Gender representation

In my short film there are only two characters, both of which are male. There are no female characters that feature in the film at any point. Therefore, I have to only discuss male representation.

General Representation
Males in film are often represented as being in charge. They're strong, brave, attractive and smart. They're who the audience roots for and normally most relatable, due to conventional films aiming for a white male audience. Sometimes the man might doubt himself, but by the end of the film he's sure of himself, and able to save the day or get the girl. The younger men are normally more full of life and optimistic, while the older men may come across more fed up or wise. One of the most crucial aspects of a male character however, is that they always seem to be in control.

Nathan
Nathan really isn't a conventional male is my film. He doesn't have to save anyone, he isn't trying to woo some girl and he isn't trying to make his life better. He's trying to accept his death. He also isn't very confident or strong, instead he comes across a bit nervous and weak. I have chosen to go down this route because I wanted a character that was a bit different. Most films would have a man try fight for his life, bargain some way out, but Nathan slowly comes to accept it.

Death
The Grim Reaper in my short film is portrayed as a man. However, like Nathan, he isn't all that conventional. He's in a better position that Nathan, but he still doesn't know much and doesn't have much control over the situation. He is just doing his job. He's just an average guy, who's job just happens to be guiding the dead to the afterlife. He isn't in his prime, he doesn't come across overly strong or smart, he's just a guy.

Conclusion
Most films take an average man and turn him into some sort of hero, defying the odds and always coming out on top. This is where my film is different. Both the male characters just accept the way things are, and come across as more relatable characters. I chose to do it this way because it would make the characters seem more realistic and therefore are easier to relate to.

Reflective Comment:
I'm not really challenging gender stereotypes all that much with my short film. While my two characters are conventional, they aren't truly challenging gender representation. They're still men and they're still the central characters of the film. If there were any female characters in the short film, I probably could challenge gender stereotypes. However, I chose to have two male characters.