comparing Le Jetee, the short, and 12 Monkeys, the full-length movie

 La Jetée (1962), directed by Chris Marker, is a short film told almost entirely through still images. It tells the story of a man who travels through time and remembers a haunting moment from his past. The film explores deep ideas like memory, loss, and fate. Even though it’s simple, it leaves a strong emotional impact. What makes it powerful is how much it conveys without using motion or dialogue. The still images, combined with narration and music, create a unique and engaging story. It shows that a film doesn’t need big effects or lots of action to feel meaningful. This is a great example of how visuals and sound can work together to tell a powerful story, even with limited resources.

12 Monkeys (1995), directed by Terry Gilliam, is based on La Jetée but expands the story into a full-length movie. It keeps the core ideas of time travel and fate but adds more details to the plot. The movie also focuses on character development, especially the struggles of the main character. It uses dialogue, dynamic camera work, and a dystopian setting to create a more action-packed and suspenseful experience. The film explores the same themes as La Jetée, but in a more detailed and complex way. Watching 12 Monkeys shows how a small, simple idea from a short film can be turned into a rich and exciting feature-length story.

Both La Jetée and 12 Monkeys teach important lessons about making a short film. La Jetée shows that simplicity can still create a strong and emotional story. It inspires me to focus on clear, striking visuals and good sound design. From 12 Monkeys, I learned how to expand a story by adding more characters, details, and action. Both films highlight the importance of having a clear vision and using creative ways to engage the audience. These lessons will help me think about how to tell my story effectively, even if I don’t have a big budget. By combining the visual focus of La Jetée with the richer storytelling of 12 Monkeys, I hope to make my short film


impactful and memorable.

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