Research Task 3- Jo White

Butterface (David Mclaughlin) 2009

Genre: Social Realism

• The short film starts with the sound of a train on the tracks. - Diegetic
• There is a medium close up of the view from the moving train, and some gum stuck to the window
• A mid shot is used of a man sitting on a train, with an empty seat next to him.
• A women walks into the frame and fits next to him.
• The shot is now a two shot.
• Voice over is used to represent what the man is thinking - Non Diegetic
• The camera is steady with the use of a tripod.
• A medium shot is used to show the audience the view from the train.
• The following shot is reflected in the mirror of the trains bathroom.
• As the man returns to his seat the women as gone.
• The next shot is of a kiss on the window were the gum was at the beginning of the film.
• Typical of Social Realism natural lighting is used, and the only other lighting is from the actual train.
• Another key factor with social realism is a well know location, and simple hair, make-up and costume.
• One other style used to represent social realism is low budget, which this would of been.
• This short film uses its genre, really well, its simple, low budget, get has something about it that makes the viewer want to keep watching to see what happens next.
• The narrative structure sticks to the, beginning, middle and end, as it is a complete short film.
• Nothing really stood out for being that interesting with this film, apart from the voice over, the mans tone was quite funny in a way. And i think the viewer is suppose to see his this way. I think this short film is interesting in that there are not sounds apart from the sound of the train, and the voice-over. This makes this film unique.
• The film is about a guy on the train, that finds himself sitting next to a girl that he thinks is cute, and is struggle to get to look at her, smile at her, and then talk to her, at no point in the short film does he do this. But by the end he realises that the girl did in fact like him back. Stereotypes are used within this film because he seems be able to fit into the group of thinking he's unpopular, and not having any self confidence in himself. The audience picks up on this from the very beginning of the film and are meant to feel sympathetic towards him.

Posted By Jo White.

•