of authenticity as it puts the viewers into her shoes. We then are beginning to wonder whether the man will propose or not.

Narrative

• The narrative structure of this film is linear as the story is in chronological order. The effect of this to show the continuation of the man's wish to propose.
• Restricted narration is used in this film as we know exactly what the characters do. We, as the viewers, don't know any more inside information than the characters.
• The characters guide us through the film, without speaking but through their movements. 
• Todorov's theory can be used to describe the structure of this film. I have chosen to use the 3 main stages from Todorov's theory as I believe all 5 stages are not covered in equal depth in this film.

Equilibrium - beginning of film

• The ring is an important prop in this short film. As the audience we know immediately that he intends to propose to her.

Disruption - which is apparent on many occasions

• An example of this is when the girlfriend coughs the ring out. This, is one of many times he fails to propose during the film. This disruption causes the man to think of something else.

Resolution - he finally gets the message across to his girlfriend

• Finally, the man is able to let his girlfriend know the man's wish to marry her, albeit in an unusual way. 

Genre

• It is clear that this film is either a Romantic or a Romantic Comedy.
• Genres are critical to all short films. Although they are not very long, most short films will have one genre or a mixture of two, which is called a hybrid.

• Semantic and Syntactic codes have been used by the director in order to convey meaning.
• Semantic codes such as; the ring, the screwed up paper (above image), the wine glasses and the post-it notes all tell us that this man is preparing for the biggest moment of his life. He knows whatever he does must be quiet and confidential, as he cannot give it all away.

Representation

• It is clear from the beginning that the woman and man have a connection, as they live together.
• Stereotyping has been used, as the woman is seen to be cooking while the man tries and think of a creative idea to 'pop the question'.

• The woman is seen to be doing 'domestic' things, while the man is taking a laid back approach. These are both signs of the femininity and masculinity of both of the characters and a MLS is used to illustrate this.
• We can sense the body language of both of the characters. The woman's body language tells us she is happy, relaxed and focused on whatever she is doing. The man's tells us he is focusing on getting this proposal spot on. He doesn't want to let his girlfriend know about it by giving any clues away or acting strangely.

• These representations that we see could be positive. The stereotyping of the woman in the kitchen and the man taking a passive approach could make us to believe that their relationship is very strong.

Personal Thoughts

• I feel this film is really clever in the way it portrays to the audience the man's desperation in trying to propose to his girlfriend. 

• Without any dialogue, we can still vividly understand the plot of this film. A man is trying all he can to 'pop the question,' and we get a sense of his desperation as he fails at each attempt. 

• The genre could be simply a Romantic, but I feel it could be a hybrid such as; a romcom. In order for us to stand out, we have to try new ideas and experiment a little bit. The use of another genre embedded within another could make our short film unique and give us a cutting edge.