Ellington Kid

 Narrative:

The film's narrative is nonlinear in fashion with the multiple cuts between the two friends talking in the shop and the supposed past events of the Boy being chased. The unclear nature as to whether the past event that is cut to actually happened or is just fiction also further establishes its nonlinear nature as it blurs the line between fact and fiction within the world of the film itself.

Genre;

The short films genre blurs the line between multiple different genres with the comedic and witty dialogue between the two friends in the shop suggesting it to be comedy however it also incorporates elements of the horror genre through the suggestion of what the cooks did with the body something which is emphasized through props such as the various knives and the ominous non diegetic music that is used throughout. The films topic and theme of Teen youth crime and violence also makes it part of the crime genre while also potentially serving as a subtle social commentary.  

Representation

The short film focuses and represents mainly on teenagers/young adults with a diverse mix of black and white ethnicity. The young black teen being stabbed represents a wider problem that is present within England with stabbing and gang violence being a recent and prominent concern. 

Editing

The short film consistently uses a fairly understated slow paced cuts between one shot to the next in order to mach the equally slow paced aery non diegetic music. The main and prominent use of editing is to seamlessly create a visual flash back between the teenager telling the story and the events that he is describing.

Mise en scene 

The white hoodie worn by the pursued teenager - Its coloring has connotations of innocence and purity suggesting that he is a victim and helpless to the gang of teenagers that stab and chase after him in contrastingly all black. Its white coloring also allows for the blood to be more emphasized conveying to the audience the severity of his injury.

Large kitchen knives - The several knives used by both the kebab shop workers and gang serve as a prevalent and topical part of the film as they demonstrate the growing issues of knife crime that are prevalent within the UK. The knives large blade a jagged appearance emphasizes there danger and brutality with the weapons main use as a cooking utensil playing into then films potential horror gimmick of cannibalism.

Black attire and balaclava - The black attire and balaclava worn by the armed pursuers emphasizes there gang affiliation as they all share a matching color scheme.The black coloring of there clothing has connotations death further emphasizing their danger while also illustrating there desire to appear intimidating.

Kebab shop burger - Insinuates the potential cannibalization of the gang members while simultaneously serving as a punch line drawing the films narrative to a close.

The harsh bright lighting of the shop emphasizes to the unwelcoming nature of the shop and staff with it only appearing in the supposed story potentially alluding to the the tales fictional nature.

Ominous non diegteic music - Builds suspense within the audience and establishes the the thriller /horror like nature of the story. The music is paced with the actions on screen with it slowly rising until it reaches its peak with the loud violin sting just before the shop workers and gang supposedly fight matching the high tensions of the scene.

Diegetic voice over of one of the teenagers - Helps establish the story as a tale and figment of the teenagers imagination while simultaneously conveying toe the audience that this story is in the past tense.

Diegetic sound of sharpening knives - A typical trope of the horror/slasher genre immediately conveying the genre of the short film to the audience while simultaneously alluding to the significance of knives later in the story.

Kebab shop - The unassuming location of the Kebab shop helps ground the story in a sense of reality and relatability as it is a commonly found throughout the UK. Its unassuming nature allows for a more surprising twist.

Cinematography

The use of several medium close up shots of the store workers sharpening knives and cutting meat as opening shots immediately connotes to the audience that it is a short horror film with these shots subconsciously causing the audience to believe the teenagers story and accusations about the store latter in the story.

The use of a tracking shot as the stabbed teenager runs away conveys that he is still being pursued and hunted.

The use of a medium low angle shot as kebab worker locks the door emphasizes that the workers are now in a position of power with the gang having no escape implying that they fight them and win without visually showing it.

Inspiration

This short film has inspired me to blur the lines of fiction and reality within my own story leaving aspects of the narrative to audience interpretation.