Last+Stop

Last Stop is a film directed by Greg Williams. It was one of the 16 finalists for the Sony, Tropfest 2006 Short Film Festival.

This is a film that seeks to challenge the assumptions about culture and religious affiliation. It is set in the context at some time after September 11. This film is set in Melbourne, on an iconic Melbourne tram. It cleverly captures the often unspoken fears of people and highlights how irrational they can be. The film challenges the audience to think about their own response to the film, taking into consideration ideas about multiculturalism and identity.

The short film, the ‘Last Stop’, directed by Greg Williams effectively uses editing to portray the various themes explored in the film. Suspicions towards ethic/religious groups is explored through the several-minute long film. The concerns of the passengers on the Melbourne tram is communicated to the audience through editing. A mixture of close-up and medium shots are used to capture the facial expressions of the concerned passengers and the subjects causing their suspicion. Quick cuts were used between the passengers, signs warning to report suspicious situations, the bag left by the mid eastern man and that man running urgently fast. The editing builds suspense within the audience and leads the viewer to create assumptions which themselves, reflect the main idea of the film- the growing paranoia people build around various situation involved within our multicultural society. This causing irony when the man, thought running away from the tram and the contents of the bag he 'left' behind, was in fact running towards the tram to collect his forgotten bag shown in the last scene of the film. The flow and cuts of the editing of the ‘Last Stop’ complemented the themes extremely effectively. - EMMA WILLIAMS

In the short film, ‘The last Stop’, editing has been used in a very effective way explore the theme of cultural assumptions and how society gives certain cultures stereotypes. Greg Williams has used a variety of editing techniques through the short film and one example is when he uses close up on each of the characters faces but changes the subject very quickly. This gives the responders a sense of discomfort as something is not right and nothing is clam and settled. There is also a close up on the bag which at the beginning is thought to be a bomb. The shots from the bag to the faces of the characters made the audience think that something is wrong and heightens the mood. Through the whole movie the emotion of anticipation and anxiousness has been created thought the use of editing. Cinzia Favotto

The short film, 'The Last Stop' communicates messages of racial stereotypes prevalent in today's society. The areas of national security and lack of trust towards certain religious/ethnic groups due to assumptions and labels are also explored throughout the course of the short film. On the train we are presented with a slow pace of cuts where we are able to see the suspicion on the faces of the passengers on the tram. We see their concern and fears about what man's bag contained. We are provided with close ups and panning to show that all or most of the passengers showed a particular view towards the bag left by the man of Middle-Eastern appearance. This leads the responder to feel the suspense and are given the opportunity to want to see the rest of the film as well as lead the path to their own assumptions. However, they also see that these stereotypes actually exist in the world and that these labels hyped by the media can give the wrong impression even when a person actually poses no threat. Therefore, the short film provides feelings of uncertainty and apprehension until the end where we face the dilemma that people are discriminated against due to assumptions that run rampant in the world. - Christine-Ann Tecson

During the short film, The Last Stop racial stereotypes are explored. During the train ride, a man of Middle-eastern appearance enters. A panning shot is used to show the expressions of the passengers as the man leaves his bag aboard the train. Quick camera shots demonstrates their fear and concern of the bag that has been left in the middle of the train. Close up shots of the passengers faces represent their concern and horror as they come to realise that inside the bag a deadly bomb is awaiting. This makes us as the responder feel a suspense as the camera angles and shots move from the bag to the reaming passengers. The message within this short film is that the passengers that the middle-eastern person beelieved n that boarded the train was a tourist that had left behind a bomb. The message helps us to understand that no one should be discriminated based on their culture or background. Ilaria Territo

====The editing of the Last Stop has successfully conveyed the themes of cultural discrimination. The rapid quick cuts of the male running towards the train suggests and builds suspense as well as excitement. During the beginning, there were quick shots of the man running, this helps to give the feeling of what the film will be like. The diegetic sounds added to the film helps and assist to create the mood and feeling of the film. Close-up shots were very common and were constantly seen throughout. For example, the shots of the passenger’s faces highlights their facial expressions and their inner emotions which can give the viewers the chance to connect with the characters. This indeed captures the audience’s attention. In addition, the close-up shot of the bag left on the train arises a sense of mysteriousness and concern. This builds the intensity, thrill and anticipation towards the short film. This conveys that people are sometimes discriminated because of their religion and culture, as a result of certain (negative) stereotypes.====