Short Film vs. Feature Length Film

     It's time to compare the short film and the feature film now that I've seen them. One of the most notable differences was that the short film lacked dialogue, while the feature film did. The divergence in dialogue, on the other hand, allowed both plots to flourish in their own distinct ways. They have the same narrative qualities now, but the full length version was able to fill it out further. Due to the length of the film, it was possible to provide a backstory and expand the plot in new ways. We were also able to see all of the rag dolls in the full-length film, while we were only able to see two of them in the short film. The full-length version had the benefit of fleshing out 9's character while also allowing new characters to be introduced into the expanding universe. Despite the fact that the full-length film had more plot possibilities, the director's choices in both films played well for their strengths. Since the short film was just 7 minutes long, they were able to get right to the point and share their thoughts, while the full-length film had to try to fit new ideas into an hour. 9 was the main character in both films.

        9 is the central figure in both films from the start. They both have flashback scenes that give the viewer more details about the plots. Given that both stories involved the spirits of dead rag dolls, the endings were also remarkably similar. All of the other rag dolls die in the short film, but all nine, seven, three, and four rag dolls live in the full length film. In the end, I think the full-length version was my favorite. That's not to say the short film wasn't entertaining, however I found the full length movie to be much more interesting. I liked how much scratcher growth was incorporated into the full length. I felt like I could relate to not only 9 but all the other supporting characters because they were all so well-detailed. I also enjoyed learning more about how the rag dolls and machines were made. Overall, both films were entertaining and told their stories beautifully in their own distinct ways.

Research 9, the feature film

    After seeing the short film, I've finished watching the entire feature film! The full length version delves much further into the story. It had the same ideals as the first, namely, surviving in a post-apocalyptic world against the robots, but it was more detailed. The main character, 9, remained the same, but the audience was now able to see him develop as a person. 9 begins as a timid newcomer who has no idea what lies ahead, but by the end, he has developed into a brave hero ready to do whatever it takes. Now that he had a lot of time, the director was able to really advance his career. He was also able to create new rag dolls that we had never seen before.We learned more about 5 and met the other rag dolls, but 7,5, and 1 were the main supporting characters. 1 has his own storyline in which he appears to be a stubborn old man at first, but in the end, he sacrifices himself for the common good. There's still a lot of world building and new environments to see.

    The first film's machine reappears as an antagonist, but this time as a far smaller foe who leads to a much more dangerous threat. Now there is dialogue that both advances the plot and adds to it. There was more time to justify why things are the way they are with an hour of running time instead of seven minutes. The audience now knows how the world has become post-apocalyptic, and that the rag dolls represent the spirit of the main scientist. Because of the longer runtime, the plot was able to grow more fully. In terms of animation and special effects, it works much better here.The character designs seem to have improved significantly. For instance, green light effects are done much more cleanly here. While the devices remain frightening, each rag doll has a distinct design that separates it from the others. In general, the feature film was well worth watching.

     

Research 9, the short

 I've come to some conclusions about a couple of topics after watching the seven-minute short film, but I still have a lot of questions. Let's discuss the location of the short film. The film is set in a post-apocalyptic future where there is no sign of existence except for nine ragdolls that hold actual souls. Each ragdoll has a tag, which I discovered later in the film but will discuss when we arrive. The 9 ragdolls aren't the only survivors on the ruined planet; there's even a machine cat-like monster that tries to kill them all for unknown reasons, but the creature was present for the majority of the film. The soul-snatching machine cat-like beast kills 9's comrade in front of his eyes throughout the film. Then he tries in vain to catch the beast in a cage, but it is eventually killed. In the movie, a green blinking portal-like entity appears and disappears at random. The film's intent and use of the portal-like object is very cool at the end. It opens a doorway when merged with the creature's eye, allowing the dead ragdolls, all of whom have numbers, 9's friends and family to finally be set free.

    As a result, I realized that every single ragdoll has a number as a name. I thought the lack of dialogue in the film was fascinating and very cool. It did, though, make it somewhat strange in terms of how I was expected to completely comprehend the storyline and acts taken in, but I also grasped a significant portion of the plot. I was also struck by 9's growth as a character. I thought he was very stupid at first, but as the movie progressed, he used fast and powerful thinking skills to eventually destroy the monster. I also noticed the directorial style and how it tangled into the ending of the film which was brilliant. I would probably give this film a six out of ten. I rate it a six just because I don't understand everything such as the origin of the ragdolls, how earth became apocalyptic, or how the creatures began to exist but I still thoroughly enjoyed this film. Even though I tend to love short films just because of the short time it takes to watch one, this one was very well rounded.
    I was also struck by the director's composition and how it intertwined with the film's brilliant conclusion. This film is potentially a six out of ten for me. I gave it a six because I didn't get anything, such as how the ragdolls came to be, how the world turned dystopian, or how the beasts came to be, but I also had a great time watching it. About the fact that I prefer short films due to the limited amount of time required to watch them, this one was very well-rounded. Now it's time to see if any of my questions have been answered by watching the whole movie! The director's composition, and how it combines with the film's incredible ending, really struck me. For me, this film has the potential to be a six out of ten. I gave it a six because I didn't understand how the ragdolls were created, how the future is dystopian, or how the beasts were created, but I enjoying watching it, and I typically don't watch short films because I feel like they're super fast in pace and typically never answer my questions and leave me wondering a lot of things but this film was different, it answered my questions and was again really enjoyable.

