Brief Analysis:

Fortress
A short film by Dima Fedotov

Sound
The sound in this short is simple yet effective, a complete lack of music (apart from at the end)
with only sound effects that correspond with the visuals (if this weren't an animated film but a live
action these sounds would be non- diegetic) These sounds tend to be constant to convey the
derelict and dull atmosphere; the constant low hum of the bombers engines and propellers in the
wind. This film also features some dialogue; this being the voice of the planes on board AI which
reports on the planes status and other information. It speaks in a feminine voice void of emotion
or expression reinforcing the idea of Artificially intelligent machines having no emotion. Sound
and music in Fortress is all non-diegetic since it is an animated short so the sound would have to
be added in post- production. Besides the voice of the bombers AI, all sound in this short is
mechanical noises; when we see the pilots suit illuminate his skeleton we hear the sound of
halogen bulbs flickering on and the retro looking computer monitor bugging out and clicking and
typing as it displays stats reinforcing the idea of the old worn out war technology conveyed in the
visuals (see slide about mise en scene) Later we hear an extremely loud, piercing, metallic,
shattering sound as the massive bomb dropped by the aircraft separates into dozens of smaller
explosives. I believe that Dima Fedotov chose to use that sound effect in this way to convey the
shocking lethality of these futuristic weapons; how one already huge bomb can explode into a
large amount of smaller ones. Afterwards, the bombs cause a line of three colossal explosions as
the fortress saws away and there almost silent bangs can be heard (obviously listening from the
high level bombers point of hearing) I find this to be symbolic of how pointless war is, how these
massive bombs can hardly be heard at all because countless ones like them have been dropped
before and they are effectively a drop in the ocean.

Cinematography and Editing

The

camera techniques and angles mainly consist of wide,

high angle shots of the plane so that we can see the clouds
and ground below it and infer that it is flying at a great
height. Most of the film shows close ups of the monitor in
the monitor, parts of the plane and pilots skeletons to
convey there importance to the whole concept, setting and
plot of the film; the pilots have died because of being
trapped in these planes for so long, yet the planes still fly
themselves autonomously carrying their dead passengers
and they seem to be commanded by the monitor and voice
of the AI while close ups of the planes various parts show
how damaged and worn down it is. There is also a sort of
over the shoulder shot of a fighter plane launching an attack
on the bomber. The over shoulder mid shot looks as though
it was done in a way that introduces this new character and
its motives and intentions.

Mise en scene
The establishing shot slowly zooms out from a close up of one
of the planes decals which is a world war two air force style
decal of a woman riding one of the bombs in the planes bay
and italic writing which reads 37 automatic air army and to
the left of this; a tally of bombing runs completed by the
plane. This piece of scenery is informative, showing that this is
a war plane with the intention of doing some damage. We can
tell a lot from the mise en scene of this film. The plane is
obviously extremely old and tattered, the engines spout black
smoke, the grey paint is scratched and warn, sheet metal in
some areas of the craft has peeled off slightly and blows in the
wind we can infer that this plane has been involved in this war
for a while and by its damaged engines has been travelling for
a long time as well. One of the main pieces of scenery
frequently shown throughout this film is the blue monitor
which seems to command and report on the planes actions
and status further highlighting the ominous, lifelessness of
artificially intelligent beings.