SHORT FILM ANALYSIS 1-PRISM

INTRODUCTION TO PRISMPRISM is a sci-fi/action short film created by US based company Corridor Digital. In the film, two teenagers manage to steal a teleportation device, and are hunted by the device’s owner. The production was filmed over 2 nights in LA and featured Hollywood actors such as Jimmy Wong, Mary Kate Wiles and Jilon VanOver (also known as Jilon Ghai). The film creators used a variety of technologies to create the film, most notably the SFX software Hitfilm. Below is a ‘making of’ video for the film.

ANALYSIS-SOUND/EDITINGThe film is set in downtown Los Angeles in the year 2032. This is reinforced by the non diegetic music used at the beginning of the film and throughout the fight scenes which has a techno-disco style to it (we commonly think of the future as a technologically advanced, highly industrialised age), and the fact that the initial establishing shot shows the two main characters in a large heavily lit city. We also hear some non diegetic ambient noises in the form of sirens, cars in the street etc. The shots used in the video are generally long and usually use smash cuts. The length of the shots is evident the part of the sequence where the two teenagers are creeping through the building past the security guard. This emphasises the fact that they are taking their time and sneaking around slowly and cautiously to avoid being seen. These shots do get shorter during the fight scenes, to connote tension. (i.e. at 4:26, when the fight in the car park begins, and at 6:29, when Hayden Blackwell enters the fight) The most impressive use of editing is with the visual effects, such as the gun muzzle flashes, lasers, teleportation etc. , as this adds a sense of depth and realism to the film.

PROPSThe main props in the film are:

• Guns/Rifles• Laser Gun • Body Armour• Masks• PRISM Device

Most of these were made by hand.

These props each add something of their own to the story and tell us about the characters using them. For example, the laser gun and PRISM device show that the characters live in a technologically advanced era. The types of weapon used by the two main characters also challenge the stereotype that females are weaker than males , as the female character Nessa (played by Mary Kate Wiles) is using a large, powerful laser gun while the male character Vadim (played by Jimmy Wong) uses a smaller, less advanced pistol.

CAMERAThe camera shots used within PRISM begin within an establishing shot which shows the two main characters in a large city at night and about to enter a sci-fi convention venue. This sets the scene for the audience in terms of location and time of day. We are then shown a series of close-ups of the two main characters talking to each other. This introduces them to the audience, and tells us a little about their relationship. We are also shown a number of POV shots, (which allow us, as the audience to relate to the character and see the world as they do.). This relation to the characters is reinforced by the number of handheld shots used. This gives the audience the feeling of ‘being in the action’ alongside the characters. The film also includes a number of mid shots, which give us a view of the characters clothing, and in turn, their personality, as seen below.

ACTORSThe actors and their roles within the film are portrayed mainly by their clothing and body language. For example, Hayden Blackwell wears a dark suit and often stands taller than those around him, this denotes not only power, dominance, and sophistication, but also creates an enigma, in terms of ‘ Is he hiding some sort of dark secret?’ Vadim and Nessa, on the other hand, wear hoodies and often show ‘relaxed’ body language, showing that they are young, scruffy, lower class citizens compared to Blackwell. This allows the audience to better relate to Vadim and Nessa rather than Blackwell, as the two heroes and the members of the target audience are teenagers.

THEMES/CONNOTATIONSThis film shows a number of themes and connotations stereotypical of sci-fi movies, for example, ‘good vs evil’, ‘the future’ etc. This is similar to some larger films such as ‘Blade Runner’, which also features the theme of a person having to hunt something down. There are however, some stereotypes of science fiction that the film doesn’t conform to, such as the use of ‘aliens’ and ‘spaceships‘, as is in the most famous films of this genre such as the ‘Star Wars’ series.