“Genre Choice for Film.”

Genre Choice for Film

Although thriller and psychological thriller are both really great in their own way, mystery fits the story more. The genre I am going to chose is mystery. Lets review what a mystery film is, a mystery film is a genre of film that spins around the arrangement of an issue or a wrongdoing. It centers around the endeavors of the criminologist, private examiner or novice detective to comprehend the baffling conditions of an issue by methods for hints, examination, and cunning derivation. The plot regularly fixates on the deductive capacity, ability, certainty, or determination of the analyst as they endeavor to unwind the wrongdoing or circumstance by sorting out signs and conditions, looking for proof, grilling observers, and finding a crook. Tension is regularly kept up as a significant plot component. This should be possible using the soundtrack, camera points, substantial shadows, and astonishing unexpected developments. Alfred Hitchcock utilized these procedures, yet would at times permit the crowd in on a forthcoming danger at that point draw out the second for sensational impact. 

This genre has gone from early mystery stories, anecdotal or abstract criminologist stories, to exemplary Hitchcockian anticipation spine chillers to an exemplary investigator for hire films. A connected film subgenre is spy films. Definition and qualities Mystery films fundamentally center around tackling wrongdoing or a riddle. The mystery by and large spins around a homicide which should then be comprehended by police officers, investigators for hire, or novice detectives. The watcher is given a progression of likely suspects, some of whom are "distractions," - people who have the rationale to perpetuate the wrongdoing yet didn't really do it-, and endeavors to unravel the riddle alongside the examiner. On occasion, the watcher is given data not accessible to the principal character. The focal character normally investigates the unsolved wrongdoing, exposes the culprit, and stops the impacts of the villainy. The fruitful mystery film clings to one of two story types, known as Open and Closed. The Closed mystery disguises the personality of the culprit until late in the story, including a component of tension during the misgiving of the suspect, as the crowd is never entirely sure what it's identity is. The Open mystery, interestingly, uncovers the character of the culprit at the head of the story, displaying the "immaculate wrongdoing" which the crowd at that point watches the hero disentangle, typically at the finish of the story, likened to the divulging scenes in the Closed style. 

“Genres I Would Like to Research.”

Genres I would like to Research

Before I get into the pre-production process of the film I have to select the film genre. Although there are tons of genres and sub-genres we could research. There are three genres I am going to research.  I will be doing a brief introduction of each below, make separate blogs for each one, and then ultimately decide which genre I will pick. Now let's get into a short introduction for each genre, shall we? The first genre I'd like to research would be thriller. Thrillers are known for being dark, engrossing, and having a suspenseful plot-driven story. I feel as though the storyline I am going with does have a thriller aspect to it, that's why it is an option. Thrillers can range in plot but keep people on their toes, grasping their attention,  and keeping it for themselves.

 I would like to research thrillers because Boon-Joon Ho's Parasite is a thriller and even though my film won't be similar to that movie, thrillers can have different sub-genres but grasp you in such a way where you can't stop watching. The second option is psychological thriller. Psychological thriller is the genre for my two-minute intro last year called "5:05". Psychological thrillers take you further into the character's emotional and mental state which is critical while still having a suspenseful aspect to it. Due to already working a bit on a psychological thriller, I feel like I could make this film even better and really get into the character's mental state even more. I would like to research this genre because psychological thrillers really do gain an audience's attention in such a unique way. Working on a film with a heavy psychological foundation would be really fun. The third option is Mystery. Mystery is "a type of fiction in which a detective, or other professional, solves a crime or series of crimes". Although I initially didn't plan on researching or considering mystery, I really want to research it. The reason I want to research this genre is because the storyline revolves around the missing of the main character's father so obviously trying to investigate the possible crime is mysterious. I feel as though it will be extremely challenging but really fun to execute.

