Short Film

As part of the coursework options we watched a short film by a film maker called Craig Devine. It is called "This is the Life".

The way it is filmed is very much the same as film director Shane Meadows produces his films very "kitchen sink drama" as it very serial and realistic. The filming has been done on a handheld camera because this gives it a more real life effect and it helps the audience interact with the characters better as we feel that we are with in the same room as them.




At the start there is a lot of close ups of the characters this is good as we get a feel of the different characters and then it also shows the emotions that they are feeling as it a school day so there is a lot of rushing around and shows how the characters are feeling at different points though the day. There is also sound bridge used in the start as well where while the action is still happening and the acoustic music is playing over them. Then the next part is a montage of the brother and sister. This part is very vital as it shows that the brother and sister have a very good relationship and this will become vital later on in the film when the dad returns. The music plays all the way though this scene because it is showing the time passing by.

When the dad comes back it has a long shot of the kids coming down the road it uses a long shot shows the estate they are living shows they are not richest people in the world. Then they notice that there dad is waiting outside for them. There is a lot of close ups in this scene this is too show the emotions of them being re-united. Then it skips to a part where they are eating it uses a LAS shot its almost like its the TV that is watching them.

The next scene is the dad picking up the son. He is a little bit late and says he forgot where it was. Then there is some hints that the dad has been away because he has been in prison. It has close-ups of a pack of roll ups which a symbol for prison. He goes away for a bit there is close up of the young lad waiting in the car he is messing round with the gadgets which shows that he might of been waiting on his own for a while. The next hint we get off prison is when the dad starts eating his food and he goes he can't remember the last time i had some crisps. The music used within the film is always showing how two characters bond. The dad and the son have the same music used for when he was with his sister and there is a variety on close ups and long shots used when the lad is driving his dads car.

Then the next scene uses a clever shot where the camera is placed behind the desk this looks really effective as it looks like we are talking to him from the other side. Then there is part where things are not going so well. It seems that the family are getting back on track with the bowling but then later on when the dad comes back from the pub drunk there is a big argument. This is when we see how close the brother and sister are when she comes in and they look after each other while the parents row. At the end it is all sorted again with the music coming which shows them bonding and like all the way though the film the music shows the good times.