2. Losers (2011)
• This short film is a drama and shows the harm that
can be caused through bullying. Losers shows
bullying through many different people
perspectives.
• The beginning of the short film shows someone
writing a status on a social networking site such as
Facebook, to explain the one of the main
inspiration for the film. Often known as
cyberbullying.
3. Mise – En – Scene
• Location/Setting: The director has set this film in the
present(2011) there are many different locations within this
short film such as a basketball court, outside houses, in a
kitchen, a locker room etc. These all make the film more
realistic as all age groups can relate to this setting. These are
locations where every day people go to do a numerous
amount of things such as exercising, dancing, playing video
games etc. In the opening scene the characters are seen as
young and innocent, the audience are unaware any of them
are ‘losers’ or are vulnerable to being bullied. This highlights
that bullying can happen to anyone.
4. Mise – En – Scene
Lighting: Throughout the film the lighting is bright although in contrast the
narrative is about an emotional topic, the bright lighting may connote hope, and
that if recognised bullying can be should be stopped.
Make-Up/Clothing: There are many
characters shown within this short film. In this
short film as there many different
characters, they are all seen in different
clothing. I particularly like this as it
highlights that although every one
dresses different, they are many
similarities between the people. As they
are all victims of bullying and being seen
as ‘Losers’ There are many different
costumes shown that represent each
persons different identity. For example a
young girl Is seen in her band uniform
playing an instrument. There is also
another girl in her bedroom painting, A
girl texting; a boy in the corridor alone in
the hallway and so on.
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The shots used in the short film are a
variety but are mainly medium shots and
close ups. Medium shots are used to show
location of each ‘loser’ and what each of
them are doing. For example a medium
shot is used to show the effort the women
used to perform her move but sadly fails.
This gives a clear indication of who the
‘losers’ are in this film.
An extreme close up is used to show the
young girls facial expressions and
emotions and highlight how cyber bullying
has affected her.
A mid shot shows the male next to his
locker and highlights how vulnerable and
powerless he is when a another young
male comes and pushes his books on to
the floor.
Depth of field is often used to highlight the
character and their emotions and blur out
everything around them so the audience
can truly focus and feel emotive.
Cinematography
6. Editing & Sound
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The use of slow paced editing paired with diegetic sounds shows, a variety of
people that although labelled ‘losers’ look like any other normal people.
A fast edited montage then shows different victims of bullying and highlights
bullying is a common thing which thousands or more are affected by. All these
people are perceived as losers which make the audience sympathise towards
them, this is also heighten through the use of fast non-diegetic score music which
sounds like tapping.
Fast paced editing is also used in a variety of camera movements and angles to
make the scene more captivating for the audience.
This is then followed by non-diegetic score music which is melancholy and
saddening, the beat then kicks in and it connotes a sense of hope that these losers
can overcome bullying.
The diegetic typing used in the last shot shows how easy it is to go online and write
mean comments about someone, through social media, and alert the audience
how this can greatly affect people, this is also shown when during an extreme close
up of a young girl you can hear her diegetic crying.
A non diegetic voice over shouts words of abuse over each ‘loser’ with words such
as ‘pussy’ ‘freak’ and ‘retard’ these are paired with close up’s to show how
emotionally upsetting verbal abuse can be.
7. Enigmas
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Many enigmas are placed within the film, Why are these people seen as
losers? Why is there a focus on the young girl crying at the end? Why is
there a montage of a variety of different people?, and why are they
paired with a voice over?
The first frame shows a social networking site, where someone types in
‘Losers’ a variety of different people are then showing doing different
things, these actions such as being in drama club, playing video games
and eating in a canteen alone can all be perceived as actions done by
losers, hence them being bullied.
One of the last frames shows a young girl crying, the non diegetic music
stops playing and only her diegetic cries can be heard, a close up of her
face is shown for the audience to empathise towards her, and show how
affective bullying is.
A montage is placed in order to show the audience although we are
different, some of us share a similarity of being bullied, and if your being
bullied its likely over another thousand people are too. The voice over
highlights just calling someone a mean name can be a form of bullying
and that its likely everyone has been affected by bullying at least once in
their life.
8. Convections
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During the opening sequence the audience can relate as the different
locations are realistic, this also hints the status quo will soon be disrupted
as the audience are unaware that the short film is an emotional drama
and that these people are seen as ‘losers’. The characters are believable
as they are all doing realistic things such as playing a game, eating alone
and taking part in a play. The film has many stereotypical drama
convections, it deals with a lot of human emotions which can often be
very serious, tense and a realistic portrayal of characters that viewers can
emotionally engage with. In addition to this, basic dramas such as this
one are tense and the soundtrack plays a very important part in the
overall feel of the film.
The purpose of dramatic story lines is to move the audience emotionally,
having a subject such as bullying; does exactly this, especially as for
many people this is a big issue. At the end of drama there is often a form
of realisation and in this case, it is that bullying is cruel, un kind and
malicious and it needs to be stopped. However most dramas usually
have a happy realisation at the end but this drama breaks that
convection as all does not end happily, when a young girl is seen crying.
