Edward Zwick is an American director known for heroic films like Glory and Legends of the Fall. He received several Oscar nominations, including four for The Last Samurai. Zwick's most famous drama was Blood Diamond, released in 2007, which explores the diamond trade in Sierra Leone. The opening scene uses visual techniques like maps, subtitles, and costumes to establish the setting and foreshadow the violence to come from the conflict over blood diamonds. Shots of the coast and villagers also create a sense of tranquility despite the corruption happening nearby.

2. The Director
Edward Zwick
Born in 1952 in Chicago, Zwick is a well known director
for his heroic movies such as ‘Glory (1989)’ and
‘Legends of the Fall (1994)’. From his early success in
1989 Zwick progressed and earned himself several
oscars for his films, after receiving four nominations for
‘The Last Samauri (2003)’ He began filming his most
well known powerfully emotional drama, ‘Blood
Diamond’. It was then released in the UK on the 26th
January 2007.

3. Mise-En-Scene
 Map of the World, point on Sierra Leone - establishes where the film is set.
 Subtitles – suggest what the film is about, creates sense of suspense, intrigues audience to watch
more.
 Match – could forshadow danger to come in the future.
 Cheap tribal clothes – portrays their living conditions, gives us an insight to the characters.
 Boats – shows the setting and gives us clues to later events.
 Guns/Knives/Bullets – forshadow the violence to come within the film, intrigues us.
 Soldiers – shows us the situation within the film, informs the audience what is happening.
 Beach – secluded, suggests peace and tranquility despite the nearby violence and corruption.
 Huts – portrays their standard of living and their finincial state aswell as their culture.
 Jewellery and Necklaces – gives us an insight to the characters culture and traditions.

4. Camera Angles/Shots
 Medium shot –Shows us the characters appearance,
 Shot reverse shot – Makes the conversation flow, allowing us to understand dialogue
well.
 Establishing shot – Sets the scene in a humid, under developed area.
 Close up shot – Waves of the sea suggest calm feeling within the people, despite the
corruption.
 Over the shoulder high angle shot - civilian getting shot, looks down on him, making
him appear vulnerable and weak.
 Low angle shot – The camera looks up on the guard before he shoots a man, showing his
power and authority over the civilians.
 Tilt shot – Shows the boats sailing across the water suggesting tranquility within the
culture despite the people.
 Tracking shot – Shows the people running away from the guards, portrays the danger and
fright.

5. Editing
 Continuity – allows the audience to understand the
film well and makes it flow through.
 Straight cut - not visible as they are so fast adds
verisimilitude
 Montage – people screaming and running away is
shown rapidly in a series of shots portraying the
danger and violence also representing the feelings
apparent.
 Gunfire – conveys fear and danger within the film.
Helps to present the storyline of the film.

6. Sound
 Tribal music, drum beats – Establishes the reigon and culture of the films
setting.
 Rap music – Conveys the soldiers personality; aggressive, violent.
 Trucks driving in loudly – Sense of danger, anticipation of what is to come.
 Dialogue – Presents the storyline, gives us a sense of colloquialism.
 Laughter – Represents happiness the people had in contrast with the later
sounds of danger.
 Screaming/Crying – Conveys the emotions that the people were
feeling, sadness.
 Gunshot – Represents the situation of danger in which the people were in.

7. Conventions Present
 A crime (murdering and diamond smuggling)
 Themes of identity
 Protagonist who is systematically disimpowered and drawn in
to a complex web of intregue by the antagonist.
 Extraordinary events in ordinary situations.
 Some themes of voyeurism
 Protagonist with a flaw which is expolited by the antagonist.
 Scene towards the end of the film in which the protagonist is in
pertil.

8. Effectivness
The opening of ‘Blood Diamond’ is very effective for a
number of reasons.
 Emotionally powerful, grabs the viewers
attention, shocks and intrgues them.
 It is informative as it is based on actual
events, adding a sense of realism and verisimiltude
 Gives a good sense of cultural identity, the audience
is given an insight in to the African culture.