Initial research into short films - "Brando-ing" - Matt Bishun

Film Title: "Brando-ing"

Found: Virgin Media Shorts

Date: 2013

Director: Malcolm Roy Greenhill

The Film

Film Synopsis:

This film is all about two good friends who exchange some friendly banter whilst stuck on top of a roof.

Representation

• These two men are good friends and stereotyping has been used to express their chilled perhaps childhood nature.
• Both men are wearing very similar clothing, swim shorts and a t-shirt. This could mean they are on holiday and have found themselves in a tricky situation.

• 'Laidback' is another phrase you could use to describe the pair, the man to the right is leaning against a rail. The other is looking on and we can tell that they have a strong bond due to the way they interact with each other. This is an example of their masculinity. 

• The pair are examples of modern social groups, two friends having a chat but in a strange place. This modern representation allows the audience to relate with the pair more and make it more humourous for people who watch this film.

Genre

• This film is a comedy and we know this through the way the man act. Funny faces are the key theme in this short clip. This syntactic code is key to this film as it makes it more appealing to the audience.
• 'De Niro-ing' and 'Brando-ing' are the names of individual faces which the men use to communicate. These names have been derived from the surnames of two famous American actors, Robert De Niro and Marlon Brando.
• Not only is this clever from the director but humerous as it is really funny in the way the men do it. What is more is that the setting (on top of a building) makes it a very comical film.
• The use of this genre is appropriate as the men have no idea on how they are going to get down., as if they don't care and spend their time pulling funny faces. 

'Brando-ing'

'De Niro-ing'

Audience

• My source for this film was Virgin Media Shorts, a popular and well known short films website.

• The demographic I believe would watch this film would be male 18-24 year olds of a middle income, although I expect there to be many 18-24 year old female viewers.
• With regards to a psychographic audience, it all depends on the IAO variables. People who enjoy comedy films I would expect to watch this. People who do not, would be intrigued by the strange setting and the funny faces.
• The audience would be pleased by the way that the director hasn't gone for a traditional comedy film. The director has used his experience of the film industry to incorporate famous actors names into the film, in the form of funny faces.
• He has, however, kept the modern tradition of two very good 'mates' who wear the same clothes and both find themselves in the same situation.

The Director

• Malcolm Roy Greenhill is 28 years old, originally from Cambridge. He has recently moved to London, where he actually shot this film.
• He specialises in live comedy and drama, using a cinematic style in his work.

Media language

• The director has chosen to use many shots to express the strong friendship that these two men have.
• A key editing technique, Shot Reverse Shot has been used on many occasions as the men exchange some banter.

• Below shows one of the men who are stuck on top of a building. The director has chosen this CU to see his facial expression. We can see that the man is frowning which means he is angry at what his friend is doing (pulling the wrong face).