Short film analysis - 'Tik Tok' by Ien Chi

Here is the analysis of the short film 'Tik-Tok'. A 5 minute film Directed by University graduate Ien Chi. The video uses media developments in rewind technology, and progresses the continuity possibilities of film.

Camerawork

The majority of the shots used in this short film are shot through the use of a steady cam. The smoothness of the shots in contrast to the speed and motions that are undertaken within the piece is very intriguing to me as a film maker, as helps to make an effective appearance to the fluidity and narrative of the film. The majority of the shots used in the film are wide angle shots. The use of these shots allows the audience to take in all aspects of the film and setting around it.

Sound

The film contains both diagetic and non-diagetic sounds within it. The diagetic sounds come from the dialogue in rewind. This is a disorientating thing for the consumer to digest, as they are trying to interpret an image that is already going agains the norm. Furthermore, the dialogue following similar patterns is even more disconcerting. although disorientating, this is an effective method, as it links strongly to the story line, whereby the main character is distressed. Another example of this sound is when he crashes into the teacher and his pile of paper goes flying, these small details are all crucial to the overall success of the film.













The non-diagetic sound on the contrary consists of a high tempo soundtrack. Although slightly differing from the narrative in terms of the mood of the song, the speed links strongly to the urgency and rush that the main character is under.

Editing

The clip undergoes no editing whatsoever, whilst this might seem strange and unprofessional, the clip does not require any cutting as the entirety of the film is shot in just one take. The continuity of the shots create a film with heightened emotions.

Mise-en-Scene

The use of the box at the beginning of the peace, is crucial to the film, as it chows the link between the actions of the man to those seen in Pandora's box, whereby he has sinned. The sin is finally revealed through the use of props at the end of the film, when we see the man in the film taking a pill. The flying pile of papers also add to the emotion of the piece, as his journey is made more difficult through such encounters, and the over exaggeration of the flying accentuates the drama.

The lighting within this piece varies from natural sources and artificial. Although the lighting of the piece does not bear a great deal of meaning to the piece, the lighting does help to exaggerate the emotions and events from within the piece. Furthermore, given the dark nature of the piece, the brightness in which it is shot is quite counterintuitive, potentially adding to the success of the piece.