NEW BOY

New Boy is an Irish film distributed by NITV. It shows Joseph's difficult first day in a new school in Ireland which is very different from his previous school in Africa. Throughout the day, Joseph doesn't get on well with a boy in his class called Christian who keeps annoying him and eventually tries to fight him in the playground. The teacher tries to understand what happened but when the boys all start laughing together, she assumes the conflict is resolved and she tells them to go back into class.

Unlike most short films I have come across, there is  quite a large cast - a school teacher and her class. Usually, short films have small casts to maintain a low budget.

Another way to keep the budget of a short film low is to rent somewhere so the location is contained and the film is set all in one place. For this, the film is set in a primary school in Ireland. Due to the fact that the NITV distributed this and it was funded by the IFB, the main audience of this film are Irish and so the Irish primary school with the typical school teacher is very relatable for everyone who has had primary education in Ireland, particularly an older generation because of the old fashioned style of the building and old black boards.

The costumes are school uniforms, aside from the teacher who is wearing a knee length skirt and a jumper and shirt. There are typical school-situation costumes for today and it was made in 2007 so it was set during that time.

As usual with short films, Todorov's theory of equilibrium is prevalent in this film. At the beginning, although clearly uncomfortable, Joseph is in a good position getting introduced to the class. However this equilibrium is disrupted when he meets Christian who immediately gives him a hard time. Joseph is reminded of a traumatic experience he had where his father was killed. He gets into trouble with his teacher because he violently but calmly dragged Christian to the floor. He is about to get into a fight with Christian in the playground but this is disrupted by the teacher again and he is even more trouble. However, equilibrium is restored at the very end when all the boys laugh together at the expense of Hazel and the teacher.

The film switches between the spectator's gaze and for brief moments, the intra-diegetic gaze. In other words, we are onlookers on the school day for most of this and for short times we are experiencing flashbacks of Joseph's previous life. Most short films are shown from the spectator's gaze, we can watch on and can see everyone's point of view.

In this film there are stereotypes used as well. The teacher is strict but maternal, she clearly cares for her pupils but she is firm in her handling of them. Joseph is the new boy so is shy and nervous. Christian is the typical primary school bully, he is a trouble maker and picks fights.

Claude Levi Strauss's theory of binary opposites is apparent in this short film. There is a contrast between 'good and evil', where we instinctively side with vulnerable Joseph rather than Christian. There is a conflict between their body language too, Joseph is very still and calm and Christian is angry and fast moving. Their speech contrasts too because Joseph only says a few words throughout and Christian spouts a lot of abuse at him. In the end, adhering to the theory, the conflict is resolved.

Propp's theory of characters is also a relevant theory to this. The hero, Joseph, can be identified. The villian is Christian and the hero's aid is the teacher.

A few times throughout I noticed Kuleshov's idea of cause and effect. When Joseph is having a flashback to when his father was taken away, we assume he was shot due to the loud noise when it cuts back to reality as Joseph gets covered in milk. The order of these shots leads us to the conclusion that Joseph's father was killed although it isn't specifically said.

FILMS DISTRIBUTION

In Ireland there are lots of film distribution companies. A few of these are:
E1 Entertainment,  Network Ireland Television, Paramount Pictures, Irish Film Board (Bord Scannán na hEireánn) and Warner Bros.
I have to look into all of these and more and decide which film distribution company I would like to distribute our film.
Entertainment One (eOne) is an international distribution company based in Canada. It was founded in 1973 as a music distribution company but since then has expanded to distribute films, music and television. Some of the films distributed by eOne are  Incidious, Eye in the Sky, Just getting Started and The Woman in Black.

Network Ireland Television is the premiere international distributor of short films and specialist TV content for broadcast. Founded in 1995, the Network Ireland Television is usually involved with niche market films, specifically short films, and their distribution.







Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film studio based in Hollywood, California, that has been a subsidiary of the American media conglomerate Viacom since 1994. 
It is the world's fifth oldest surviving studio. 
Some of the films that have been distributed by Paramount Pictures are Shrek, Titanic, Indiana Jones (2008), Transformers, Kung Fu Panda and Forrest Gump. 

The Irish Film Board is Ireland's national film agency and the major funding board. Founded in 1980, the IFB is based in Galway. One of the IFB's most recent films distributed was Young Offenders which is so funny. Others include Once, Song of the Sea and The Guard. The IFB distributes a lot of shorts as well, including New Boy and Frankie. 




Warner Bros. Pictures is an American entertainment company which has its headquarters in California. It was founded by 4 brothers originally from Poland. They are an international distribution company so have so many films but some of them are Wonder Woman, Justice League, Batman vs Superman, Suicide Squad, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and the Matrix. 





