Critical Reflection

Over the course of 9 weeks, I have had to develop a 10-minute short film alongside marketing material for the film, including the social media and a postcard to be passed out at film festivals. Throughout the process, I've had to overcome obstacles in all aspects of production, whether its pre-production and writing, filming and directing, editing and post-production, or marketing for the film. Through all of this, I've been able to create a piece that I have become really proud of. 

Early on in the process, I researched different aspects of the production process that would help me later on, such as researching the comedy genre, other comedy short films, and other short films' social media accounts. I implemented many of the conventions I observed from the article in the comedy genre research post. In particular, I used timing to my advantage, with the cult scene having a lot of awkward silences between Bryan and the cult member, either to build up tension or play off a joke. Another convention that I implemented was playing with expectations, with the gas station being locked, leading to the homeless man encounter, and the random and sudden cult member kidnapping when Bryan goes into the woods. I kept these different aspects of what makes a comedy in mind when writing to assure that my comedy would actually be funny. In terms of production, I focused more on studying other comedy short films, and I adapted the production techniques they used to create comedic bits. I specifically used two techniques from the short films Crazy Camp Cult Movie, with the inspired use of wide angle lenses for certain moments, and When in Poughkeepsie, with whip pans to elevate a conversation. One of the last processes I directly applied my previous research to was my social media page, with certain posts being inspired by other short films' social media posts I was researching. For instance, my storyboard vs actual shot posts were inspired by The Lake in The Sky social media page, which did the same. Overall, my research affected all parts of my production process, including the marketing and distribution for the film. 

The shot from Crazy Cult Camping Movie vs my shot of Bryan eating.

These learned techniques and inspiration aid me in sharing my product with my intended audience. My target audience mainly consists of male teens or young adults with a shared interest in comedies and absurdist humor. The primary way that I engaged with this audience throughout the production was in my writing and characters. When writing the script for this film, I wrote the piece with male teens in mind, specifically my friends Bryan, Andre, and Aiden. Being familiar with how they speak in real life, I wrote the characters as if the actors were in that situation to best play to their strengths. While doing this, initially for the sole reason of making writing an easier process for me and making the lines easier for each actor, I ended up writing the piece in the voices and perspectives of male teens, which inherently appeals to an audience in the same age range. Using the same language and speech pattern as the target audience helps them connect and empathize with the characters and, therefore, the overall film. The characters being all male teens also helps, as the target audience can empathize with the characters, further connecting them with the production. My promotional material also engages with this target audience, especially with the first initial posts with the characters' heads in toilet bowls, appealing to the humor that my target audience would have. Later posts, like the physical DVD of the film or CD of Hot Biscuit being available for purchase on the website, engage with the audience differently, prompting them to engage with the film through physical media. 

A still from the scene of
the boys in the parking lot.

While primarily targeting an audience of teenage males, my piece mainly represents the social group of young teenage boys, as they make up my main cast of characters. Although never specified in the film, Bryan, Aiden, and Andre are all teenagers between 16 and 17 years old. I did my best to represent these characters through their dialogue and actions. As I mentioned prior, when writing, I had these friends in mind and wrote the scenes as if they were actually the ones living through the experiences, aiding my writing and easing the acting process for my friends. However, doing this also inadvertently created an accurate representation of teenage males and how they speak, as I attempted to make the dialogue as authentic to the real actors as possible. I also represent this group through the characters' actions. This is apparent in the opening scene, where the characters are standing in an empty parking lot, eating fast food while arguing about absurd hypotheticals. As a teenage boy, I can say that this is an accurate representation of what is done in our free time. I incorporate a running gag of the boys singing to a ridiculous pop song, as the genre typically caters to a younger audience and is representative of music that teens listen to. One can also argue that I represent homeless people in The Dump. In one scene, I have a homeless character screaming and harassing the teenage boys. This radical image of homeless people is not an accurate depiction of their social group and contributes to harmful stereotypes and preconceptions about them. However, I was using the character more for comedic purposes rather than trying to accurately represent this social group.

What sets this course apart from AS level is the ability to create a complete identity and brand for your piece outside of just the production itself. This was an interesting and, at times, challenging task to balance while also trying to make a short film. I had to constantly think about the tone and brand of the film and how I could convey this in my promotional material, mainly through social media. Since my short film is a comedy driven by a ridiculous yet tense plot, I attempted to reflect this in my branding. For instance, I embrace the ridiculous nature of the plot through my initial posts, with the important contributors to the project being introduced through toilet bowls and behind-the-scenes photos being displayed on bathroom mirrors. This not only fits the more comedic aspects of my film but also fits in with the plot centering around the main character having to poop. On the other hand, I take a more intense and dramatic tone with other aspects of my brand. For example, the font I use in my film and the majority of my promotional material is a big and bold font that’s aggressive and in your face.

Some of the other promotional material also features a specific wide shot on Bryan’s face eating a burger, which is also in your face and encapsulates the tone of the film pretty well, being both intense and comedic at the same time. I use this still most prominently in the postcard. The trailer I made for the Instagram also has a much more intense and dramatic feel to it to emulate the more intense moments like the homeless or cult scene, as well as the stressful nature of the plot overall. While the film is first and foremost a comedy, it also has dramatic aspects to it, and I try to represent both of these aspects in all facets of my 3 components. However, this creates a dilemma in my branding, which alternates from taking a sillier approach to an intense and dramatic one. If I were able to go back and do the project again, I’d likely try to create a more comprehensive and clear theme throughout the branding. While I do have the fun and silly bathroom Instagram posts, these are only a couple of posts, while other content like the storyboard vs. actual shot comparison or announcement of the YouTube release deviate from this aesthetic, making the social media and, therefore, the overall branding feel disjointed.

Considering all these different aspects of the piece, I have completed what I set out to do 9 weeks ago, to successfully complete a short film and most importantly, be satisfied and content with the final product.