Initial Research into Short Films - A Favour

'A Favour' is a short film that questions stereotypes of ethnicity. 

The title of the film would suggest that the content and storyline is positive however this is soon changed. 
The titling text of 'a favour' is presented in a slightly pixelated typeface which could suggest a sense of forshadowing - perhaps the following events involve technology. Why hasn't a normal font been used?.. 

The colour scheme in this opening shot is all very light and bright which connotes a neutral atmosphere; the use of fill lighting creates a normal and positive looking environment.

The editing throughout the time we see the families eating breakfast is clever because it allows the viewer to feel a sense of the chaotic environment:

• Quick cut transitions create a faster pace which makes the scene appear very disorderly and chaotic.
• The slight zoom movements pick up the smaller insignificant parts that all together build a very real and normal household. 
• Quick staccato pans are used to make it appear more busy and allow you to follow what is going on.  

The diegetic sound of people chatting in the kitchen and cutlery and plates knocking beside each other also contributes to the normality of the situation.

When the two characters meet, they both appear to be similar in class as there cars are alike and are both dressed smartly (connoted by the mans suit, and the others briefcase which we assume to be leather). 

The difference in body language is where we begin to tell the difference between the two characters. The white man is sitting laid back with his leg propped up in his car whilst the other stands.
When asked to call his mobile for him, he fumbles around in his pocket hurriedly to find it - this suggests the difference in status as he is obeying his request and trying to do it quickly. 

There is a lot of focus on the mans phone, shown by the close up used on the prop. Therefore suggesting that it could be significant to the story. 

The man takes off in his car in a hurry which is then followed by shots of heavy traffic. The cut transition joining the two shots could suggest that the antagonist rushing off had something to do with the following event. These shots are accompanied by diegetic sound such as sirens and braking traffic. Both of these convey that some sort of emergency or accident has occurred.   

match on action shot no.2

Close ups and extreme close ups are used on the protagonist in his car which allows us to see his look of confusion. The match on action shows him turning on the radio (diegetic sound) to which he hears: "multiple casualties". The camera then does a slight zoom on his face which implies that he is a focus/culprit (he looks enclosed) and that this could be his fault. This is reinforced by: "the bomb was detonated remotely" as the audience can piece together that he was set up to trigger the bomb explosion. 
Narrative:
The use of parralel editing allows the audience to see two families (of two different ethnicities) during the normal everyday routine. We can apply this with Todorovs Theory as being the Equilibrium:

Equilibrium

• Equilibrium - The two families are at home eating breakfast, looking after and arguing with their children, getting dressed for work etc - the lighting remains high key to suggest a normality and neutralness to the situation.
• Disruption - This can be depicted as the part when the two male characters meet as this is the point where the 'disruption' begins, even though the audience are not yet aware of it. 

Disruption

• Confrontation -  As the man is traveling to work, he begins to realise that something isn't quite right. The audience are able to understand the character through the use of -extreme close ups to allow facial expression to be seen, diegetic sound of the news on the radio and also the helicopter; these conventions all contribute to create a tense atmosphere.

Representation:
In 'A Favour' I believe that the director is trying to make the audience empathise with the male Muslim character. To begin with, both of the male characters are shown to be very normal and of equal status as the cross cutting shows them to be in similar situations.  However the director has very cleverly tried to challenge the stereotype of people of Muslim ethnicity being terrorists. 

In the present time we're in there has been a lot of conflict in Western Asian countries. For example: "Terror threat from al-Qaeda veterans"

Due to the majority of war related conflict being publicised on the news, we begin to associate people from certain religions or countries to be violent. 
'A Favour' changes the stereotype of Muslims being represented as terrorists as the cause behind the incident is a white man - somebody you wouldn't necessarily accuse. This film aims to change peoples views and assumptions on ethnicity and that everyone is equal.