After You(2008-Shorts Bay)-Directed by Adam Linzey-Jess Smith

This short film was found on a website called 'shortsbay.com' which holds a range of short films ranging from 1 minute to 20, in all different genre's. 'After You' is in the drama genre and is based on two people who meet on the edge of a cliff and shows their conversation whilst very high above the ground and around their last possible seconds on earth. This film concentrates on an important issue of suicide, which is uncommon for a short film, therefore it deals with sensitive themes.
Concepts:
-Media Language
-Representation
-Audience
-Narrative
-Genre

The film begins with a wide angled establishing shot on top a cliff beside the sea, tracking a grown man. The shot includes the cloudy, hazey sky and has only natural lighting which is quite dull, due to it being in a cold, wintery time of year, instantly representing a dark story-line ahead, fitting and expected from the genre which is drama.  tracking scene and it's just ambient sounds such as wind blowing and foley sounds of seagulls, representing this as a typical English, seaside area.
There is also no major sounds during this

In addition to this, camera cuts to a poorly lit, dark shallow depth of field shot of the grass weeds blowing in the cold wind with a faint sight of the ground in behind. It is clear to the audience that this cliff is of a great height and it would be very unsafe to be this close to the edge, especially as below is rocks, leading to the sea. Giving them a nervous feeling and creating a sense of enigma as to why the film is being shot up on the cliff. Giving this film a good example of the storyline being different for the audience as they are only presented with the plot. During this shot, there is the introduction to a soft, piano based off screen soundtrack which fits well to the genre of the film as it is creating suspense.


 As it is linear, the camera then cuts to a long shot from the top of the cliff. The male character then enters the frame dressed in a smart coat and shirt, representing himself as a older, sophisticated figure.The off screen soundtrack continues throughout this scene also into the next, sharp cut to a very high angled behind the shoulder shot, allowing the audience to see over the cliff downwards, tracking the man. This is very tense moment for the audience because this is an unsafe environment and it is nerve racking seeing the character so close to the edge, working well with the dramatic genre. 

Following on from this, there is a very fast pace cut to a establishing shot with the outline of the character on top of the cliff at the edge, creating a lot of suspense for the audience.

As the camera quickly cuts back to a side angled close up shot of the male standing at the top we see him take a deep breath after a nervous swallow. The character's facial expression is calm and collected, however at the same time you are also aware of the fear in his eyes, behind his bravery. 




And as the camera cuts to the opposite side of the man in the same close up, a female character enters the frame to the left of the man. She is also dressed in a smart coat and scarf. 




He man then has the first part of on screen dialogue which quotes "hi" to the woman, implying he is feeling very alone and is wanting to talk to someone. This is shown in a side angled 2 shot  with the continuation of the off screen soundtrack, creating a nervous feeling for the audience.

The couple then begin talking and the man quotes "after you then" as he points to the edge of the cliff, conforming to the stereotype that male's should be expected to let ladies ahead of them. However the female character then quotes "I couldn't possibly, you were here first", which isn't conforming the gender stereotypes as she is letting the male go in front. However the male then goes to have diegetic dialogue of "I couldn't do it with you watching, I'd be self conscious" which is implying to the audience that is is scared of the result, which also doesn't conform to gender stereotypes as males are expected to be brave and strong. It is clear the the audience he is having second thoughts about whether what he was about to do it the right thing. 

This idea is supported when there is a close up, high angled shot of the male and he has on screen dialogue quoting "this really isn't what I want to do" which is representing him as being in a desperate situation, therefore the audience will be feeling sympathetic towards him. 

This shot in done in silence apart from the ambient and dialogue sound, giving it the drama genre feeling. He then goes to say "maybe you and I should go and get"...leaving the audience with clarity that he's not going to jump, however as he says it the camera pans to the left at a fast pace as he looks to the woman who is no longer there now, leaving him very confused and as he turns around the soundtrack begins to play again. Ending the film with the establishing shot of the whole of the cliff with only the one character on top again, making it clear to the audience the woman isn't there anymore, however still leaving them with enigma as they are unaware whether just jumped of fell. The ending of this short film demonstrated its genre very well, in my opinion.

The credits at the end of the film are all presented on a black screen in a small, blue font which symbolises the simplicity of the film.

This film is linear and conforms to Ronald Barthes narrative theory, using enigma codes and overall inspires me to ensure our short film isn't too complex because this film has shown is doesn't need to be and it simply isn't necessary. It has also shown me that scenery is very important as the surroundings in the frames gave the audience that tense and nervous feel. In addition to this, the film also conforms to Rick Altman's semantic code theory, as the iconography strongly portrays the genre of the film.