i researched many short films of all different genres. i spent time analysing them and then choosing a genre of my own from the conventions and story lines i enjoyed. ive chosen to do a romantic drama.

i found 3 short films that had similar conventions and were all in the genre of romantic dramas.
Signs:


Signs analysis:
Binary opposites
(Day one – 2 min 48 seconds) – Character introduced
1A)Scene one: establishes character – he’s not excited about going to work, not excited to get up, unenthusiastic, no drive, single, (lonely) nothing personal, empty walls, nothing, emptiness,
1b) commuter (travels everyday to work), shy with girls
1C) pause as he walks in the office, works in dreary office, classic photocopier scene, life is endlessly the same, low angle tracking in on him
2) Waiting for the right girl, blond walks past him, no acknowledgement
3) Uninspired at meetings, only one that doesn’t get the joke (can’t relate, can’t laugh)
4) Sees couple kissing
5) Mum’s message – new to city, far from home, dad – you need a girlfriend
6) Commute to work
7) In office – bored, spots girl in the office – tracking into face, gets noticed, They connect + communicate with paper, she initiates it
(Day 2 – 3 min – meets girl)
8) Brightens up his home – puts something personal on his wall
9) Wakes up + gets up straight away
(Day 3)- Happy days montage – tic tac toe
10) Smiley walks through streets, plays knots and crosses during meeting – laughing falls off chair, makes her laugh, tries to compose himself
(Day 4) – Fun at the photocopier
11) Fun at photocopier – binary opposite, more personal stuff
(Day 5) – Office fun
12) Fun at his desk, gets in trouble, he’s the only one happy
(Day 6) – He asks to meet up, she disappears
13) Again personal stuff tracking shots of them looking at each other, start to stare at each other longingly, she says she has a secret, she noticed him first, he asks to meet – she disappears
(Day 7) – im going to ask her to meet – girl has gone – he is crest fallen – miserable journey back home
14) Quick out of bed, rushes to work, takes stairs not life, her desk has been emptied, gets to bed depressed
(Day 8)
15) Boring commute, in office unhappy, receives signal, she’s on top floor – promoted, he asks her out – she says ‘I thought you would never ask.’ – Meeting across traffic, ends with a sign saying ‘hi’ in a heart.

Post-It Love:

Title and director: - This short film is called Post -it Love and is directed by Si and Ad
Narrative: - Boy meets girl expresses their shyness
Story:- shy girl meets boy in the office and they find a new way of expressing their affection by using post -it notes. It starts with a smiley face and leads onto a piece of art when the girl comes out for the final time she has the same idea as the guy as she has loads of post it notes in her hands and we see her expression and then a big picture the boy has made of them two out of post it notes on the wall. This shows the true love connection they have as they had the same instinct.
Genre:- Romantic comedy
Sound/Music:-Gives a romantic feel about love which is suitable for the genre and there is also a military sound to it.
Costume: -Her - tank top with a long skirt
Him - basic shirt and a tie (ordinary and normal for an office)
Editing:- Slow
Location:- a quiet standard office/dead sterile environment which juxtaposes the romance and love in the story. They use the stationary to show passion so that they keep professional in the working environment.
Todorov:- beginning: boy meets girl
- middle: post-it picture series
- End: The masterpiece
Vladimir Propp:- The office: Being the Villain
- The boy: being the protagonist/hero
- The girl: being the princess
- The post-it notes: being the doner