After researching all of these film distribution companies I have decided to choose Network Ireland Television, due to its affiliation with short, local films usually catered to a niche market. The NIT distributed the Oscar Nominated short film The Silent Child recently.
This powerful and poignant film centres round a profoundly deaf four-year-old girl called Libby, who is born into a middle class family and lives in a world of silence, until a caring social worker teaches her the gift of communication.

http://www.networkirelandtelevision.com/guilty-pleasures-sequel/

This is a link to some of the shorts that NIT has distributed.

TARGET AUDIENCE

The target audience for short films isn't huge - its actually quite specific. Usually film makers watch short films; this could be new filmmakers trying to enter the industry, it could be people looking for inspiration, it could be film critics, successful film makers and people with an interest in film.

More specifically, our genre is mind control and technology. We were very inspired by Black Mirror. The target audience for this Netflix series is aimed at a niche market. It was very well received despite Charlie Brooker's bleak view of humanity and their approach to technology. In terms of audience theory, it could be reception theory used or effects theory. In other words, Black Mirror could be interesting to people who challenge what they see and ask questions, or it could be interesting to a passive audience who are easily influenced and accept messages. I think the same applies for our film, as the themes are very similar especially to the episodes Nosedive and The Entire History of You.

 Our film could also be attractive to people from Northern Ireland, specifically Belfast because Mick and Steve both have quite thick Belfast accents and could be considered 'smicked out' in a way. When people hear their own accent or one similar to it, they immediately are more interested in what they are watching.

Our film is geared towards people aged 12 plus. This could mean it is literally attractive to anyone over the age of 12. For Black Mirror, they don't have a specific target age, in fact they claimed their target audience was 'humankind'.

People with income levels that appear to be about the same as those in the film are often attracted to these films. For example, the film is set in Belfast City Centre, in a gorgeous old house with high ceilings. Many would be intrigued by the architecture and style of the surroundings, some would find it relatable to where they live.

The characters of Mick and Steve are deliberately quite relatable. They both have quite laddish demeanours, they wear normal style clothes, they are casual with each other. Their relationship could be the same as that of any 20-something year old men. Audiences often relate their own relationships in life with those in the film.


We decided to conduct some market research  to define what different age groups prefer to watch.
I came up with questions and each of us are going to ask 3 people each to answer the questions so we will have 12 answers. The ages will vary from 13 to 60.
Some questions we could ask would be:

• What is your favourite genre of film? 
• Do you ever watch short films?
• Which of these film distribution companies have you ever come across?
• Are you interested in Sci-Fi?
• Have you seen Black Mirror?

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/F25RSYH
This is the link for the survey we created to develop our research into target audience.

ACTORS

We had a few people in mind for our short film, however they felt that 4 days was a bit too much of a time commitment. These people were Vincent Hale and Hugh Bogue.

We decided to put an ad in a Facebook group calling for actors that would fit the roles of Mick, Steve and Dawn. 

The Facebook group was the perfect place to access the age range and diverse range of actors that we wanted. Facebook is a platform to put out messages and connect with people and for this reason we used it to gather our cast. 

Immediately, there were lots of responses so we have narrowed it down to a few that we feel would be appropriate. 

1. Mario McEntee - playing the role of Mick

2. Jordan Madden - playing the role of Steve

3. Sinead McNama - playing the role of Dawn 

SCENE ONE SHOT LIST

NAME CHANGE

NUMBERS - CODES AND CONVENTIONS

This short film, directed by Robert Hloz, shows Nick and Mia, two young people who have a gift. They can see numbers above people's heads and these numbers can mean lots of things - how many lies they've told, how long they have to live, what age they are, how much money they have etc. Mia's gift is a lot more refined and she knows more about it than Nick; she educates him on patterns and how each person with the gift can see a type of quantity. In the end Nick realises that he can see that Mia has 30 days to live, and he kisses her. 

As expected of a short film, there is a very small cast. The two actors Nick and Mia are in a dialogue throughout the whole film and this is standard for a film like this because it is low budget and so a large cast is unrealistic.

The setting is very typical of a short film - it is in public. It is outside a bar or restaurant on a busy street. This makes the film more relatable and believable for the viewer because everyone can think of a location just like this and it allows the viewer to imagine this situation actually happening. 

Often, locations like this - ie public locations, are used in short films because it keeps the budget low. If they are not set outside somewhere, they usually don't stray far from a singular room for the same reason. 

The costumes in this film are normal clothes for 2018. It immediately shows that this film is set in present day. Also, we see a phone on the table buzzing at 12am which shows again that the film is set in present day. Everyone is wearing coats and scarfs and the setting looks cold especially since it is night time. 

Todorov's theory of equilibrium is prevalent in this film. The equilibrium at the start is the open discussion between Nick and Mia, however this is interrupted when Nick realises at 12am that he is a reaper as he sees Mia's number go down, showing she only has 29 days left to live. It is restored, at least for a moment, as the very end when Nick kisses her and numbers disappear. 