Genre Research- Mystery

Mystery

According to masterclass.com "The mystery genre is a genre of fiction that follows a crime (like a murder or a disappearance) from the moment it is committed to the moment it is solved."

CLAPS- Costume Lighting Actors Props Setting

Mystery films

• Costumes in mystery movies are usually dark and contain mute colors, dresses are usually distressed. Both genders typically wear mute colors and black, similar to psychological thrillers.
• Lighting similar to thrillers, typically dark or not very saturated, I think this is because the movies want to pay close attention to detail on the storyline rather than something beautiful or pretty. 
• Acting in mystery films tends to seem extremely real which of course, is incredibly important, seriousness and aggression is something I love seeing in .
• Props in mystery films sometimes have an important back story. Props vary but most are weapons, drugs, and technology like phones.
• The setting is usually based in homes,  rural areas, and commonly involve therapy type settings. The protagonist is usually having to deal with an issue or find a way out much like thrillers.

CAMS- Camera Angle Movement Sound

CAMS
(Similar to thriller)

• Common angles in Mystery films are, medium close ups, over the shoulder shots, close up shots usually on the actor's face or important props, full body shot, long shots, low angle shots.
• Common camera movement tracking shots, panning shots, rack focus, and zoom in.
• Common sound in mystery; mystery tends to have a lot of dialogue, with not as many pauses or eerie moments. We don't hear much music playing from scene to scene unless it's in a prominent location that builds the plot and storyline. 

Vivarium. Shutter Island, and The Nice Guys are all mystery films that go about mystery in a different and interesting way, for example while Vivarium is more serious, frightening, and thrilling, The Nice guys is funny, action pact, and light hearted.

    

Genre Research- Psychological thriller

 

Psychological-thriller

Psychological Thriller films

• Costumes in psychological-thriller movies are usually dark and contain mute colors, dresses are usually distressed. Both genders typically wear mute colors and black.
• Lighting is similar to thrillers. 
• Acting in psychological-thriller films is typically raw and is usually the make or break of the movie. Its what tangles all the convections together so expression is crucial.
• Props in psychological-thriller films sometimes have an important back story. Props vary but most are weapons, drugs, and technology like phones.
• The setting is usually based in homes,  rural areas, and commonly involve therapy type settings. The protagonist is usually having to deal with an issue or find a way out much like thrillers.

CAMS
(same as thiller)

• Common angles can be birds eye, close up shots usually on the actor's face or important props, extreme long shots, low angle shots, point of view, and over the shoulder.
• Common camera movement tracking shots, panning shots, dutch, handheld, rack focus, and zoom.
• Common sound is typically dark and eerie. Music starts off at a slow pace and speeds up at certain times to build suspense reaching the climax of the situation or film as a whole. Sound bridges are constantly used along with the non-diegetic sound.        

                         

Genre Research – Thriller

Thriller

Thriller is a genre of film that "primary feature is that it induces strong feelings of excitement, anxiety, tension, suspense, fear, and other similar emotions in its readers or viewers—in other words, media that thrills the audience". A lot of the elements in thriller movies revolve around the Claps. 

CLAPS- Costume Lighting Actors Props Setting

CLAMPS

• Costumes in thrillers can range in color due to the range of plots that fall under the genre, I typically associate thrillers with suits and deeper/ darker colors. Some common colors would be red, black, grey, and dark blue.
• Lighting in thrillers is one of the main conventions because lighting allows the audience to feel suspense and tension throughout the movie. Movies like split use dim, minimal lighting to engage the audience and keep them on their toes at all times.
• Acting in thrillers is super important when it comes to dialogue it's not as critical but when we talk about emotion, you have to be able to read the actor's emotions whether they're scared, sad, or happy. Elements like lighting and music build suspense the role an actor plays is to relate with the audience so expression is crucial.
• Props in thrillers sometimes have an important back story. Props like guns can have an important reason for being used or involved. Also things like knives, a dripping water tap, and blood are heavily used. Especially blood, most thrillers usually involve death, and typically when someones being murdered, blood is everywhere.
• The setting is pretty basic in thrillers, the suburbs, houses, rural areas, even basements. The protagonist is usually having to deal with an issue or find a way out of it so like an escape, solve a mystery, or finish a mission.

CAMS- Camera Angle Movement Sound

CAMS 

• Common angles in thrillers can be birds eye, close up shots usually on the actor's face or important props, extreme long shots, low angle shots, point of view, and over the shoulder.
• Common camera movement tracking shots, panning shots, dutch, handheld, rack focus, and zoom.
• Common sound is typically dark and eerie. Music starts off at a slow pace and speeds up at certain times to build suspense reaching the climax of the situation or film as a whole. Sound bridges are constantly used along with the non-diegetic sound.