A Different Tree Analysis

The film discussed in this analysis is A Different Tree (2016). This short film is about an eight-year-old, Pearl Washington, who journeys to build a relationship with her absent father. A class presentation about a family tree motivates her to take this action. The overall theme of the film is the complexity of family dynamics. The exposition of the story begins when Pearl informs her mother, she will no longer present her family tree. Pearl views it as being incomplete without her father. The rising action occurs when Pearl decides to find her father. This moment immediately leads to the climax of the story. Pearl discovers that her father has his own family, apart from her and her mother. When Pearl and her mother have a heart to heart moment, after she feels rejected by her father, the falling action takes place. In the end, the resolution to the story is Pearl accepting her family as it is, she and her mother.

Production Design

            The set design captured the elements needed to support the film such as the classroom, the neighborhood, and the homes. There was a distinct difference between Pearl’s home and her father’s. Though her home was shown briefly, the audience can determine the economic class of Pearls family. Everything within the home was tight knit, and slightly cluttered. This created the essence of a lower-class family. Pearls bedroom was small, and the walls were decorated in stickers. Her father’s home in contrast to hers, was high classed and spacious. All the decoration and décor were vintage. In a sense this home fit the profession of Pearls father, a doctor.

Cinematography

The cinematography in this film was very simple, but strong enough to convey a message. There was a scene where a foreground element took place. Pearl is sitting at her desk watching her classmates present their family trees. The camera is positioned between two students who are vaguely seen in the frame, but the focal point is Pearl. In this moment the audience get a view of how heartbroken Pearl is when her classmate mentions her father. There were multiple moments like this shot. One thing that stood out in the cinematography was the color. The film consistently had a warm yellow color throughout the film. This yellow was the films base color. The only time it changed is when the night scenes occurred. These scenes were intimate moments between Pearl and her mother. At the end of the film, Pearl bravely present her family tree, and the colors shift from yellow to bright and vibrant colors, ultimately changing the mood and temperature of the film. There was also a moment where the cinematographer captured the depth of field. When Pearl stands before the door to her father’s house, behind her are two homes. Both homes are blurred in the frame, making Pearl the focus.

Camera position

In order to capture the heart of the audience there were multiple close ups on Pearls face. The audience could see her sadness, her conflictions as well her frustration. These shots were an essential to key for the audience to sympathize and connect to Pearl. Though there were multiple close ups there were also establishing shots. This can be seen when Pearl walks to her father’s doorstep. Because the film was so intimate there were only a few master shots. They all happen to take place at Pearls fathers house. These shots captured the richness of the neighborhood in contrast to Pearls home.

Sound

            Throughout the film there was a childlike lullaby instrumental playing. With the instrumental playing throughout the film it implied that this film is based on a child’s perspective. The first time the lullaby music is heard is in the opening scene. The instrumental set the tone of the film. When Pearl is in her classroom feeling reluctant about presenting her family tree, the lullaby instrumental become slightly intense. This is a moment where she’s feeling anxiety and the pace of the music match well with the scene.  Apart from the music there were natural sounds heard throughout film, such as nature noises, the sounds of dogs barking, and the clock ticking. Accompanied with these sounds were the dialogue. When the climax of the film takes place there is simply dialogue. There are no natural sounds heard throughout these scenes in order to draw the audience in further to the conflict.

Editing

In the beginning scene, Pearl is creating her family tree. In order to speed the process of this activity there were several jump cuts. After Pearl finished her project, she steps back to view it. In this moment a crosscut transition takes place. Throughout the film there were several cross cuts. One of the more interesting scenes’ is when Pearl’s classmates all got to share their family trees. There were several creative combinations in the editing that took place. These transitions were back to back in one scene. A crosscut transitioned into a jump cut, and a jump cut transitioned into an L cut. These multiple transitions helped to build up the level of intensity as an audience viewer. It made one feel anxious for Pearl to present her project.

             As I compared all the elements used in a production, there were only two I’d like to employ in my film. These elements consist of music and editing. In order to add depth to the film, just as A Different Tree, it’s important to have melancholy music in the background. This will help set the mood and the tone of the film. As far as editing, in order to gauge the audience at the end of the film there will be an editing transition, a dissolve. The character will be sitting on the couch only to dissolve out of the frame. This will leave room for the audience to decide what happened with the character.