Operator Analysis

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Operator by Vicky McClure, 2015

Narrative

  • narrative driven by dialogue
  • cyclical narrative
    • what happened will happen again and again, every time the operator picks up the phone
  • inciting incident is phone call
  • equilibrium established in shots of people working on computers before resting on the main operator

Genre

  • Suspense
  • Real Life

Representation

  • White middle age woman
  • Passes Bechdel test
  • Depicts moment in operator's life, what they have to deal with everyday
    • Deals with high stress, we can see the impact and strength they have to deal with it
    • For audience, is emotionally intense. Ending reveals this happens over and over.
  • Unexpected viewpoint, least "cinematic"

Audience

  • Positioned with operator
  • Lack of visual spectacle means audience focuses on dialogue
  • Dialogue creates impression of visuals, audience imagining images on their own
  • Sound places audience with operator
    • Only hear her voice
    • Ambient noise decreases; vococentrism

Micro Elements


  • Sound bridge of keys tapping
  • Dialogue plays major role
    • Is the only way audience "sees" what is happening
  • Sound of fire coming from phone call
  • Mostly series of close up, camera moving slightly
  • Shallow focus to centre operator's face
  • Ambient noise of keys and phones establish setting at beginning
  • Tracking shot establishes environment, different as didn't use a long shot to do this
  • Sigh at end reveals emotional impact at ending
  • Silence around operator emphasises impact and gives audience time to reflect
    • Sound coming back represents the operator moving on and getting back to work
  • Next phone call reveals that this will continue
  • Tight framing on operator, focus on her
  • Performance integral
    • Stammer reveals emotions behind stoic face
  • Limited music

Elements I might Use

The cylical narrative is interesting, and helps reinforce the point the film is trying to make. This kind of narrative would be interesting to explore.
The way silence is used, to reflect the emotions of the protagonist, is creative, and something I might try to make use of.
Additionally, the set up occurs very quickly. It is not narratively complex, but very engaging. A good example of a very focused script, which is necessary for a short film.

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