short film: boneshaker

Boneshaker: directed by Frances Bodomo in the usa. 

The film initially begins with a simplistic sans-serif font that is situated with a black background. One factor to take into consideration is the significance of the font colour; subtle white, which could signify the colour of the human bones but also highlights the purity of what is being shaken and the fragility of the human bone. The use of white also creates suspense and leaves the viewers natural interpretation to conclude what may occur in the following short film.

The film then goes into a series of fast pace editing that are also situated with the effect of a shaken camera that reinforces the past paced and ‘shaken’ element. These elements combined initially refer back to the main title ‘boneshaker’ and denote the literal meaning of how the female child is ‘shaking her bones’ as she subverts from the general norm of not acting accordingly. The fast pace editing connotes emotional distress which may be signifying acute fear or chronic worry as the clips focus on her hands, face and leg and the child is clenching some part of her body. By focusing on these specific parts it connotes maybe how the child feels trapped within herself, as though she is almost trying to free herself from the emotional distraught she feels. However it could also be connoting how the child feels restricted by the people/objects around her, as she appears to be clinging onto the lower half of her dress. This connoted how she is additionally restricting herself from maybe her own emotional expression or is holding something much deeper in. The additional use of the shaken camera connotes how the film may subvert from traditional narratives in film. The fast pace editing is also accompanied by diegetic sound of a child screaming in frustration. This also allows the viewer to further understand the context and piece what is currently occurring. The camera then steadies itself as the lighting goes back to more of a natural focused shot.

The use of over the shoulder shot connotes how the second child, who is seen to been colouring in the front of the car is seen less childlike to the child in the back. As stereotypically children are seated within the back seats of the car, whilst the parents are seated in the front. This connotes how maybe the child is favoured more but also signifies that the family is religious, through the drawing on the girl’s lap of a church saying ‘welcome’. Another factor to take into consideration is that the POV shot highlights the empty water bottles and carrier bags. This connoted that they may have been in the car for a long period of time or maybe off to some sort of religious ceremony. The girl also seems to be featured wearing a bow and some sort of formal dress, again connoting how they’re going to some sort of formal occasion. Another factor by using a POV shot is that the girl’s identity is hidden, which conveys that she may not be the prominent character within this film and therefore her prevalence may be minimal.

 

A medium close up is used to reinforce a new character that is within the film. However due to the positioning of the angle you can only see the man’s side preference. This connotes how the character is seen as inferior to the others within the car. Additionally signifying that he may have little prevalence within the film. In regards to mise-en-scene the colours are rather basic and minimal which could signify his conservative views to the situation at hand. In addition is it also reveals that he is wearing a black tailored suit, which denotes he is attending some kind of formal occasion, which directly links to the young drawing of the church that the child sat next to him is colouring in. The wing mirror at the side is also blurred out which connotes his emotionally confusion and how he feel he is driving away from the ‘light’ which could signify comfort of life back home and driving into the darkness.

The longshot of the man identified in the car is seen to be walking towards some rangers. The use of the LS connotes how he is out of his comfort zone due to his featured attire of a coordinated black fitted suite. Whereas the surroundings are drastic polar opposites, due to the lack of human living as the wildlife seems to be still untouched. Another factor to take into consideration is the metal post-box featured at the right hand side of the shot. Which denoted how no one has been there for a rather long period of time as he post box appears to be overtly decrepit. The LS also exposes 3 figures walking towards the man, which display him as being inferior towards them due to the ratio. Additionally they seem to be carrying weapons, which connote they’re hunters of some kind and they’re In their natural day-to-day habitat. The weapons also reinforce difference in lifestyles or social position to society, as the attires are drastically different; camouflaged, neutral clothing to an all-black tailored suite. Additionally the shot also connotes how the man in the suite appears to be walking on unknown parts and into another’s ‘home’ or ‘backyard’. This reinforces the fact his journey might be at a Holt or they may be lost and seeking guidance of some kind to get him and his presumed family back on track.

The use of the Close up highlights emotional distraught/detachment of the young child. The mother’s hand that is placed upon the Child’s forehead connotes how the mother is covertly concerned for the child or is trying to protect her from the outside world. Conversely by the mother’s hand covering the child, this connoted how the mother has dominance over her and is in fact trying to control her emotions and thoughts or maybe expressing her own views onto the child to inhale. The CU highlights how the young girl feels detached from reality right now as her eyes appear to be looking nowhere and her expressions on her face appear to be lost. This subverts the usual ‘childlike energy’ that many films seem to feature young children as being; overtly endorsed in living life. Whereas this child seems to be restricted in some manner or is stricken in confusion. This additionally connotes how she may be the older child and has to uphold mature roles within the family dynamic.

The use of the long shot that is accompanied by deep space connotes drastic isolation, which is reinforced through the surroundings where the car appears to be situated in; isolated forest. The desaturated colouring of the shot connotes how the short film may have traditional conservative themes but is also connotes how the family have endorsed themselves into the secondary habitat. Another factor to take into consideration is that through using desaturated colouring it denotes how the film is aimed to be more realistic but connotes a rather eerie presence due to how the car appear to be abandoned and overtly left in a hurry, due to the driver side door being left open. The way the car appears to be parked also connoted that they were in a hurry to get to their destination. The car appears to be rather decrepit as the car boot appears to have graffiti painted on it in a large intentional way. This connotes how the family may be from a lower social economic background as materialistic goods don’t seem to be in stereotypical ‘middle-class’ lifestyles.

The featured longshot of the two girls connotes a sisterly bond that the girls share. This is reinforced through how the girls are holding hands and are side by side. The girl in the yellow dress appears to take charge which connotes how the girl in the blue denim dress is seen as inferior and therefore may be the younger sibling. The sign that appears at the side of the car ‘keep out’, connotes how the children are intrigued by nature and are left to take upon the journey on themselves. It additionally connotes how a prominent child ideology is present throughout the short film. As is conforms to the stereotypical norm of how children seek to do deviant acts i.e ignoring the sign saying keep out. Another factor to take into consideration is how the ‘keep out ’sign may foreshadow that the two young girls are stepping into a mature unknown habitat and what they’re about to endorse are far from child ‘safe’. Controversially the sign could connote a religious ceremony, as the sign appears to symbolize a cross. Again reinforced in pervious shots of the child colouring in a picture of a church and how the family are dressed in attire that is seen as covertly formal; black suite and yellow dress. The yellow that is covertly presence on the girls dress, connotes her purity, youthfulness connection to life and natural soul. Stereotypically the colour yellow is associated with new life and a new beginning which could signify the family are attending a christening or religious ceremony.

The close up is accompanied by a handheld motion which connotes the surroundings that the two young girls are seeing but are also featured within. The medium close up highlights the reflection but also gives the illusion of a two-dimensional world that the girls are able to choose from. Reinforcing a stereotypical theme of fictional Fairy-tale story that is usually associated with children. However this shot subverts this ideology, as the tale usually consist of young children running through a generic forest that is light, heaven like and danger free. This type of forest brings a sense of reality and foreshows what nature really consists of rather than a flamboyant unrealistic picture. Therefore this connotes how the short film has mature, dark themes of some supernatural nature. The lighting of the image additionally reinforces the tone and atmosphere that the shot aims to emit as it connotes how the children have gone from being In a light aired car, comforted by their parents to be alone and fearful walking through a forest which is drastically out of their natural comfort zone. The dark lighting could therefore signify their emotions in the sense of they were relaxed in the car and now tension is built as they’re having to experience being alone together.