Loosers

Director: Everynone

Year: 2011

The film begins with the sound of precision clapping which accompanies the film through out. This seems to underscore the tension of the editing which is fast cuts.

The film opens with a POV of the tool bar of a Facebook page which shows a blank profile picture and letters which appear as though being typed whilst we watch the word , ‘Losers.’ appear. It then cuts to an overweight teenager eating alone in what appears to be a school cafe. This is then followed by a series of jump cuts showing teenagers persevering with various pursuits from weightlifting to painting. What gives the film it’s sense of isolation is that, with a few exceptions such as the the footballers and the skate boarders all the teenagers appear on their own, even a shot of a couple shows them physically in touch, (they are holding hands) but emotionally alienated, the boy looking as the girl is stares in the opposite the opposite direction.  

   A lot of the pursuits we see are motivated by the desire to overcome the oppression felt by being harassed. For example the lone boy in the basketball stand trying to score a hoop but keeps missing denotes a sense of not being ‘good enough.’  

   Half way through the short it changes pace and the editing becomes even faster. This starts with a close up of a boy in what looks like a school corridor,  there is very little depth of field the  background is blurred this camera technique increases the sense of isolation and we here a voice saying ‘Faggot’ he turns as though fearing it is being said about him. There then follows in rapid succession a series of close ups of expressionless teenage faces staring back at the camera. At the same time the nondigetic sound of rhythmic clapping is over laid with V.O’s of teen voices shouting insults, there is also a build up of experimental orchestral music which increase the tension. 

   This sequence ends with the sound of mocking laughter and a serious of shots of below the raider bullying, for example a close up of a boy spitting into someones face, as well a jump-cut to a Facebook message reading, ‘I hate you.’  The Final frame is one of the longest, lasting approximately 30 seconds. It shows an extreme close up of a girl crying. To further express the sadness of the shot there is no nondigetic sound and we can only hear the sound of soft tearful nosies. The film then cuts to a Facebook message reading, ‘Don't Bully LOOSER.’ 

Personally I found the film a touching and compelling message. It shows the undercurrent of the reality instead of animations on school walls showing a crappy sketch of the typical bully and a helpless character instead it goes deeper to the real heart of the matter.