Top 3 DepicT! Shorts

Here are my top 3 picks of DepicT! short films:

• Cool Unicorn Bruv
• The Launderette
• Night Lights

Cool Unicorn Bruv

'Cool Unicorn Bruv' is my favourite of the shorts. It mixes a surreal sense of humor to a situation that isn't itself particularly funny. The camerawork is professional and clean, helping the action flow throughout the short. The camerawork is also complimented by the acting of the three characters, particularly the facial expressions. The two friends at the beginning are both amazed to see their other friend with a unicorn and are treating it as the next best thing to buy. I also like the limited use of special effects; the white horse has a fake horn but the effect looks fairly realistic and stands out against the gritty and grey city-scape. A digital special effect is used at the end, adding a little comedy to the short as it ends.

The Launderette

'The Launderette' is a touching short that is fairly slow and calm to watch. The combination of limited cuts and long takes creates a calm and mystical tone throughout the short. The story itself is rather surreal but fitting in the mood created. The camerawork is also very professional, using a good combination of shots. A particular shot that intrigued me was when the man climbs out of the washing machine; the girl is in focus whilst the rest of the shot is out of focus, so when the man climbs out, the audience are left in suspense of what or who it is. There is no dialogue and most of the story is told through the actors facial expressions and movement, which is done very well. Although it is a short, I wanted to see what happened next and find out why exactly that had happened, but the audience is left wondering and thinking.

Night Lights

'Night Lights' is a mix of live action and animation, in a stop-motion form. The story is told mainly through the sound, which compliments what is on screen. The tone is rather relaxed, being created by the night sky, the orange glow of the night lights and the streaks of light, most likely representing energy, as a sound effect of an electric current is heard. The streaks flow into the form of people and animals, either in groups or individually. The camerawork is a little shakey at times, however it is a stop motion animation and some frames are repeated.