Analysis of a short film.

The short film I decided to analyse was Portal: No escape. A film about a subject trapped inside a processing facility who has to make her way around with one of their experimental weapons. The film can be found here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4drucg1A6Xk

Camera

In terms of camera work the film uses various different methods, including close up shots and over the shoulder shots. And at different points in the film it even incorporates the role of a security camera within the subject’s cell, showing her sleep and allowing the viewer to see the amount of stress the subject is subjected to whilst in captivity. Focus’ and zoom is also used within the film showing the subject’s revelation of inscriptions on the wall of her cell upon first discovering the portal gun. The camera also emphasises the story of the portal gun showing it’s capabilities and making it attractive to the audience.

Whilst the camera is documenting the actor during it’s time as the security camera  the angle is a high angle shot looking down on the character showing that she is in a vulnerable position as apposed to a low angle shot where she would be in control of the situation.

Editing

The editing of the short film is very professional using different special effects including the effect of the  portal gun on it’s surrounding environment. To show the passage of time, the scene is fast forwarded whilst the camera is acting as the security camera, this may be to document the actor’s passage whilst in captivity while she is getting in touch with her surroundings and plotting her escape.

Lighting.

The lighting of the envoironment shows that the facility where the film takes place is a derelict facility, creating many shadows, until she is outside and what she thinks to be is free. Inside whilst battling through the facility with the guards the lighting is dim, showing that she is trapped, unable to escape, until she gets outside, which is well light and in the middle of the day. During the time in which she is outside, the light shows that the character has nearly escaped. Until reaching the wall that is not real in which the camera pans to the dark past the simulated wall, showing that she isn’t able to escape as she once thought drowning her hopes.

Mise-en-scene

There are a lot of items in the movie which help with the film the most obvious is the weapon that the unnamed main character weilds. As the movie is based on an xbox 360 game, the viewer would be expecting the real thing, and the gun in the movie is nearly the exact same within the game. Adding to a sense of continuity to form the series from game to video but to also engage with the viewer who may have  played the game and to come to expect the gun within the movie. The characters clothing is tatty and food is shoved through the door at regular intervals, this along with the guards wearing body armour makes it obvious that the movie is set in a prison or facility as the game is.