I will be evaluating the short coming of age film written and directed by Daisy Bennet where I predominantly played the role of camera operator and producer. In the context section of the unit, we watched Mark Kermode's secrets of cinema where he outlines the 7 essentials of the genre, first time, and setting.

 

How did you establish a clear setting and time within your coming-of-age film? Give consideration to your mise en scene such as decor, costume, props, etc. as well as sound e.g. soundtracks. Did any other films influence your decision-making?

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To establish the time period of the 90s we used a plethora of different techniques to varying levels of success. Most notable is the soundtrack - in the edit I used songs from the time period, for example “come as you are '' by Nirvana. Music acts as a screenshot for a time period, as people will often associate a year or decade with the music they listened to or was popular. ANother way we established the setting was with the way props interacted with the story, for example the beginning and end scenes take place in a phone box which in modern day would be replaced for a mobile phone. The charationzation could also be argued as a method to establish the time, the mother is raising a child in the 80s/90s suggesting she herself is a Baby boomer, a generation known for helicopter parenting, something the mother partakes in within the film. One element i think we could have improved on was the use of costume to establish time period - we researched fashion of the 90s finding denim and large trench coats which we used in production, but with a larger budget and time investment we could have improved this front, with band t-shirts from the time and enforced fashion style for extras. Another element which we fell short with was the decor- for example in the classroom scene there is a macbook and an interactive white bourd in the background- the inclusion of this modern techknowledgey acts to undermine the 90s setting, with a higher budget to recreate 90s decor would improve this element. 

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How successful were you in constructing an identifiable goal for your character(s) ? What did you do to achieve this? Did any other films influence your decision-making?

 

The protagonist of our piece, Robin. had an unidentifiable goal - unclear of her purpose in life, instead drifting between the goals others push her into, Skylar into the art competition and her mother to stay home. This theme of wondering, unclear of your purpose, in a search for identity and ambition was inspired by the 2018 film Ladybird and the 2014 film Boyhood. These films explore growing up and moving away from comfortability, much like our own film. Often cinematic choices we made were influenced by these films for example to represent the unclear motivation of Robin we see her travelling in various contradictory directions - this shot is often used in COming of age films like LadyBird. However the combination of Robin's lack of goals and her imperfect, fall driven characterization present a problem to the narrative. Both of these aspects could work with a longer narrative, not in the structure of a short film but in the minal time it's hard to root for Robin as she rejects those close to her and regularly changes motivation - from staying home at the start to desirability wanted to leave by the end with little reasoning for the shift. TO improve the discomtect felt between the protagonist and audience I would utilise more internet camera angles such as close-ups to capture Robin's emotions. For example, in the scene where Robin sees the leaflet Skylar was looking at, I would turn back to Robin to see her reaction. 

 

What personal growth did your character undertake and how did you achieve this within the narrative and in the edit? Did any other films influence your decision-making?

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We used a cyclical narrative structure- starting showing just half of the phone box scene  Robin lost in the world, thinks she has no one then to the ending scene where she takes on the advice of her mentors, taking responsibility for her future by calling the art competition. THis acts as the progression of the character - growing up and maturing. Robin not calling Skylar also acts as a representation of her movement into not relying on/controlling Sky, this shift comes when the mother repeats the words “there's me” to Robin, a sentence Robin says in the scene before. This theme of “becoming your mother” or who you wore to destroy is common in the coming of age genre. For example, Ladybird, Ladybird and Marion are often likened. 

 

What Coming of Age codes and conventions did you employ in your short film? Below is a reminder of the 9 areas we explored in the Mark Kermode context assignment. Give clear examples from your film. Did any other films influence your decision-making?