Operator - Caroline Bartleet

Personally, I found this film to be one of the most intriguing and engaging short films that I have seen so far. On the surface, this is a aesthetically simplistic film, due to its minimal application of micro-elements - specifically in terms of cinematography and editing. Nevertheless, the film does put an incredible focus through the utilisation of sound. The film paints visual imagery within the mind of the audience through the application of audience. Moreover, it aids  in accumulating a bubbling tension, which nurtured and cultivated until the very end of the film.

The film follows a police phone operator receiving a call from Gemma - a scared women battling a fire within her home. The film picks up tension as the call progresses, the fire grows and the stakes are raised (the child is trapped upstairs). There are stark contrasting moments within this film. There are moments were there are erratic violent screams and shouts, juxtaposed by the presence of periodic silence.

There was a heavy use of close up shots within the film, which was an interesting visual representation of how claustrophobic Gemma must be as she struggles against her burning house for the sake of the child.

The juxtaposition between Gemma and the operator was also engaging. The operator was calm, professional and sympathetic, whilst the mother was frightened and frantic. The Operator represented the strong natural woman instincts, whereas Gemma is representing the power that women possess within - only brought out when their child is in danger.

I believe this film will encourage me to create imagery through the application of sound. I may achieve this by presenting minimal information on the screen, but have a dynamic sound design that can set setting tone and mood/