SLAP

 Narrative

The narrative is linear in nature with it following a typical three act structure.

Genre 

Due to the film focusing around an individuals social life/structure it falls into the genre of drama additionally featuring elements of social commentary with the decline of the central characters life being reminiscent of a tragedy.  

Representation 

The short film mainly focuses on the representation of the cross dressing central character emphasizing the social ostracization  he faces as a result of his passion/identity. Additionally the film provides representations for the gay community with his best friend being an openly gay man with the sexual identity of the main character being left a mystery as well. Lastly the film places a focus on the working/lower class people of the north of England and how social prejudices suppress the true feeling and identity of the people within the community.  

Editing 

The editing of the short film is shaky and fast paced emphasizing how unstable both his life and identity are with the fast paced cutting demonstrating how quickly his life is falling apart. The one part of the film that is an acceptation to this is when he revealed his identity to his friend and finally leaves the house dressed in bis desired look suggesting that him openly dressing this way provides a sense of stability that he otherwise lacks. 

Mise en scene 

Posters of partially naked women - Emphasize the facade he is trying to present to the people around him of a hyper masculine male. The posters of the women could also hint at his desire to visually look and appear like one of them.


Blue dress - Demonstrates his desire to appear more feminine with his free and flamboyant dancing while wearing it suggest this is his true free identity unbound by the facade he must present to the people around him. The dresses blue coloring also usually matches the wall behind him further suggesting that it provides a sense of solidarity in his life which he otherwise does not have. 

Lipstick and makeup - Serves as a visual metaphor for his true self/identity with the makeup acting as his real face and his act of removing it representing the mask of normality he must wear around others. It also further demonstrates his desire to appear feminine. 


Red lighting - Serves as foreshadowing for the later events in the scene with its red coloring emphasizing the danger he feels he is by revealing his true identity to the people around him. 


Box of makeup and magazines - Creates a visualization of thee two sides of his life with the pin up magazines representing his hyper masculine appearance while the make up represents his cross dressing secret. 


Non diegetic music (scene where he gets changed) - The non diegetic upbeat diegetic track emphasizes the joy he feels from cross dressing. 

Diegetic shouting of thugs - The diegetic shouting and attack of the thugs outside his house with line such as "fucking queer" demonstrate to the audience the discrimination and danger they face by choosing to be different reminding both the protagonist and the audience as to why he continues to put on a facade. 

Distorted non diegetic track (final sequence) - Audibly personifies the rage and distress he feels. 

Cinematography 

Over the shoulder close up shot - Emphasizes his facial expressions and emotions to the audience while also serving as a metaphor of sorts, the mirrors reflection representing his true identity while his turned body represents who he is forced to be, turning his back on his true identity.  


Pov shot - Taken from the perspective of his sparing partner the Pov shot juxtaposes his presentation in the previous scene as he is now a muscular and violent stereotypical masculine man .


Low angle shot - Emphasizes his heroic act and that he is in a position of power following his scrap with the thugs.



Inspiration 

I am fond of the short films specific focus on a small subsection of society and the ostracization they face which could potentially inspire me also feature marginalized groups within my short film.

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