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Film Opening Analysis.

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Jade Clarke
Jade Clarke

The film being summarized is Shaun of the Dead. The opening establishes the genre as a "romantic comedy with zombies". It introduces the main characters Shaun and Ed through scenes of their morning routine. Shaun gets ready for work while Ed lazes about playing video games. Their friend Pete is also introduced, who is more serious. The comedic relationship between Shaun and Ed builds likability for the characters. Visual and audio cues like music and zombie-like movements in the titles hint at the zombie elements to come without fully revealing them yet. This piques audience curiosity about the plot.

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Film opening analysis- Studios- Universal Pictures Production team- WT2, associated with Big Talk Director- Edgar Wright Producer- Alison Owen Writers- Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright Main Actors- Simon Pegg(who plays Shaun), Nick Frost (who plays Ed) Year that the film was made- 2004 (released 9th April 2004)
GENRE- The genre of this film is a romantic comedy, with zombies The stereotypical conventions of this type of film are - CHARACTERS- pretty women/good looking/or even unappealing men with a shown sense of humour within the gestus of the character, also zombies which show a comedic element when appearing on screen. We see three unappealing men within the opening, with a sense of humour; however Pete does not have the same humour as the other two characters, Shaun and Ed. No main characters, which are female, are shown. In the titles, we see that the film will include zombies because of the way certain people were acting, by walking gormlessly and hanging their head to one side . This is shown in the snapshot below. ICONOGRAPHY- We see flowers (to show romance) and weapons of some description (to show the theme of zombies). In the opening scene, we do not see this; therefore it leaves the audience thinking that it is only a comedy because there are no elements of iconography suggesting these genres. THEMES- Within the romantic side of the film, we would stereotypically see love, an argument between two main characters that are in a relationship and occasionally sex. Within a comedy, we would see gags, jokes and practical comedy. Within a zombie themed film, we would see gore, blood, and the living dead; however we could also see the idea of zombies being portrayed in different ways, which is what we do see in the opening scene. We see people acting like zombies in their everyday lives in the title sequences, giving away a theme to the film alike the snapshot above.
When watching the opening scene, we first see the titles.We are told the production team and title of the film. No main characters are introduced within the title sequence, but the following micro elements establish a theme of the genre, of the film. This is zombies. All of the following gives the audience a set idea of what to expect in the film. MISE-EN-SCENE- Clothes- work uniform, everyday clothes like tracksuits, jeans, t-shirts. Actors- No main characters established, however some characters act like zombies to show one of the themes/genres by walking, swinging their arms and hanging their head, showing no emotion, and not talking. Makeup- No makeup/ natural appearance, this is because the titles is showing people in a day to day life, working. Props- Trollies, while someone is at work, mobile phones, which is an everyday item that is used. Setting- Shops, on the streets in a town. Once again, this shows an everyday life. EDITING-Graphic match gives a smooth editing transaction to go from one shot to another, without using straight cuts. LIGHTING-uses natural lighting when filming outside and high key lighting when inside, this shows that the film will be light hearted, which fits into the genre of comedy.
CAMERA-A tracking shot on a dolly is used to follow the man with the trollies and is also used to have a smooth transaction from one shot to the next. SOUND-A non-diegetic and up beat composition using trumpets, was used. The peoples movements in the scene were in time to the music. This music suggests an up beat and light heartened mood to the rest of the film. After the titles, there was a scene which introduced the main characters, Shaun and Ed. We are also introduced to another character called Pete. We are told more about the themes and genre of the film using micro elements. The main theme established here is comedy. All of the following gives the audience a set idea of what to expect and sets a mood for the rest of the film. MISE-EN-SCENE- Clothes- Shaun- begins the