Textual Analysis
Short film title: For The Birds
Genre: Animation
Year: 2000
Director: Ralph Eggleston
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJzQiemCIuY
Micro Element:
Camera angle, movement and position
1) Where is the camera positioned within the scene? Why do you think it has been positioned there?
Through the film mainly central shots are used so that the audience can view what is going on in the scene, I think the camera was positioned in the centre to focus on the small birds and when the tall bird is shown the camera seems to be looking towards another direction to show that he is nothing like the small birds as he is so far away.
2) What shot types are used? What meaning is created?
Long shots at the beginning of the film allow the audience to see the all of the birds in the shot and to help the audience see the location of the scene. Also the long shot is used to show how far away the tall bird is; long shots are used through out the rest of the film to help show what’s happening in the whole scene. A medium shot is then used to identify to the audience who the tall bird is and what he looks like. A wide shot is used how many birds are then sitting on the telephone line, which gives the audience the idea of how many characters are in the scene/film. A medium shot of the birds is then used to focus clearly on only 4 of little birds, and shows them laughing and making fun of the tall bird; this shot helps us to concentrate only them. An extreme long shot show all of the small birds and the tall bird on the telephone wire, and shows all the small birds moving away from him, this helps the audience see everything within the scene. Another extreme long shot is used to show the tall bird flying towards the small birds, the extreme long shot shows how different and ‘goofy’ he is as he cannot fly correctly. When the tall bird lands on the telephone line there is close up to see the small bird’s expression when he sits in between them and makes the line dip; the close up is used to show how the feel about the tall bird and shows their disgust for him. The close ups are used through out the rest of the film to show how the small birds feel about the tall bird and show their reactions to what is going on in the scene.
3) Consider camera movement? How does this create meaning?
At the beginning of the film a tracking shot of the telephone line is used, this helps to set the scene and location of the film for the audience. Towards the end when the tall bird is sitting on the floor and small bird falls from the sky the camera slightly tilts down from shots to show how the tall bird is watching the small bird fall.
4) What is the depth of field and how does this impact on the meaning?
Depth of field is the amount of image that is in clear focus in any given shot. It impacts on meaning as it allows the audience to pay attention more to what is in focus than what is out of focus. For example in one shot the background is out of focus and the foreground of the birds is in focus, this is done so the audience concentrate on what the birds are doing.
Framing
1) How have characters/locations been framed? What meaning is given trough this choice of framing?
In nearly all of the scenes in the short film the characters have been framed by the blue background and the telephone wire which helps show that the birds are up in the sky sitting on the telephone wire. It helps to show that it is a realistic location for birds.
2) Has the rule of thirds been followed / challenged?
The rule of thirds has only been used on the tall bird, and has been challenged on the small birds because the rule of thirds has not been used as the birds are too small for any forms of close ups.
3) What is inside the shot and for what purpose?
The only things inside all the shots are both the telephone wire and the birds. The telephone wire is there to set the location as it is a realistic place for birds to be and meet. Both the birds and telephone wire are the only real things in the scene so that the audience will only concentrate on them and won’t get distracted by something else in the scene.
Editing and special effects
1) How has editing been used to create meaning?
As it is an animation film all of the work is done on computers and all can be changed there and then if they do not like what was created.
2) How does the composition of shots (structure) create meaning for the audience?
The shots are put in a simple narrative order to make the film flow smoothly and to make sense when watching it. The shots are put together to help create the meaning of dislike towards someone that’s different. The long shots are used to show how far away the small birds move from the tall bird and medium shots are used to show how different and weird they are compared to the small birds.
Mise-en-scene (including location)
1) Where is it set?
The set is in the middle of the countryside on a telephone wire.
2) What impact does the location have on the film? How does the location create atmosphere?
The location helps to create the atmosphere that it’s the bird’s world away from humans and helps to show what they can get up to. The location impacts the film because it helps to show the audience that birds have there own place in the human world.
3) Consider lighting in detail. What impact does the lighting have? What atmosphere is intended?
As it is an animated film there is no proper lighting used. But the scenes are lit brightly to show the time and location which is outside and daytime.
Sound
1) Diegetic/ non-diegetic/ intra-diegetic?
Diegetic and non-diegetic.
2) Use of music? How does this create meaning?
Music is played at the beginning of the scene when the establishing tracking shot is used and slowly begins becomes quieter when the birds come in to the shot; however it plays throughout the whole film. The music is jazz and is very soft and light which also helps to establish the setting of in the open country and being up high.
4) Dialogue?
There is no proper dialogue as the only characters are birds, so sound effects like squeaking and chirping is used in the film instead to make it seem like they are realistic birds.
5) Consider the use of silence? How will the audience respond to silence?
One example of where silence is used is when the birds realise what they have done by pecking the tall bird’s feet. The silence gives the audience a sense of comedy as the birds realise what’s going to happen next and the anticipation.
Script
3) If there isn’t a script for character dialogue why do you think they have chosen not to? How would dialogue impact on the film?