The film is shown through the spectator's gaze, in other words, through our eyes. This is common of short films. We can see that Nick and Mia have a connection throughout and this is demonstrated verbally of course when Mia asks Nick is he 'hitting on her' but it is also demonstrated non verbally. 

Their facial expressions and eye contact say a lot. 

The shots are level, putting Nick and Mia on an equal footing. One is not portrayed better than the other. This reinforces their connection. Most of the shots in the dialogue are close ups of their faces, capturing their exact expressions.

POSSIBLE COSTUME OPTION

This is a possible costume for Margaret. It is a ladies formal suit that was worn by my grandmother to my uncle's wedding in 2005. Personally, I think it is perfect because it is very formal and would suit Margaret's character. 

The colour purple is often associated with pride and mystery. Subtly, the costume could suggest a mysterious element in the film as early as the first shot of Margaret. It is a mix of the fiery energy of the colour red and the calm stability of the colour blue, and so these contrasting associations are again subtly confusing for the viewer.

The suit says a lot about how Margaret views herself. These are the clothes in which she has chosen to be revitalised in. They could be considered her favourite or her best clothes. The style and colour show luxury and perhaps an interest in keeping up appearances. 

PHOTOS

I edited some photos to see how it would look if we were to print some 'old photos' to have in the film. 

PROP LIST

• Tea Cup
• Tea Saucer
• Costume for Margaret
• Clocks
• Junk Mail
• Granny Shoes
• Ear Piece
• Earrings (pearls)
• Brown Chair
• Brown Table
• Hat
• Teapot
• Photo frames with photos of Margaret throughout life

RISK ASSESSMENT

ORIGIN ANALYSIS

This short film that we made for our AS coursework, is based on a suspected witch that was drowned in Northern Ireland in the 1700s and wakes up in present day very confused, only to find her house is in ruins.

As expected from a short film, the cast is very small - there is only one person. This was purely for budget reasons for us. We built our story around this one character. In a short film, it is unrealistic to have a big cast. There is no reason to; the film is so short, and it costs more and generally short film makers are on a budget.

The setting is in public (in Newcastle Co. Down) and this is typical of short films again for budget reasons. It means that locations don't have to be rented and the film makers have the freedom to visit them when they like.

The film is taken from a spectator's gaze, as most films are. It means that the film is viewed from our eyes instead of someone elses. We watch on at Meabh's panic while she runs to her house.

Todorov's theory of equilibrium is prevalent in this film as well. At the beginning there is equilibrium in the calmness of the hand floating in the water however this is disrupted as Meabh emerges from the water and goes to the house, it is restored to an extent when she reaches the house.

The film can be interpreted in many ways so in terms of Barthe's codes on texts, this is an open text. It can be unravelled in many ways.

IDEAL ACTORS

If I were a successful producer, these are the actors I would choose to have in the film.

Mick 

I have chosen Jack O'Connell to play Mick because he is exactly how I would envisage this character. If he was in the right costume and setting I feel he would be perfect for this role.
Jack's work in 71 and Unbroken are perfect examples of which Mick ideally would look like.

Steve 

Recently I watched the series on Netflix Lovesick, and Johnny Flynn who plays Dylan, puts me in mind of Steve. He is balding, late 20s and blonde. 

Margaret

To play Margaret I want someone well known so I am decided between Helen Mirren and Judi Dench. 

PRODUCER ROLE

As the Producer of this film, I am very excited to take on the responsibility of essentially

overseeing the making of the film. I enjoy organising and coordinating people and think I will

be able to put my skills to good use.

I decided to look into is John Hughes as a producer.

John Hughes is responsible for the creation of the films:

• The Breakfast Club
• Pretty in Pink
• Uncle Buck
• Planes, Trains and Automobiles
• Ferris Bueler's Day off
• Sixteen Candles
• Weird Science
• National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

Growing up these were some of my favourite films. On the varied opinion surrounding the Breakfast Club, Hughes said he would 'much rather stir controversy than fade away'. 

ROLES

INSPIRATIONS

Black Mirror has acted as a major inspiration for us when planning our film. It's underlying ideas of mind control immediately come to mind when  we describe our film. 

I love that the director's bleak view of humanity is such an interesting concept for many, we want to have this underlying theme of control and not knowing everything as well. When I first watched Black Mirror, I knew that I really wanted some sort of dystopian plot for us. 

HARDWARE ANALYSIS OF CODES AND CONVENTIONS

HARDWARE

This piece adheres to the usual codes and conventions of short films throughout. I will be following some of these conventions in the making of my short film.

It is  15 minutes long - a standard length. Most films on Short of the Week are made by amateur film makers and due to this are short to give them experience on a low budget. We will be sticking to this convention; we are on a very tight budget for our film so making it short will help this.

