The Black Hole - Short Film Research - Megan

The Black Hole (2008)

Diamond Dogs

Vimeo

An office worker discovers a black hole while working late which allows him to reach through other objects. He starts by simply taking a chocolate bar from the office vending machine, but his curiosity gets the better of him and he ends up stealing money from the company safe. The black hole allows him to climb the whole way into the safe, where the black hole comes loose from where he has stuck it, leaving him trapped inside. This film particularly interests me because I like how the ending is not predictable and leaves you wondering what happens to the character.

Representation

• Relevant social group – working class males. The office environment is represented to the audience in the evening, where the male character appears to be the only one around.
• Genre – comedy/crime
• There is only one character that appears in The Black Hole, who ends up being represented in quite a negative manner. His representation is not necessarily stereotypical of an office worker, as they are often presented as being quite organised and sometimes unfriendly. I think he starts off being a neutral character, who we relate to because we want to know what is going to happen as much as he does. Even when he steals chocolate from the vending machine(1), we still do not see him in a particularly negative light. This representation then becomes negative when he realises that he can potentially gain access to a locked door(2). We are made to see this more sinister side to him through his facial expressions and body language, as we can tell he is now almost sneaking around, as though he knows he will get in trouble if he is caught, but can’t quite contain his curiosity.
• The expected audience for this film I think would be teenagers and young adults of both genders, which could affect the representation of this character, but most likely does not. I don’t think he is supposed to be overly relatable, but at the same time the audience is supposed to empathize with his actions and understand why he uses his new ‘gift’ in the way that he does.
• The only real issue the film deals with is greed. The film shows that you can be too greedy, especially when it comes to money. The man becomes so focused on getting as much money as he can out of the safe, that he doesn't think about his actions and just climbs the whole way in(3). This shows that greed can make people do stupid things, which I feel is particularly important in this film.

Narrative

• There is huge overlap between the plot and the story in this short film. I think this way of letting the audience in on everything at the same time as the character allows the ending to shock us more, as we are suddenly told nothing about how he is expected to escape the safe, or what happens to the money that he had withdrawn from it beforehand. This allows the film to shock the audience, as well as making it somewhat amusing at the same time.
• The narrative is in chronological order, so is linear without closure. The ending is left at a cliff hanger to make the audience think.(4) This links loosely with Roland Barthes theory of enigma codes, as it leaves a mystery for the spectator to answer, but because it is at the end it does not necessarily encourage the spectator to engage with the text throughout. It also links to Todorov’s theory of classic narrative. The equilibrium stage is before he photocopies the black hole, the disruption occurs when the black hole appears and he discovers what is does. The confrontation is then him using it for his own personal gain, with the resolution being once the paper has fallen from the door and presumably disappears. The new equilibrium is then established with the character trapped inside the safe. This quick succession of stages allows the short film to be successful, as the stages are clear but short, so even with the condensed amount of time which the short film offers; the events are able to be understood.
• The beginning and the ending of the film are incredibly different to each other. I think Todorov’s theory describes the differences the best, as we begin with equilibrium(5) and end with a new equilibrium(6). The shocking nature of the film is highlighted by the ending, particularly by the final three shots. The safe on its own is quite a haunting image to be left with, and is by far one of the most powerful shots throughout the entire film.

Genre

• I believe that there are multiple genres which are identifiable in this film. The film in itself could be considered a comedy, with an over-dramatized view on what happens to those who are too greedy. Then there are crime and science fiction, which are also identifiable through various codes and conventions.
• Short films are often hybrid genres, as they cover many of the technical codes used in different genres. They use these technical codes and conventions to allow a spectator to guess what will happen in the narrative. Without the spectator being able to have slight background knowledge into what may happen, some short films may not work in their intended way, as it is these conventions that are crucial to the way the film is watched.
• This film links to David Buckingham’s theory that genre is a process of negotiation and change, as this is a hybrid genre film and therefore uses codes for multiple genres. Though a comedy, the more common codes and conventions are not visible here.
• Using genre codes and conventions appeals to audiences because it allows them to understand elements of the film that they may not otherwise understand, and means that certain events can be put in context. Comedy usually works best with speech, so in this sense this film does not fit the usual conventions of a comedy. It does use codes and conventions typically associated with crime drama, with props like the safe and money, which help the audience understand the setting. The black hole is a more obvious code of science fiction films, which makes this film a hybrid genre film.

Audience

• I believe the audience for this film to be young people with an interest in short film, particularly experimental, based on where the film is hosted.
• I think this audience would find this film interesting because of the un-realistic element of the black hole thrown into the very everyday setting of an office. This element of abnormality helps to add a lot of suspense to the film, as there is an element of mystery surrounding it that makes the audience want to know more.
• The film has also been screened on the BBC film network and is hosted on Youtube as well as Vimeo.
• The film was produced by Photoplay Films, and the director is Diamond Dogs. (see logo)

Media Language

• (7) I feel that this final shot is one of the most important shots throughout this entire film. It shows the message of the film, and allows the audience to appreciate the nature of his stupidity and greed. The framing is interesting as it is at an angle which is almost slightly canted. This helps to reiterate his moment of madness in greater detail.