They have chosen not to have a script to make it seem in some way more realistic as the characters are all birds and birds cannot talk. If they had dialogue the film would be very different as it would be less realistic and properly have less of an impact on people.
Titles/ Institution Referenc
1) What is the font type and how does this reflect the film?
The font type is very rounded and all in lower case, this helps to show that the film is a very playful film as they don’t follow rules like using capital letters and the words aren’t sharp and sophisticated.
2) Position on the screen and purpose of this decision?
The words are positioned at the top left hand corner of the screen. I believe it’s positioned there to represent the flying like the birds in the air and to the left so that the audience can see the location of the film correctly and to create again a more fun and playful film.
3) What colours are used and why?
The titles are a light blue to represent the colour of the sky and it’s the same colour of the birds.
5) How long do the titles stay on screen for?
8 seconds.
6) Are they meant to be obvious/ conspicuous? Why?
They are obvious because the have a bright colour and a bold font so that can be clearly seen but at the same time they kept it to one side to keep it out of the way of seeing the scene.
Macro
Genre specific elements; codes and conversations
1) Are audience expectations of this genre satisfied/ challenged?
The audiences expectations of this genre has been satisfied as it shows the animation aspect throughout the film.
Narrative
1) How is the narrative being told? From whose perspective are the audience viewing the film? (Consider characters, first/third person)
The narrative is being told by the third person as if the person is in the scene just watching what is going on.
2) What part do the characters play in moving the narrative along?
The characters help move the narrative along by not keeping on the same thing for to long, for example talking. The birds do not spend too long talking and carry on to the next thing, like moving away from the bird.
4) What is the narrative structure?
The film has linear flow to it. The film is kept in order and no parts were mixed around meaning the audience found it easy to follow. The director cannot really do a non linear short film as there is not another time for the audience to follow it.
5) How will the audience understand the narrative?
The narrative flows in a correct and easy structure, so the audience can follow it with ease.
Representation(s)
1) Context? What time is it set (past/present/future)? How does this impact on the character representations (consider societies views)?
I believe it is set in the present tense and the audience is watching it as it happens. This impacts on how the audience see the characters because it shows how the characters are reacting to what is happening at that present time. If it was in the past it could show the audience that the characters may react different now than they did back then.
2) How are characters represented through the use of the camera, editing etc; the micro elements; how do the micro elements build a representation for each character (what ingredients makes up the character)?
The characters are represented through how they look. The small birds are made to all look the same and the tall bird is made to look completely different. The tall bird is a lot taller than all the other birds and has long legs, dark blue feathers and a tuff of hair on the top; the small birds are all the same with light blue feathers, small and big eyes. Camera shots help to so how different the tall bird is by showing how far away he is from all the other characters.
3) Following/ challenging stereotypes?
The film I believe is challenging stereotyping in some way about how people (birds) should look, and how they should all look the same.
4) Can you apply Todorov’s theory? / Does the short film follow what he suggests?
The short film does not exactly follow the theory of Todorov as at the beginning there is no equilibrium there is slight disequilibrium and at the end a new equilibrium is not formed again. So the short film does not follow what he suggests.
5) How is gender/ social class/ status/ sexuality/ age … being represented?
Social class is being represented through the birds, as one bird looks and acts completely different from the group of other birds who all look and act the same.
6) How are the audience being asked to identify with the characters? (How are they made to understand the characters?)
The audience are being asked to identify with the birds by asking them do they act like the small birds by picking on someone because they are different or are they the ones being treated like the tall bird, being humiliated just because they are different from other people.
Audience
1) Who are the target audience?
I believe the audience is children and their parents as when the film is showed it is normally own at PG or U rated movies where children attend with their parents, so the adults are intended to watch it as well.
2) How is the film constructed to appeal to them (character representations/ themes/ script)?
It was constructed to appeal to children as it is an animated film which most children find more appealing than realistic looking films. Also through the way the characters are communicating as it is a funny squeak instead of speech also the simple comedy side of it appeals to children as it is easy to understand.
3) How are the audience going to respond to the film?
The audience will respond to the film by laughing at the simple comedy as it was intended to make people laugh. However some people may take away the thought that they can change the way they act as the can resemble themselves with a character.
4) Who are the audience being asked to identify with?
The audience are being asked to identify with the tall bird as in the end instead of having small birds laughing at him for the way he looks and acts he can laugh at all of them because what they have brought onto themselves (karma). Also they should feel sorry for the tall bird as he is being laughed at and picked on.
Themes/ Messages
1) What are the themes of the short film?
Individualism and isolation
2) What is it trying to say? / What is it trying to teach us? Is it making a point/ argument?
The short film is trying to say don’t judge and leave people out just because they are different from everyone else. Also what goes around comes around.
3) Is it commenting on society?
Yes, as it is commenting on how we judge people because they are different for example: if they are a different race, nationality, ability, style and much more
4) What is the intended meaning/ implied meaning?
The intended meaning is not to judge people on he way they ma and be careful what you do or say cause what comes around goes around.
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