The lighting used in this short film in my opinion is not very well thought out, the lighting overall is inconsistent and not very impressive. By the look of it, where the lighting changed throughout the film it looks as though the film has been shot using natural lighting. Natural lighting can be good in some situations but by the looks of the film and knowing that animation can never be done in one shoot. You can see the change in lighting and the change in contrast. The effect may be deliberate to make it look real and less staged, as though it’s just an observing way of looking in. I don’t think it was intentional because some parts of the of the film has perfect lighting and contrast. Due to this lack of consistency from the lighting no atmosphere is created. The parts where you can see that the lighting has successfully set up and used to its proper potential there is a really nice atmosphere created, It’s calming and very mellow, it fits in really well with the narrative and the context of the story.
The use of lighting is basic and not really accentuated to show characters or personalities, shadows are avoided so none of the characters are made to seem bad or mysterious. The films sound is very minimal there are no sound effects and only music, i think this was a good choice considering the context and the romantic intentions of the film. I personally think that if there was sound effects and noises added to certain parts it would make the film seem more amateurish and comical. The song choice is probably one of my favorite parts to the film, it fits perfectly with the motion and the animation and really makes the film what it is. The sound truly reflects what is happening in the animation, it fits perfectly. The lack of sound effects helps create a juxtaposition between reality and the surreal. Adding sound effects would have made it seem real, and i don’t think real was what there directors were looking to achieve, it’s as though they wanted to show us a fantasy, a thought process that has actually happened. The atmosphere that is lost from lighting is definitely made up with the music. The music is obviously diegetic because we see the subjects dancing and moving to the music, there isn’t any non-diegetic sound in the film. I think this is a good choice not to have these over layed sound effects as it would probably take some of the elegance away from it.
The mise en scene of the animation is in my opinion really good, the whole look of the film suits the context and the atmosphere it aims to create. The location and the setting keep the colour and tones balanced between the foreground and the background. Each shot is composed very well in my opinion the use of colour and confetti on the table helps to define the break in floor and background. The colours are well used and not to overpowering, they keep the atmosphere and help control the narrative the image that is portrayed. Everything that is in the animation flows fairly well and fits in with the music, this helps keep a good rhythm and keep the audience intrigued and relaxed. Obviously being an animation there isn’t many props and no actors but the characters are represented in a very romantic sense. The music and the mise en scene create an appealing and happy atmosphere that represents the two main characters in a good way, showing them as pleasant a happy.
One area where i really think the film excels is in the camera composition, the minimum depth of field really takes a new light to the animation. It creates a brilliant focus point, creating a zone around the main characters all the time, keeping the audience focused on what’s in hand. The depth of field has also allowed for some very visual and creative focus pulls, this adds a new dimension and changes the animation from its average jump cut. The camera work flows and all cuts are on movement, keeping a consistent flow the animation and making it all stay together with no stop starting. The camera angles and framing really brings the audience into the characters, the close-ups creative a very intimate feeling, adding to the atmosphere created by the song. There is a very visual depth to the shots, allowing some colour to feature in shots. Near the end one particular shot uses the depth to show the characters mood and emotion, he looks lonely and hidden. Making the impression that his upset or knows he has done wrong.The majority of the camera angles are medium and kept to a level ground, avoiding any connotations of power or weakness.
Again much like lighting i don’t think the editing has much influence on the outcome of the whole film. I do think that the flow is held well and the editing is consistent, it keeps in tempo with the music and flows really nicely through certain section where the two main characters dance. The cuts between shots are accurate and continuity is followed by cutting on movement, there isn’t much of a range in transition of effects but i think this is to the benefit of the film.Where the film may seem a little bland in editing is made up in the mise en scene and camera work, the lack of effects is good, it’s allowed to stay simple and clean. Letting the actually animation and story do the talking, not silly effects taking your attention away from the story it’s self. It Appears to me that editing has been used as a process to piece together the story to make it flow and move smoothly, not as a tool for creative input or enhancing the visuals or story.
