Narrative styles of short films and codes and conventions

I have noticed in my research of short films that the narrative of short films are very unique and weird, it could be to play on the escapism reason why people watch short films as the storyline is so far fetched and out of this world. The short films I have researched also leave mystery for the audience together with unexplainable plots such as a huge hole in the back of a man's head with a talking maggot inside. These weird, unrealistic storylines do not have a moral behind them, which in my own opinion is a downfall of short films and possibly the reason why short films aren't very well known.
A life changing event is usually the starting point for the story to begin, so if I decided to make a short film I will have to think of a life altering factor that would impact on my characters life. Also I am going to actually relate to my audience which differs from the weird unreal convention of a short film. Therefore the life altering event will impact on the audience as well as it could happen to them/already happened to them, as my research suggests a short film on youth culture which can teach valuable lessons is something that would get a big audience viewing.

Codes and conventions of short films

Length

Usually between two mins and 20 mins, anything shorter than a feature film.

Niche Audience

Short films have a lot smaller and niche audience than mainstream due to the creative nature, length and simple storyline. Although largely accessible, many are not aware of short film. This is laregly due to popularity decreasing through the 30’s onwards, and the limited access in mainstream forms such as prime time television and cinema. Short film also varies in genre and style and will appeal to a much more specific audience.

Emotion

Short films are used to convey a strong emotion to the viewer whether this is laughter, pleasure, sadness or anger, sometimes making comments on morals or society in the process. Short films can be a lot more powerful in this way as it is easy to make something appear differently to how it is or to get the audience thinking about a particualr topic without having the time to make up their minds while watching, leaving them to contemplate after the film has finished. There will also usually be a stronger connection to the characters as they are shown closely throughout, with the creativity allowing for more humour and pleasure.

Characters

Only usually one main character with a couple of add ons, to gain that audience actor relationship in a small amount of time.

Online distribution

Unlike mainstream film, short films are laregly accessable for free through the internet. There are many sites who distribute short films online from independent to established sites such as the BBC. This is the easiest and most effective way for short film to reach audiences as they are very rarely shown at cinemas or on television. DVDs can be brought with selections of short films on, however, they are most widely accessed over the web. As short film is based much more on creativity and expression rather than mainstream and profit, it is much more important for the film maker to reach a wide audience and distribute films to them for free.

Opposition to mainstream

All of these codes and conventions laregly make short film in opposition to mainstream. They hold a very different format and style to each other and short film will usually try to give audiences a different outlet of film to the mainstream

Codes and conventions of  'Trainspotting'

Trainspotting (1996) is the film that is most similar to my short film idea so by taking apart the conventions of it I can learn from how the film is directed and the effect particular shots have.  

There are close-ups of heroin being heated on a spoon and sucked into a syringe, detail of the tying of tourniquets around arms in order to raise veins for easier injection and, in the strongest scene, an extreme close-up of a needle puncturing the lead character’s skin. We also see characters taking ecstasy and smoking marijuana.

Trainspotting was submitted for cinema release on November 20 1995 and examiner reports from that date describe it as a ‘darkly comic and at times savage account of a group of heroin addicts’, stating that ‘the absence of a moralising tone allows for some of the highs as well as the lows to be given space’. Therefore an 18 age rating was given to this film.