scene in shorts and a t-shirt. He then, later on changes into smart trousers, a shirt and tie. This shows that he is a working man. Ed- also is wearing a t-shirt and shorts, however, he does not change costume during the scene. Pete- is in a full suit for the entire scene. This shows that he is a working man, like Shaun, but takes it more seriously. Actors- Shaun- we are introduced by this character from a low angled tilt which went upwards. He yawns, this connoted that he is tied or just woken up. He slouches as he walks and sits down which also shows tiredness. The way he communicates to Ed is in a friendly, light hearted tone of voice, this shows a friendship between the two characters. Pete, however is a more mature and serious voice. This connotes that he wants Pete to think more highly of him. Ed- We are introduced by him sat on a sofa, with his feet up. He does not move from this position in this scene which connotes that he is a lazy person. He talks to Shaun in the same what Shaun speaks to him. He talks to Pete, however, like he does not care about Petes opinion. This connotes that they do not get along. Pete- we can see that Pete down talks both Shaun and Ed. They take the way he treats them, so he is clearly the more dominant one. Makeup- No makeup/ natural appearance are to show that this is their day to day life. They are men, so they stereotypically wear no makeup. Props- Toothbrushes, knifes, plates etc. This is to show an average morning. Ed uses a games console. This could show that he is less mature than the other two.
Setting- it is in a house, on a typical English street. This shows where the main characters live. EDITING-There is a series of fast cuts to show the passing of time when Shaun is getting ready for work and again when he is making breakfast. Shot reverse shot is used during the conversation in the kitchen between Shaun and Pete and again when Ed is playing a video game, during a conversation between him and Shaun. Straight cuts are used otherwise. LIGHTING- Most of the scene is in a high key light to show the light-heartedness of the film. This also implies that this is how the rest of the film is going to be like. CAMERA-A tilt shot is used to establish the main character. A slow zoom was used to focus on the sofa (which is also a long shot), while Shaun is entering the room. Deep focus was used to identify Pete through a mirror, an over the shoulder shot was used for this as well. A deep shot was also used at a low angle to show how untidy Ed is when his phone rings, showing blurred beer cans. Point of view shots were used while Shaun is getting ready for work, preparing breakfast and Ed is playing a computer game, there are also extreme close ups when Shaun is eating toast and brushing his teeth. Mid shots were used when Pete and Shaun were having a conversation. Two shots are used when Ed and Shaun are sat on the sofa. This shows that they both have a close relationship. SOUND-As Shaun enters the scene, the music from the titles stops, and we begin to hear the ambient sounds of him being in the house, which is Ed playing on a video game. More ambient sounds are made when he gets ready for work and makes breakfast, ideas of this are, the brushing of his teeth and spreading jam on toast. For the rest of the scene we still here Ed playing a video game, however we also hear dialogue between the three established characters. Although, at the end of the scene we hear the phone rings, the phone is not answers, leaving questions of who it is for the audience. ENIGMA- During the openingof a film, it makes the audience think of questions to ask, for the rest of the film to answer. In this film, examples of this are- WHY DOES ED LIVE THERE?
WHY DOESNT ED WORK, LIKE THE PETE AND SHAUN? WHY DONT PETE AND ED GET ALONG? WHO WAS ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE? AUDIENCE-this film is targeted at people of the age 15 and above. This is because the BBFC have given the film this classification, due to the content of strong comic violence and language. This film is also aimed at the male population because it contains violence and comedic dialogue. MY PERSONAL OPINION- I like this film opening because we get introduced by the main characters. I like the idea of the fast cuts when Shaun gets ready for work because they make it seem like an action film. (They also use this technique in Hot Fuzz which uses the same characters and is directed by the same director) I like the idea that the concept of zombies is carried on throughout the opening scene. I also like the use of comedy between Shaun and Ed, which automatically get portrayed as likeable characters and their close relationship is highlighted throughout the whole of the opening scene.

