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.

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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.