Textual Analysis- SURFACE

Narrative Context

Surface does not have a strong narrative trail, there is no story to the short film. The film is an abstract piece which follows the daily acts of people, but from the grounds perspective. it is an experimental piece which uses sound and movement to create a very interesting watch for the viewer. The use of an under ground view is effective as it gives the audience a different perspective, and is also very interesting and enjoyable to watch.

In the film there are no characters that the audience form a relationship with, this is due to the view point,  this is useful, as it separates the audience from the characters- through being under the ground. The film is less about story and characters and more about aesthetics. There is one unknown character at the end, that forms the climatic moment. The character gets hit by a car, and the audience see it from beneath the road.

Although know location is obvious. What the audience can see give an urban feeling to the film, matching the music, and sort of festival this film may be entered too. The urban feeling, is created through the things you see being dropped on the ground, such as cigarettes and cans. And the hustle and bustle that goes on, such as lots of people walking, biking.   One part of the location that i thought was used particularly effectively, was the section where children are drawing with chalk on the ground. This part looks particularly good to the audience as the drawings out being drawn over the ground, therefore are closest thing to the camera.

Although the camera does not do very much changing in the film due to the odd view point, as some points the camera is used very effectively. Towards the end of the film, the shot is of a park, there is there jump cuts between shots getting further and further away, from  close up to an extreme long shot. This is effective as it matches the music, as well as gives a very impressive view of the park above.

The editing in the film is used brilliantly to add a fast pace to the film. The editing is is used to create an in since feeling with the music. Sounds such as cans crunching and footsteps are edited to link with the music, to create a beat-boxing style of song. Suiting the urban feeling of the film. The part when the boy gets hit by the car is edited very well, to from  quick series of events. The audience see a boy running, than year car noises, than there is a spot of blood on the screen. All these are e4dited quickly together to show a chaotic turn of events. The music than stops suddenly and you see the boy lying there., The music and the editing work together to create a section that is very visually interesting to the audience.

Due to the music and style of the film , I feel that the audience would be older teenagers, who are interested in film. The grey colours, and ambient music, create a style that would suit the younger generation more than the older generation.