cheap frills
Visual Narrative - Short Film
“Cheap Frills” follows Shirley as she works to curate an image that matches her newfound aesthetic. Shirley comes across a picture of Mary Jane shoes, commonly associated with the 1920s to the 1960s, and becomes obsessed with collecting vintage items such as: old cameras, suitcases, and clothing. We see what lengths she is willing to go to acquire another piece.
The film utilizes cropped detail shots to represent her closed and slightly obsessive perspective. The sense of crazed materialism is reinforced by warped speeds and quick cuts but balanced through the stabilizing use of youthful colors. Colors such as red, yellow, and blue follow the progression of time and match her moods. Red, often associated with desire and passion, pairs with her longing for a new identity. Yellow is attached to energy and stimulus, which corresponds to Shirley’s rapid action while acquiring new objects. Blue is known to promote the feeling of peace and appears as Shirley makes her final reach towards satisfaction. These technical decisions emphasize Shirley’s mindset throughout the film and help the audience follow this whirlwind of a story.
In my film, I aimed to maintain visual balance and/or symmetry in the majority of the scenes. To accomplish this I followed a grid system and the rule of thirds. This composition technique was essential to my film because it helped create a unifying quality that grounded the quick cut transitions and rapid plot.
My color and aesthetic exploration continued to develop as I gathered inspiration from directors such as Wes Anderson and film movements such as American and French New Wave. I found the use of bold primary colors in backgrounds and props very endearing and whimsical.
