University Films - Second year

The following videos are from projects I created or participated in the creation of during my second year as a student at Manchester Metropolitan University.  Most of the videos listed here were created in correlation to the course I was a part of (Contemporary Film & Video) however a few of them were outside projects.


1988 (2010)

With the first of my second year projects, the aim was to produce a film under the guise of a 'personal' project. Working in collaboration, I was tasked as sound designer to produce music and and help with some of the editing of this short film.

The initial idea was to follow and reflect upon certain aspects of Joe Sherwood's (the director of the project) life at certain stages. Combining different types of music, I attempted to add emphasis on how Joe felt at different points in his life. But in the end, the film feels a little heavy handed. It attempts very broadly to compress various stages in Joe's life in a very short space of time. Because of this tonal (and musical) switches happen quickly with harsh results. Subjects like childhood, the death of a family member, and early adulthood are all drawn on, and moved on from in a very short space of time. 

I think that what the project needed in retrospect was for one moment or event to be the focal point. Whether that had been a nostalgic look at childhood, the death of a relative or the highs and lows of young adulthood, one focal point could have been built up and developed in a much more natural and organic way.



ISLAM(A)PHOBIA: REFLEXIVE MANOVEURS IN POPULAR CULTURE (2011)

Created as an educational short for a PHD student, the shorts purpose was to examine a recurring trends in various media outlets of Islamaphobia and it's many facets. The video is likewise strictly for educational purposes and was designed to be shown for presentational use only.


Suspicious Minds (2011)

For my non-linear narrative unit, I wrote and edited the following short entitled Suspicious Minds. The idea was to show a drug deal gone wrong from multiple perspectives - with each section of the narrative elaborating on previously unknown information. As the film progresses we are lead to a number of tense stand offs and the suspense is set to build throughout.  

Overall I think the film works quite well. The suspense and the building of tension are done excellently,  with the sound design really enforcing this throughout. The cinematography is also a stand out here, as different colours suitably enforce the mood of each scene. 

The only real problem with the film is the lack of character development. The story is an interesting one but you don't really get a sense of the characters and the dialogue is mainly to the point and blunt.

End (2011)

For the third 'Thematic' project, I chose to write and direct a short social realist film, the result of which being the film End.

After the death of the older brother he idolised, Lewis runs away from home and reflects on the events that lead up to his brother Mark joining the armed forces.

All in all End is something of a flawed film. There is some good acting, it has a nice visual style and a engaging use of music - but something is missing. It lacks a kind of overarching emotional pull. I think the key here is that the story is defiantly underwritten and in the end result it shows.

Visually it's fine. The shot composition is a little wavy at times, but overall, it's pretty good. Again the acting is solid and the technical aspects are all completely competent, it's just the underwritten script that lets it down.

For a flawed yet interesting work, here is End:



Parallels (2011)

The last film project of my second year Parallels, is a story about two emotionally damaged men meeting each other in the worst of circumstances. Declan is seventeen, and has been kicked out of his home by his mum and step dad due to his erratic behaviour. Alan on the other hand, attempts to find solace in working on his allotment after the his son comits suicide. However, when Declan breaks into the allotment's caravan the two find a kind of peace working together.

As the cinematographer on this project, I think the film itself has a nice overall look to it. The story is well paced and narratively there is an appropriate slow burn. Visually the film is nicely framed and the actors carry out their performances relatively well. 

The ambience brought about by the music is also a stand out part to this piece.  Although I think there are some really strong shots in this film, I do believe there are others which are quite flawed. The over exposure in parts of it can be quite distracting and at certain points a deep focus has been used with relatively little meaning.

Overall though it is a nice piece. Not perfect, but with some very interesting aspects.