CASE STUDY: ‘Trick Meter’By: Alyesha & Aaron

https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2015/06/03/trick-meter/

What do the images tell you?

INITIAL RESPONSEWhat do you think the words ‘Trick’ and ‘Meter’ mean?

Can you outline what you think the film will be about?

Will it be a happy/sad film from the title?

Would you go and watch it just from knowing the title?

SHOW FILM…

WERE YOU RIGHT?Did the film break your expectations?

Was it what you expected?

Did you like it?

A QUICK TEST

Trick MeterWhat do you think the Genre of the short film is?

ADVENTURE

ACTION COMEDY

SCI-FI

Trick MeterHow many characters featured in the short film?

1

3 5

10

Trick MeterWhat was the structure of the short film?

BEGINNING, MIDDLE,

END

PROBLEM LEFT

UNRESOLVED

TWIST AT THE END

ENDS THE SAME AS

BEGINNING

Trick MeterHow did the film start?

A COIN SPINNING

A SCENIC IMAGE OF THE VIEW

A HOMELESS

PERSON

THE MAIN CHARACTE

R

CORRECT!Q2 Q3 Q4

INCORRECT!Q2 Q3 Q4

DETAILSThe film was written and directed

by: Simeon DuncombeIt is an action film that was

released a month ago on the website : shortoftheweek.com

The website has shown short films to millions around the world since 2007.

The website shows a variety of shorts and also gives out awards to the best ones!

ABOUT The very trick meter itself provides a sense of

wordless stakes to the various events on screen. As the skater attempts to battle his way through each

successive trial, we hold our breath. Will he make that jump? More importantly, will he do it in time?

Trick Meter is a lot like a video game. As an audience we instantly watch all the actions on

screen—we watch (and want) our hero to beat the game itself.

Also, all this information is conveyed wordlessly as Trick Meter is a silent film 

STORYLINE

FUNDING The short film was a personal project

that Duncombe was only able to work on in his spare time and with the use of his own equipment.

Everything was shot on a couple of DSLRs. Special effects were completed using Maya and Nuke Technology.

He is part of New Zealand creative video agency, ’Freshly Ground’ who helped him with a bit of funding for the film e.g – paying actors.

PERSONAL RESPONSE We loved the film after watching it a

few times as we didn’t quite understand what was going on the first time.

It’s a very imaginative idea, however still remains very simple as its just a boy on a skateboard.

We were quite surprised that the genre was action.. It felt more like an adventure film.