Inspiring scene- Shaun of the Dead

Shaun of the dead

In this shot you see the main characters waking up and being completely oblivious to the zombies around them.

This film is a clear zomb-com film as shown from the mise-en-scene and cinematography.  It helps me to research this as I want to do a zomb-com and although this is shot in a different way in which i want to do it, it still helps me in seeing the best way to establish the fact there is zombies.

The mise-en-scene has been done well in this sequence. It can be broken down into sections props, costume, setting and body language.  The props in this sequence are very good in their use of being an enigma code, as Shaun can’t see any of them. You see a range of different props used all were in the previous sequence and Shaun hasn’t realised it. This indicates to the audience two things that he is in a rout and he is quite stupid for not seeing it. One of the props is the bloody hand prints on the fridge it is done well as they look realistic and the fact he opened the fridge and still managed to not see it adds a comedic value to the clip. This use of props will make the audience feel like it less like a horror and more a comedy.

The costume in this clip is good but not very important as they have made it just look like a normal day so Shaun is just wearing work clothes. But this then adds a sense of ‘normality’ as he thinks its going to be a normal boring day. The clothing on the zombies is also quite casual this suggest that the infection happened over night. This adds tension and fear as it puts the fact the world could end over night into the audiences mind.

The setting is good as it as everything has been placed well so it is in sight of Shaun. Then setting seems to make everything look the same as the average day in and day out. This adds a sense of realism to the situation. The fact everything has been laid out the same way as before just destroyed helps again to suggest it happened quite quickly. The fact each item is placed in sight of Shaun adds comedic value as you think he is an idiot as he is just oblivious to it all.

The body language in this clip is good but not as important. The zombie’s body language is mostly in the background but is good as you can distinguish that they are zombies by their movement, which is like a stumbling slow walk. This adds a sense of fear as it isn’t a normal human’s style of movement. Then Shaun’s movement is quite similar in the slow movement and quite stumbling like this suggest it is taking the Mick out  how the normal British public is in a rout so it is like we are zombie’s already.

The camera work in this clip is mostly one constant tracking shot of Shaun going to the shop and then back. This good as it make it look flowing and smooth and it means it has a calm pace. This makes the audience feel more relaxed. There is a range of angles used most of them are medium or long shot this is so you can get the set in with the character this gives an impression of what has happened and that fact he is oblivious makes people relax more as it seems quite funny. There is one close-up used and this is used to focus on Shaun’s face he sleeps and wakes up. This is quite a personal shot which makes the audience feel for the character as he still seems quite stupid and possibly having a hangover.

The film stock in this clip is 35mm this gives the film a clear and crisp image which makes everything look better and puts better detail on the enigma code props and setting. This helps the audience in seeing what has happened to the environment. The lighting in this clip is high key lighting which is made to look like natural lighting. This helped to highlight the enigma codes.

So in conclusion although it isn’t shot in a similar way as I want to it has been helpful in showing me a good way to approach the comedy part of my film.