Conversation Piece, Joe Tunmer, 2009 By ADAM RUTHERFORD

http://www.newtreatment.co.uk/test-pages/test-recent/95-conversation-piece

Conversation Piece is a short film by director and writer Joe Tunmer. The film uses Rex Stewart's 1966 "Conversation Piece" in replacement of dialogue to tell the story. The film focuses on A married couple arguing about a broken vase, and instead of us hearing what they're actually saying we hear the instruments. The film is a comedy drama, and these elements are obvious throughout the film. There is an argument between the couple which because of the sound of the instruments in time with their mouths, it makes it funny.

It is the sound that makes the conventions of this film unique. The Director has used Diegetic sound in replacement of dialogue, a convention which in my opinion is very rare. I think this is a very interesting and clever way of making a film, because even though we can't hear what the characters are saying we know exactly what they're saying.

The film follows the short film format perfectly, with a obvious beginning, middle and end. At the beginning Jean find the broken vase, with the middle of the film concentrating on the resulting argument about the vase and finally concluding with Maurice fixing the vase. I like how the film begins with a seemingly typical morning, but suddenly develops into an emotional argument. This gives the audience an insight into relationships and how conflict can occur so easily. The way Maurice rejects Jean's advances so angrily also tells us something about their relationship, perhaps the fire has died between them.

There is one camera technique in the film that really interested me. When Jean puts the broken vase on the table, the camera focuses on it putting a blur on Maurice behind it. When he begins talking the focus changes to him vith the vase blurred in front of him. This technique is used to put emphasis on certain objects while showing the audience something else in the shot. Apart from this the director has mainly focused on either long shots, POV shots or mid close ups, the latter to show the reaction of one of the charcters to what has gone on.

BY Adam Rutherford