reflective analysis 2.0

Reflective Analysis

Without doubt, our genre for our short film ‘Disorder’ is psychedelic and slightly horror. The genre has heavily influenced the decisions we made for our short film to reflect its hallucinogenic nature. We focused heavily on transitions that emphasise tripping effects to highlight the interference that these drugs have on humans. However, there is a greater message that we wanted to highlight. A film with a similar narrative is Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream (2000) and we wanted to portray a similar message about how a drug can consume an individual, leaving them isolated to become a distorted figure which is ultimately living inside a human body. In addition, what our group really wanted to achieve, while cinematography, is to imply the main character’s isolation from the real world and that he is in the wild and disturbing world in which his senses are altered to highlight his slightly shocking trip. We deliberately did this to show how a drug can consume and can make anyone succumb to the ugliest trips making the spectator bear witness to the true effects and eradicate the perception of reality when we follow the actions of Doug (the main character).  

In keeping with the psychedelic genre of our film, we really wanted our sound to emphasise the intensity and perhaps the adrenaline that Doug is experiencing but that the spectator bears witness too as well. Furthermore, the beats of the drum become more vigorous, prominent and intense; they reflect the narrative as they represent the demonic visions in the film.. I wanted the spectator to appreciate yet understand the subtle messages which were portrayed in the film, for example, I wanted my spectator to recognise and acknowledge the change in beat or the reasoning behind the changes of music from heavy and powerful music to when it gradually becomes more forceful. I would like my spectators to make the link that an action moment or ‘Hollywood’ moment is going to occur when the sound becomes distorted.

Our group was only composed of two people; therefore we could effectively agree and compromise with one another as well as effectively establishing narrative with us both focusing on our separate micro features. As I focused on the micro elements which are associated with post-production, I was still able to work on features such as mise-en-scene and help shoot the film as we would have liked it. Furthermore, because I worked heavily on the script, I was able to shape and help the mise-en-scene for the party scene in which I was able to provide the lighting and a suitable location in which to film.

My understanding of editing and sound has improved as not only have I improved my Final Cut Pro skills but more importantly I have learnt how to appreciate editing and its value. I think that without the editing we couldn’t reflect the narrative.  I understand the importance of sound as well as we use sound to create emotion as well as intensity. Furthermore, the message we wanted to convey to our spectators through editing and sound was the hallucinogenic effects of unknown drugs and the disturbance or ‘disorder’ that they bring.

Initially, our group hadn’t considered the use of deer in our film however we adapted to the situation and location, (Richmond Park), therefore we added the deer because we felt that it would add to the deeply disturbing visions that the spectator views. The addition of the deer highlights the disconnection of nature of our main character because through the editing, by changing the saturation of the images of the deer scenes, as well as making the picture more vibrant throughout these scenes, indicates to the spectator that it is still part of trip. A greater meaning that the main character is suffering from his own troubled problems and maybe he has reached his own personal hell in which he has no control over his actions and the drug has completely overridden all of his control his senses. To highlight that he is suffering from an outer body experience, we use the effect of a shadow to imply
that he is overtaken by disorder, powerless to stop himself from the consequent actions.