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Film Opening Analysis.

  • 1. Film opening analysis- Studios- Universal Pictures Production team- WT2, associated with Big Talk Director- Edgar Wright Producer- Alison Owen Writers- Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright Main Actors- Simon Pegg(who plays Shaun), Nick Frost (who plays Ed) Year that the film was made- 2004 (released 9th April 2004)
  • 2. GENRE- The genre of this film is a romantic comedy, with zombies The stereotypical conventions of this type of film are - CHARACTERS- pretty women/good looking/or even unappealing men with a shown sense of humour within the gestus of the character, also zombies which show a comedic element when appearing on screen. We see three unappealing men within the opening, with a sense of humour; however Pete does not have the same humour as the other two characters, Shaun and Ed. No main characters, which are female, are shown. In the titles, we see that the film will include zombies because of the way certain people were acting, by walking gormlessly and hanging their head to one side . This is shown in the snapshot below. ICONOGRAPHY- We see flowers (to show romance) and weapons of some description (to show the theme of zombies). In the opening scene, we do not see this; therefore it leaves the audience thinking that it is only a comedy because there are no elements of iconography suggesting these genres. THEMES- Within the romantic side of the film, we would stereotypically see love, an argument between two main characters that are in a relationship and occasionally sex. Within a comedy, we would see gags, jokes and practical comedy. Within a zombie themed film, we would see gore, blood, and the living dead; however we could also see the idea of zombies being portrayed in different ways, which is what we do see in the opening scene. We see people acting like zombies in their everyday lives in the title sequences, giving away a theme to the film alike the snapshot above.
  • 3. When watching the opening scene, we first see the titles.We are told the production team and title of the film. No main characters are introduced within the title sequence, but the following micro elements establish a theme of the genre, of the film. This is zombies. All of the following gives the audience a set idea of what to expect in the film. MISE-EN-SCENE- Clothes- work uniform, everyday clothes like tracksuits, jeans, t-shirts. Actors- No main characters established, however some characters act like zombies to show one of the themes/genres by walking, swinging their arms and hanging their head, showing no emotion, and not talking. Makeup- No makeup/ natural appearance, this is because the titles is showing people in a day to day life, working. Props- Trollies, while someone is at work, mobile phones, which is an everyday item that is used. Setting- Shops, on the streets in a town. Once again, this shows an everyday life. EDITING-Graphic match gives a smooth editing transaction to go from one shot to another, without using straight cuts. LIGHTING-uses natural lighting when filming outside and high key lighting when inside, this shows that the film will be light hearted, which fits into the genre of comedy.
  • 4. CAMERA-A tracking shot on a dolly is used to follow the man with the trollies and is also used to have a smooth transaction from one shot to the next. SOUND-A non-diegetic and up beat composition using trumpets, was used. The peoples movements in the scene were in time to the music. This music suggests an up beat and light heartened mood to the rest of the film. After the titles, there was a scene which introduced the main characters, Shaun and Ed. We are also introduced to another character called Pete. We are told more about the themes and genre of the film using micro elements. The main theme established here is comedy. All of the following gives the audience a set idea of what to expect and sets a mood for the rest of the film. MISE-EN-SCENE- Clothes- Shaun- begins the scene in shorts and a t-shirt. He then, later on changes into smart trousers, a shirt and tie. This shows that he is a working man. Ed- also is wearing a t-shirt and shorts, however, he does not change costume during the scene. Pete- is in a full suit for the entire scene. This shows that he is a working man, like Shaun, but takes it more seriously. Actors- Shaun- we are introduced by this character from a low angled tilt which went upwards. He yawns, this connoted that he is tied or just woken up. He slouches as he walks and sits down which also shows tiredness. The way he communicates to Ed is in a friendly, light hearted tone of voice, this shows a friendship between the two characters. Pete, however is a more mature and serious voice. This connotes that he wants Pete to think more highly of him. Ed- We are introduced by him sat on a sofa, with his feet up. He does not move from this position in this scene which connotes that he is a lazy person. He talks to Shaun in the same what Shaun speaks to him. He talks to Pete, however, like he does not care about Petes opinion. This connotes that they do not get along. Pete- we can see that Pete down talks both Shaun and Ed. They take the way he treats them, so he is clearly the more dominant one. Makeup- No makeup/ natural appearance are to show that this is their day to day life. They are men, so they stereotypically wear no makeup. Props- Toothbrushes, knifes, plates etc. This is to show an average morning. Ed uses a games console. This could show that he is less mature than the other two.
  • 5. Setting- it is in a house, on a typical English street. This shows where the main characters live. EDITING-There is a series of fast cuts to show the passing of time when Shaun is getting ready for work and again when he is making breakfast. Shot reverse shot is used during the conversation in the kitchen between Shaun and Pete and again when Ed is playing a video game, during a conversation between him and Shaun. Straight cuts are used otherwise. LIGHTING- Most of the scene is in a high key light to show the light-heartedness of the film. This also implies that this is how the rest of the film is going to be like. CAMERA-A tilt shot is used to establish the main character. A slow zoom was used to focus on the sofa (which is also a long shot), while Shaun is entering the room. Deep focus was used to identify Pete through a mirror, an over the shoulder shot was used for this as well. A deep shot was also used at a low angle to show how untidy Ed is when his phone rings, showing blurred beer cans. Point of view shots were used while Shaun is getting ready for work, preparing breakfast and Ed is playing a computer game, there are also extreme close ups when Shaun is eating toast and brushing his teeth. Mid shots were used when Pete and Shaun were having a conversation. Two shots are used when Ed and Shaun are sat on the sofa. This shows that they both have a close relationship. SOUND-As Shaun enters the scene, the music from the titles stops, and we begin to hear the ambient sounds of him being in the house, which is Ed playing on a video game. More ambient sounds are made when he gets ready for work and makes breakfast, ideas of this are, the brushing of his teeth and spreading jam on toast. For the rest of the scene we still here Ed playing a video game, however we also hear dialogue between the three established characters. Although, at the end of the scene we hear the phone rings, the phone is not answers, leaving questions of who it is for the audience. ENIGMA- During the openingof a film, it makes the audience think of questions to ask, for the rest of the film to answer. In this film, examples of this are- WHY DOES ED LIVE THERE?
  • 6. WHY DOESNT ED WORK, LIKE THE PETE AND SHAUN? WHY DONT PETE AND ED GET ALONG? WHO WAS ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE? AUDIENCE-this film is targeted at people of the age 15 and above. This is because the BBFC have given the film this classification, due to the content of strong comic violence and language. This film is also aimed at the male population because it contains violence and comedic dialogue. MY PERSONAL OPINION- I like this film opening because we get introduced by the main characters. I like the idea of the fast cuts when Shaun gets ready for work because they make it seem like an action film. (They also use this technique in Hot Fuzz which uses the same characters and is directed by the same director) I like the idea that the concept of zombies is carried on throughout the opening scene. I also like the use of comedy between Shaun and Ed, which automatically get portrayed as likeable characters and their close relationship is highlighted throughout the whole of the opening scene.