Another convention is the small cast. There are only a few characters in this and for our film we intend to follow this convention of short films and include only three actors. 

The budget in this film is low as well, it is set in one inside location - a cheap hotel. The rest is outside. This is very common in short films and the director has adhered to this convention. 

There is one character which is typical of a short film because usually short film makers budgets are low and this is probably no different. The locations and characters are usually kept to a minimum to keep costs down. 

Todorov's theory of equilibrium is prevalent in this film. At the beginning there is equilibrium when the subject settles into his hotel, then it is initially disrupted when he gets into a confrontation with a business owner and decided to kill him, and it is restored when he signs out of his motel.

The costumes are common for short films - they suggest that the film is set in present day and this usually keeps the cost down because the set doesn't need changed to look more modern or older.

BLOOD AND WATER SHORT FILM ANALYSIS

This short film details a difficult relationship between a teen and his mother because she is his diving coach and sets aside her motherly instincts at the pool and lacks empathy.

It is longer than the standard length of a short film at 20 minutes and it has a few different locations. These include the pool, the house, the car and a running track.
There are also more actors than usual, there are two leads but lots of other characters such as Marina and Scott. These are all conventions of short films that were not adhered to throughout. Usually they are cost saving conventions however perhaps the budget for this film is bigger due to the larger amount of resources used.

Todorov's theory of equilibrium is present throughout. In the beginning we see Garett preparing for a dive at the pool before this equilibrium is disrupted. He is badly injured and seems to be traumatised by it, as he remembers it and feels as though he is bleeding in the shower. He dreams about it and it even stops him from trying to do that dive again. This leads to strain on his relationship with his mother.
Equilibrium is restored when Garett goes to the pool alone and is able to do the dive, as well as arranging to get a new coach to save his relationship with his mother.

As with most films, Propp's ideas of characters is true and the characters fit into villain and hero. Strauss's theory of binary opposites rings true in this film too, as the mother and son are opposites. They disagree and clash and she is portrayed as tough and cruel while he is sensitive and stressed.

The film is set in present day and we can see this by the car, the technology and the clothing style throughout. This is typical of a short film because it keeps everything more simple if it is set in the present day.

The film is from the spectator's gaze, in other words we watch it from our perspective. This is typical of most films. We can relate more to the son however it is from our perspective.

LARRY SHORT FILM ANALYSIS

This short film is about a car park worker working the night shift. He is alone and reads a children's about a 'misunderstood monster' called Larry. This piece adheres to the usual codes and conventions of a short film.
Firstly, it is a standard length. It is five minutes long so is probably on the short side. There are only a few characters in this, primarily Joe and then the other two are  just passing through the car park.
There is one location, a booth in a car park. This is a normal convention of a short film because it reduces the price of the making of the film. T
he location is a relatable place, in other words it is easy for the viewer to imagine themselves in that location. The location is a typical one for short films because usually due to budget, short films are set in public to save money on renting locations. However, usually there is no CGI used in the film and basic equipment is used however in this CGI is used to show Larry coming from the iPad at the end. This is a convention of sic-fi however, and so while breaking the codes and conventions of short films, it adheres to those of sci fis.

Due to the iPad, the cars and the clothing, we can see that the film is set in the present day. This makes it very easy to relate to for the viewer. Again, this simplifies it for the film maker but also adheres to the codes and conventions of sci fi films because they are almost always set in present day or in the future.

1

Todorov's theory of equilibrium is relevant to this short film. At the beginning there is equilibrium: all is calm and Joe is relaxing in the car park. However, this equilibrium is disrupted when Joe begins to read the story on the iPad and he notices strange shapes that resemble Larry outside. Finally equilibrium is reestablished when a couple go past the booth laughing and drive out safely. However, this is disrupted again when Larry emerges from the iPad. 

Strauss's theory of binary opposites is relevant to this. The forces of good and evil are opposing in this. Joe and Larry are complete opposites. Joe is portrayed as innocent and scared and Larry is portrayed as scary and a villain. 

Barthes theory about the plot of films is not prevalent in this - it can only be unravelled in one way and so is closed text. 

The film has one character in it, and two extras and the monster Larry. This is a convention of short films because a large cast is unrealistic usually due to budget since the typical short film maker is on a low budget. 

 The characters in this are inline with Propp's theory of characters which said that there is a specific type of person in every story which every character can fall under. For example, Larry is a villain, Joe is zero. The word hero is used loosely, but he does venture to the point of opening the book. 

The film is from a spectator's point of view, in other words - through our eyes. This is typical of a short film.

LOCATION

This is the internal location that we are thinking of. It is a very unique and old fashioned house and would add a lot to the look of the film. The high ceiling and huge window will set this location apart from others.