Impact of Ellington Kid

 Of the eight short films provided by the exam board, I chose to explore The Ellington Kid (2012) and Operator (2015). The Ellington Kid is a darkly comedic film set in a kebab shop, where one boy recounts a surreal story to another about a violent incident that allegedly took place there. Writer-director Dan Sully employs cross-cutting to fluidly shift between the storytelling and the events being described, culminating in a half-twist ending that implies the story’s perpetrators may have ended up as part of the kebab meat. Structurally, this film was my biggest influence—particularly in its use of intercutting and its narrative framework, which revolves around the dialogue between the two young men. The performances by Hammed Animashaun and Charlie Hawkins also play a key role in shifting the film’s tone, with narration that adds context and weight to the visual imagery. Similarly, in Last Mark, the central conversation between the two protagonists serves as the emotional anchor, helping to shape the film’s darker tone and underline the complexity of their relationship.

While Sully uses intercutting to clarify and contextualise the unfolding events in The Ellington Kid, I chose to approach it differently in Last Mark. In my film, the initially disconnected intercutting is intended to create ambiguity and intrigue, drawing the viewer deeper into the narrative. This technique aligns with Roland Barthes’ Hermeneutic Code, using narrative enigma and fragmented timelines to build tension. As the story progresses, the two threads gradually come together, leading to a more impactful and emotionally charged resolution.