CCR Reflection Critical

'Out Of Hand' is a comedy about a Tom, a relatively normal guy attempting to engage cordially while avoiding the infamous handshake from his co-workers. 

Generational gaps are a common occurence in the office workspace at GERS. In fact, we had 3 different generations in one room the day of filming. In the film itself, this oftentimes affects the way the workers perceive each other and ultimately, how they interact with one another. This is mildly touched on throughout the film, however these dynamics are more so displayed throughout the social media. Many of the extras characters were highlighted for their nuanced qualities. 

Hansini, played by Ayami Ratnayake, is set apart for her age, for her values in 'curiosity, intelligence, and hard-work.' In the film Out Of Hand, she is depicted as more than self-sufficient and has earned her respective place at the GERS Energy Company with an internship. Although Hasini still utilizes Gen Z slang, she is skillfully equipped to code-switch, and as a result, she successfully communicates with a plethora of social groups.  Although Hansini is not a prominent character in the plotline of the film, the character Hansini holds an important position in the movie through simply providing representation for the youth and POC communities,  demonstrating that they have just as much of an impact on society as outside groups, if not more. 

This excerpt was extracted from 'Out of Hand's' Social media. Hansini is displayed as opinionated, spunky,  judgmental, and intelligent. 

Next featured in the office is Alejandro, played by Bernardo Caicedo (on the far left in the picture). He is much older compared to Hansini, and he has difficulty alternating from Spanish to English.  However, much like Hansini, he values 'curiosity, intelligence, and hard-work.' They are all connected through these underlying values, but each worker has their own way of taking action towards these values based on cultural and social influences throughout their lives.

Many of the issues presented throughout the film stem from working in a male-dominated environment, where power is largely concentrated among a specific, privileged group. However, Alice challenges this dynamic by stepping outside traditional expectations and taking initiative. She takes on a leadership role by distributing a directive for a plan and becomes the driving force behind addressing Tom’s seemingly harmless, yet suspicious behavior.

In order to advertise this film, we decided to add a QR Code to our print component, to make the instagram account even easier to access. At the front of the card, we put the writer and director of the film (me) and left the rest of the credits for the back of the postcard. Considering how previous advertisements for movies have been made, I took a similar approach to the credits where I left the position itself much smaller than the name carrying it. For example, "Directed and Written by" is much smaller than the title "Martina Rodriguez" because the name is significant and recognizable, it jumps out at you. Same with the rest of the credits for each cast and crew member involved in the production. The light leak added into the card makes it feel dream-like almost, like they are conspiring and making major progress. 

The elements of my production work cohesively to establish a clear and recognizable sense of ‘branding,’ primarily centered around a specific comedic tone. From the vibrant or exaggerated color palette to the playful sound effects, everything is carefully chosen to amplify humor and maintain a consistent mood throughout.               

Furthermore, acting choices lean into caricature or subtle absurdity, reinforcing the satirical nature of the piece. Additionally, the use of abrupt cuts not only enhances comedic timing but also contributes to a fast-paced rhythm that keeps the audience engaged. Together, these stylistic decisions form a unified identity, making the production instantly identifiable and memorable within its genre.

When working on a piece as demanding as this one,  it was imperative that we create a cast that was familiar and comfortable with one another. Otherwise, the comedy and humor of the piece would take time for them to warm up to. Thankfully, all of the cast members were familiar with each other, especially Andrea, Daniel, and Lito, who had to interact the most with one another.

Our target audience would typically range at around ages 13 and up, as this age group may have a better grasp at some of the humor and larger implications on society in our film. They are also just the age group that may typically find the piece the most engaging. Our products engage with the audience through humor and a light-hearted tone, making them both entertaining and accessible. However, beneath the comedic surface lies a subtle yet meaningful message; a reminder that we rarely know the full breadth of what others might be experiencing inside. Through this balance of humor and heart, we encourage viewers to reflect on the importance of empathy, understanding, and mindfulness in their everyday interactions. By blending comedy with emotional understanding, our work invites the audience to laugh... and then think.

My research informed my products by allowing me to understand the specific structure of a short film, and my why. I learned a lot about how to structure a story and write a script, skills that have taken me quite a long time to master (still a work in progress) for this project. I felt better equipped to tell the story with having a basic foundation of what it means to write a short film, how it's different from a full fledged movie, and how to structure it. I believe my film challenged conventions especially with the ending, it's so utterly unexpected that it defeats the initial heuristics we use ourselves while watching a movie to try and figure out what outcome certain scenes or actions may lead to. This is the kind of ending that took me so long to write, because I became so inspired by the other student short films I had seen previously that took an unexpected, yet satisfying turn at the end.