Zing

Zing is a short film created by students from the Filmakademie Baden-Würtemberg that features two main characters, an external conflict and supernatural elements.

Staged in a spacious somber hall, in a house located in a rural area, the short uses wide shots to describe the interior space and associate the actions of the Grim Reaper character with the lifelines being moved around by the machine he is operating.

There’s good use of foreground and background elements to create associations and meaning. One of the most effective shots in this regard is the one with the tag of the child and the face of the Grim Reaper character in close-up rising from below (4m17).

There’s also good attention dedicated to character design, with a focus on accentuating facial expressions to transmit characters’ moods and help build conflict. The creative retro design of the machine is also worth noting, as well as the stylized aesthetic and the effort dedicated to the low-contrast lighting.

Other highlights of the short include its use of off-screen space and sound design, which help suggest elements rather than explicitly show them, and some sensory images, including the one of the the tags hanging from the threads (4m11) floating in the air.

What makes Zing work so well? An unusual initial situation with supernatural elements that hooks the viewer, who tries to decode what’s going on, the external conflict that puts the little girl’s life in danger, creating suspense, effective use of facial expressions that successfully transmit emotions and a good dose of humor and surprise, that help spice up the short.