Blur[1]

BlurBlur

Created by Rooster TeethCreated by Rooster Teeth

Message..Message..

This short, although focusing on comedy, is This short, although focusing on comedy, is highlighting how extreme and over-the-top the highlighting how extreme and over-the-top the media has become and what a hard task it is to media has become and what a hard task it is to keep each member of the audience happy. keep each member of the audience happy.

They did this by blurring or bleeping anything They did this by blurring or bleeping anything the audience may have found offensive, for the audience may have found offensive, for example – swearing.example – swearing.

Product placement is also a common thing Product placement is also a common thing used in films and television series, they show used in films and television series, they show their view by mocking it and making it even their view by mocking it and making it even more over-the-top. more over-the-top.

Camera techniques..Camera techniques.. The short starts with an over-shoulder shot of Matt, The short starts with an over-shoulder shot of Matt,

revealing that he is working on footage of himself on the revealing that he is working on footage of himself on the computer, this tells the audience a little bit about their computer, this tells the audience a little bit about their work life and what it entails.work life and what it entails.

As Joel arrives, it flicks between mid shots of him and As Joel arrives, it flicks between mid shots of him and over-shoulder shots of Matt as they continue with their over-shoulder shots of Matt as they continue with their conversation – this has the same affect as a shot-conversation – this has the same affect as a shot-reverse-shot.reverse-shot.

This sequence is followed by a close-up shot of the This sequence is followed by a close-up shot of the computer screen as Joel notices a blur on Matt’s shirt in computer screen as Joel notices a blur on Matt’s shirt in the footage. This camera technique is again used as Joel the footage. This camera technique is again used as Joel realises that the blur is really on Matt’s realises that the blur is really on Matt’s

shirt.shirt.

Camera techniques..Camera techniques..

There is then a mid-range, mid shot as Gus enters, this There is then a mid-range, mid shot as Gus enters, this is used as they introduce the new character.is used as they introduce the new character.

This then moves on to a closer-up shot of Gus as he This then moves on to a closer-up shot of Gus as he attempts to pull off a product placement.attempts to pull off a product placement.

Another mid shot is used as they introduce another Another mid shot is used as they introduce another new character in the short, Geoff.new character in the short, Geoff.

There is then a close-up of the ‘morally questionable There is then a close-up of the ‘morally questionable guidelines’ sheet. It is noticeable that when a new guidelines’ sheet. It is noticeable that when a new character or blur is revealed, a close-up or mid shot is character or blur is revealed, a close-up or mid shot is most commonly used to highlight their appearance and most commonly used to highlight their appearance and introduce them properly to the audience. introduce them properly to the audience.

Camera techniques..Camera techniques.. There is then a high angle shot, looking down There is then a high angle shot, looking down

at Joe, the cat, revealing that he is also at Joe, the cat, revealing that he is also blurred. This shot wouldn’t have been as blurred. This shot wouldn’t have been as effective if it had been used at the same level effective if it had been used at the same level as with Matt and Joel, this way it highlights the as with Matt and Joel, this way it highlights the difference in size effectively.difference in size effectively.

The camera then tracks Geoff as he stumbles The camera then tracks Geoff as he stumbles around the room, blinded by the blur.around the room, blinded by the blur.

It finished with a long shot, looking across the It finished with a long shot, looking across the office at another new character, Gav, as he office at another new character, Gav, as he realises that his shirt is also blurred.realises that his shirt is also blurred.

Sound..Sound..

In this short, only diegetic sound is used – the In this short, only diegetic sound is used – the dialogue. Non-diegetic sound such as music or dialogue. Non-diegetic sound such as music or a voiceover is not necessary for this storyline a voiceover is not necessary for this storyline because everything is meant to be realistic and because everything is meant to be realistic and untouched, just as if the camera isn’t there and untouched, just as if the camera isn’t there and they are just living their everyday life. they are just living their everyday life.

Usually in films or TV series, when swearing is Usually in films or TV series, when swearing is bleeped out, the characters cannot hear it. bleeped out, the characters cannot hear it. However, in this short, to exaggerate the However, in this short, to exaggerate the parody, they can hear their speech being parody, they can hear their speech being bleeped.bleeped.

Mise-en-scene..Mise-en-scene..

‘‘Blur’ takes place in an office – the office of Blur’ takes place in an office – the office of Rooster Teeth. This is where most of their Rooster Teeth. This is where most of their shorts take place.shorts take place.

This helps show the audience who they are, This helps show the audience who they are, what they are doing and how they know each what they are doing and how they know each other, as well as putting them in the working other, as well as putting them in the working environment.environment.

The audience are shown more about the The audience are shown more about the characters and their lifestyle by how casual characters and their lifestyle by how casual their dress code is in their place of work. This their dress code is in their place of work. This implies that they are very relaxed and implies that they are very relaxed and comfortable.comfortable.

Editing..Editing..

The shots are edited to a slow pace to fit The shots are edited to a slow pace to fit the pace of the story. the pace of the story.

For example, if the genre was action, it For example, if the genre was action, it would be edited to a fast pace to fit the would be edited to a fast pace to fit the sequence. But ‘Blur’ is a comedy and sequence. But ‘Blur’ is a comedy and therefore the edits are slow and smooth therefore the edits are slow and smooth to fit the genre.to fit the genre.

Audience..Audience..

‘‘Blur’ is made by RoosterBlur’ is made by Rooster Teeth who have theirTeeth who have their own fan base. As well own fan base. As well as making shorts, they have as making shorts, they have a animated series called ‘Red a animated series called ‘Red vs Blue’. vs Blue’. Therefore the typical audience for their series Therefore the typical audience for their series

of shorts are subscribers and fans of their other of shorts are subscribers and fans of their other work – this consists mainly of gaming fans.work – this consists mainly of gaming fans.