Cinematography Flashcards
How is cinematography used in the opening scene?
- Eye-level close up shot of Shaun (zooms out to a mid shot)
- The scene also ends with a zoom in into Shaun’s face as he finishes his beer
- Over the shoulder shot of Liz and Shaun
- The camera quickly pans to a mid-shot of Ed at the pinball machine.
- Ed is framed between Shaun and Liz, then the camera blurs to focus on Shaun and Liz
- A POV shot of Liz, Di, David and Shaun at the table, whilst Ed is out of the shot
- David talking to Shaun in eye-level close up shot
How is cinematography used in the credits scene?
- Mid/long shot of the retail assistants at the tills with blank facial expressions and synchronised movements
- The screen dissolves to Shaun walking along the carpet in a worm’s eye close-up shot
- A pedestal shot is used whilst keeping Shaun as the subject of the frame
How is cinematography used in the first flat scene?
- Extreme-close up shots of the toilet flush (before Pete makes an appearance) then Shaun brushing his teeth, stirring his tea and spreading jam on his toast and putting the milk in the fridge
- POV shots of Shaun and Ed looking the video game on the screen as he tries to talk to Ed seriously on Pete’s exhortation
Why was an eye-level close up of Shaun used in the beginning and end of the pre-credits (opening) scene?
- It establishes him as the protagonist of the film, so immediately the spectators’ sympathies and views align with his.
- The scene also ends with a zoom in into Shaun’s face as he finishes his beer (cyclical structure) which shows how he is stuck in a perpetual cycle.
Why is Ed framed between Liz and Shaun in the pre-credits (opening) scene?
- Portrays Ed as an obstacle to the stability of Shaun’s and Liz’s relationship and hindrance to Shaun and his development
- Shows that Ed, with his slacker mentality, is the binary opposite to Liz and her aspirations of escaping the monotony of working class life
Why was a POV shot of Shaun, Liz, Di and Davide used in the pre-credits (opening) scene while Ed is out of the shot?
Portrays him as an outsider to society
Why is the mid/long shot of the retail assistants used in the credits scene?
- The workers are scanning items in sync and they have blank expressions on their faces
- It implies that we have already become zombies before the apocalypse has even taken place in the film
Why is a pedestal shot of Shaun used in the credits scene?
Keeps Shaun as the subject of the frame, shifting the audience’s focus back to the protagonist.
Why are POV shots of Shaun and Ed looking at the video game used in the first flat scene?
- Represents Shaun’s divided mind and his lack of focus/attention span
- Instinctively, his attention is programmed to zoom in on the video game (synonymous to a zombie’s instinct to satisfy their urges by feasting)
- Portrays that he is caught in a transitionary stage between a carefree teenager and being a responsible adult as he can’t hold a serious conversation
Why is the eye-level close up shot of David and Shaun talking used in the pre-credits scene?
Displays rivalry between the two, which later heightens in the movie
Why are multiple mid two shots of David and Di used in the pre-credits scene?
To highlight their friendship and suggests their similar viewpoints and beliefs
How is cinematography used in Shaun’s work scene?
A tracking shot of Shaun on his way to the shop and then to his work place
Why is a track shot used in Shaun’s work scene?
- Allows the audience to gain an insight of the exterior location of the film
- Suggests that those surroundings are all too familiar to Shaun as he doesn’t spare the things around him a glance
- Living a tedious and monotonous cycle
