Lens Based Media - Day 2

The first part of the morning was focused on watching a short Scottish movie 'Fridge' - Directed by Peter Mullan. This was a captivating story about a young boy who cruelly gets shut in a fridge and a dysfunctional couple are left to sort everything out!

Although at first this film seems simplistic in it's manner, in reality the subtext is far deeper and emotional about greater problems in society, as the boy in the fridge could be representative of any person in need. The fact many people surrounding the issue chose to ignore it, presents how ignorant society is. The only people that ultimately help are the people who choose to empathise. The young woman spoke about societal claustrophobia, which allowed her to think about the young boy's vulnerability. However, the film also demonstrates how each individual can become distracted by their own problems in life, allowing them not to assist he who is most need of help!

Viewing this film allowed me to understand how cinema and storytelling can be complex in it's meaning, using a powerful story to act as a metaphor for an even greater problem. 

http://www.cinema16.org/home.php - Fridge, 1996, 20 minutes, Director - Peter Mullan

All good stories are usually based around a similar formula. An interesting beginning based in an ordinary world, then an initial problem that leads for the main character/s to search for a resolution. Usually various problems arise as they try to resolve the issue. Ultimately, as the characters comes to the greatest problem, they face a life or death situation in reality or psychologically.  

(Authors own 2013)

We then explored how stories are constructed. By drawing a set of characters based on individuals and personalities we know, we created the basis for intriguing stories. This was an interesting experience as I began to realise how basing stories on something you know about that can allow it to be more engaging for audiences.

(Authors own 2013)

The most cathartic and pleasing endings usually come with a partial or full resolution of the character to return to the ordinary world. We then used this formula to come up with stories revolving around the characters we had created. Although many of the short stories were silly in their manner, they engaged well with the audience. Overall, I loved it today, I enjoyed working with other classmates -as our ideas all came together at the end. I had so much fun -it was a great day eperimenting and letting loose.