Short Film Analysis - 1)Pudding Bowl

In today's lesson we watched a short film by Vanessa Caswill called "Pudding Bowl". This particular short film shows a simple story line of nine-year-old protagonist, Ivy who is stuck in 50s British suburbia and loses herself in glamorous images of Hollywood magazines. But when her mother gives her a traumatic Pudding Bowl haircut, her imagination takes flight as she refuses to be cut down by misfortune.

As a class we made a few notes on the camera work, editing, sound and mise-en-scene included in this short film:

Camera work:

• Extreme close-up of Ivy to build an instant relationship with the protagonist as well as building empathy towards her.
• Slight low angle shot to make Jack look more superior than Ivy and having control of the situation.
• Close up of the mother preparing their meal to show how cruel she is
• Over the shoulder shot when her brother puts glue in her hair to create dramatic irony, as the audience are able to see what is going on whilst Ivy is clueless.
• High angle (birds-eye-view) of Ivy after having her haircut to make her look sinister and suggesting that she is going to "stand up for herself".
• Worms eye view to show the hair falling on the camera to imply that her dreams of being a beautiful young lady is vanishing before her eyes, just like her hair being cut away.
• Shallow focus shown at the end of the film where the men are chasing after her on her bike to emphasise Ivy's dream of having men chase after her due to her beauty.

Editing:

• Clock-wipe transition to indicate passing of time whilst she is getting her hair cut off.
• The scissors signify the mother cutting away her happiness and dreams.
• Cuts are done quickly to show how fast Ivy's losing her dreams as well as her hair.
• The blurred effects used when Ivy takes off her glasses shows her poor eyesight, but that doesn't stop her.
• Panning shot up to the sky to show that is it the end of the film and that Ivy is aiming high in life.
• Credits edited on to show who was involved in making the short film.

Sound:

• A sound bridge to a panning shot of Ivy's magazine pages to show they are an important part to the short film.
• Very little dialogue to help the audience's imagination take over.
• Pause between the brother speaking to Ivy and her reply, to emphasise her lack of confidence and vulnerability in the situation.
• The piano is played when Ivy goes to look at her new hair cut in the mirror, this creates a sad setting and atmosphere which helps make the audience empathise with her.
• Upbeat music is included to indicate that Ivy is up to something and cause trouble.
  
  

Mise-en-scene:

• The lighting of where the brother is siting is in shadow, to signify the idea that he could be "dangerous" or "evil".
• The paper being crumpled could suggest the idea that her brother and now her mother are "crumpling" her dreams.
• The use of the glue helps to create dramatic irony making the audience feel sympathy for her, as they can't do anything to stop the situation from occurring. 
• The red dress was consistent to imply she is passionate about her dreams.
• The used of the pudding bowl is used as a guideline to cut Ivy's hair as well as reflects back to the title, indicating this is the main story line to the film.
• By Ivy's hair being cut in a circle shape portrays her as trapped inside a body she wants to escape from. She aspires to be like one of the women she sees in the magazines she was cutting up at the beginning of the short film. 

    Conclusion:

     Overall, I found this a rather inspirational piece, as although at first glance you may not see the point of the story line but when analysed you can tell the amount of attention to detail has been made to ensure this short film is a success.