Introduction
The chosen film is titled The Mountain of sGaana and is 10 minutes long. The film is based on a story that was inspired by an old Haida fable. The Haida are indigenous people who are based on the west coast of Canada and southern Alaska. The film is about a young man who is rescued by a young woman from the spirit world. The film features several cultural aspects of the Haida people. Throughout the movie, the design of the artifacts presented as part of Haida culture changes as the story progresses. The film tells a story about the Haida people using modern ways of telling stories.
Views on the Movie
The short movie is a magical story about a young man stolen away into the spirit world and is then rescued by a young woman. The movie is inspirational and engaging because of the unique ways that are used to tell the story. It is possible to watch the movie more than once and come up with new things that had gone unnoticed before. The attention to detail and the unique ways of animating the characters result in a fantastic film. Watching the film results in feelings of happiness and satisfaction. The film’s ability to engage makes a viewer feel fulfilled. Therefore, the short film made me inspired, engaged, happy and fulfilled.
Qualities that Result in the Identified Feelings
One of the qualities is the use of dialogue and no dialogue in some aspects of the film. There are instances where we see what is happening, but there is no dialogue between the character. For example, in minutes 2:03 to 2:05, the film shows a scene where the man is confronted by a huge shark. There is no dialogue used, but the viewer can understand what happened. Dialogue helps to carry the story forward and ensures that the viewer understands what is being said. In other instances, the director may choose to use animate some of the scenes using sound and no dialogue. This creates a feeling of engagement because the viewer is glued to the screen to ensure nothing is missed.
The next quality is diegetic and non-diegetic sounds within the short film. Diegetic sounds are those that originate within the short film, while non-diegetic sounds are those that exist outside the film world. These two types of sounds are present in the short film and help the audience connect between scenes. One can identify the sounds as the story progresses, which is part of enhancing the film. One example of non-diegetic sounds is the sound played as the story advances, while an example of diegetic sounds is the splash of water or the sound of the movements of the huge shark. These sounds from the short film enhance feelings of happiness
The other major quality is the camera movements, which are useful in showing different angles. Also, the camera movements help to emphasize the storyline and ensure that nothing is missed. It is possible to watch the movie more than one time and identify new things each time. In some instances, the camera zooms toward a certain figure or away from a specific scene. The camera also tilts up and down as the director moves from one scene to the next. These movements allow the viewer to participate in the action by adding pace and energy. The camera movements result in feelings of engagement and inspiration.
The last quality is the short duration, which enhances feelings of fulfillment and happiness. The short film adopts short shot durations in instances that communicate the need to move forward quickly. In other instances, the short film utilizes long shot durations which indicate and sends a message to the viewer. For example, in minute 2:15 the film uses a long shot duration to show the anguish of the young woman after the young man was stolen away into the spirit world. The viewer can understand the context of the action because of the time the shot takes.
Answers to Dorsky’s Question
Dorsky posed the question of what the movie does to the metabolism as a way of showing that movies need a balance between subjective and objective. The use of dialogue and no dialogue enhanced feelings of engagement because it made it essential to watch the visuals where there was no dialogue. This ensured that I was concentrated on what was happening in each scene. The presence of no dialogue in certain scenes allowed me to understand the storyline. In minutes 2:03 to 2:05, there is no dialogue between characters, which not be noticeable if one is not focused on the film.
The diegetic sounds played in the short film enhanced feelings of happiness. Most of the sounds mimicked sounds that exist in real life, which enhances the dramatic effects of the short film. The non-diegetic sounds also added dramatic effects in the movie, which enhanced feelings of happiness. Sounds have a significant role in developing the story forward. Sounds can be entertaining and satisfying to listen to, which adds more richness to the film. The dramatic effects produced by sounds in the film can also be related to my feelings of happiness.
The camera movements brought out feelings of engagement and inspiration. The film uses various camera movements such as zoom, tilt, and pan. These movements are intended on expanding the storyline and emphasizing the key elements of the story. The camera movements enhance engagement because they ensure that the viewer follows all the changes to understand the storyline. On the aspect of short duration, the use of long and short durations of shots provides the director with control over which aspects should be emphasized. This increases feelings of fulfillment as the story moves forward. Long shots are meant to provide scenes without any interruptions. The shot durations communicate unique aspects to the viewer and can be used to understand the storyline. For example, in minute 2:15 the long shot is meant to show the anguish on the young woman’s face.
Conclusion
In summary, the short film The Mountain of sGaana tells a story of a young woman who seeks to rescue a young man stolen away into the spirit world. Watching the film results in feelings of happiness, fulfillment, engagement, and inspiration. Films can change the well-being of people positively or negatively. Films can inspire people to change their behaviors or adopt new habits. Movies that provide positive feelings are beneficial to viewers as they can adopt the positive aspects. Therefore, movies are not solely for entertainment, as they also can alter the well-being of people.