Muscle: Genre

•‘Muscle’ is directed by Justin Ownesby.

First of all the genre of this short film is acomedy, this is due to the narrative andthe characters. The narrative of this storyis a stereotypical ‘American dream’ inleaving the small town and going to thecity in search of romance, however this alldepends on an old muscle car.

Muscle: Media Language

This short film is shown the majority of the time as a

level shot, which implies real life. The positioning of

characters are varied sometimes they are centre of

shot, however the car is the main character in this

short film as their trip depends on them repairing it.

Shots and angles are varied in different positions.

Close ups are used to portray the frustration from the

car not starting, lots of medium and long shots are

used to show the characters repairing the car

meanwhile establishing the setting of a small

American village due to the trees and house. The

depth of field is usually the characters and the car as

their hopes rest on them fixing it. The setting of a

small village street suggests the characters want to

get away from the quiet life. The lighting is

bright, which shows the sunny weather and happy

atmosphere which is typical of a comedy. There is no

music during this short film just digetic sounds such

as the car failing to start. This builds up the tension of

the car being repaired as it is integral to their future.

Also the sound of birds tweeting and silence suggest

the small village life is boring.

Muscle: Representation

The two characters in this short film are

presented as being a bit ‘geekish’. This is due to

their exchange of dialogue talking about girls

and ‘fantasies’ which seems like a stereotypical

virgin that is seen in films such as ‘American

pie’. The clothing is similar to most American

boys with just shorts and a t-shirt which

suggests the audience may be for the same age

group. Also the dialogue between the two is like

many teenage Americans with casual swearing

and words like ‘dude’ and ‘sweet’. Props such

as the glass of water suggest that it is hot and

hard work to achieve their dream. The comedy

is mainly provided by the boy in the yellow, such

as when he takes a ‘pee’ in the front garden

bush, his ignorance to his friend is shown when

he says a ‘your mom’ joke which is typical of

teenagers. Once they have started the car we

believe they have achieved their dream but like

most comedies we laugh at their expense, as

the car breaks down within 10 yards of leaving.

Muscle: Title/ Institution

The titles in the opening sequence are

edited at a fast pace that suggest speed

which connects to the car and the

characters wanting to leave as soon as

possible. The colour in the title above for

example, looks slightly like the freeway in

America as the black suggests a road and

the orange implies the sun. The font of

‘muscle’ and the titles are in bold white

writing which is strong and masculine like

the muscle car which relates well. The

institution is ‘state productions film’ which

is not very well known but suggests an

American institution because of the word

‘state’.

Dream Off: Genre

‘Dream off’ is directed by Carlos Baez. First

of all the genre of this short film is comedy

because narrative which revolves around a

man’s dream. The genre of this short is easy

to understand because the music is quite

raunchy and sexual; also his dream keeps

getting interrupted by his alarm clock which

changes the dream each time which

provides some entertaining viewing such as

his dream woman turning into a man.

Dream Off: Media Language

This short film is filmed from a slightly lowerangle which seems more romantic. Thepositioning of the characters are central asthey are they take up the whole shot. Themedium shot is used mainly to show thegrowing sexual tension between the two, thisis achieved through seeing both charactersbody language which establishes anattraction between the couple. The setting isin a living room for the dream sequenceswhich seems cosy and romantic; this issuggested through subtle lighting to set aromantic mood. Throughout this short filmthere is no dialogue only music which iskeeps changing as the person in the dreamchanges, for example when the attractivewoman is in the dream the music is moresexual and intense but changes when theman is in shot which creates comedy. Thealarm is the only use of digetic sound whichinterrupts the dream as well as the music, thiscreates comedy because it changes theelements of his dream which frustrate themain character, this is shown when he swearsbut it is bleeped out.

Dream Off: Representation

The character is represented as a goodlooking Spanish male (due to thedirector), the tall slim physique and darkswept back hair present him as a dominantmale. Although, the fact he is dreamingabout a nice evening with a woman maysuggest he is unlucky in love and stillsingle. The Spanish woman is presentedat first very attractive, which she slowlytakes off to tease the male, she is trying toseduce by eating a strawberry, a familiarprop that is used in a romantic film, thiscreates the sexual tension that wouldeventually build to him presumably havingsex. However as the alarm clockintervenes, the dream gets worse, first thewoman’s teeth are unclean and crookedwhich are highlighted with a close upwhich makes her unattractive. At the endof the short there is a man who enters thedream (picture above), he is little andugly, with diminished features. We laugh atthe male’s misfortune as his dream hasbeen ruined and progressively turns worst.