Report of the movie Quarantine (2008)

1. Task 2
Single camera techniques
A single camera production is one that uses only one camera per scene when filming. Each
of the shots and camera angles are taken individually using the same camera; the camera is
then moved and reset to get a new shot or angle. Each shot that is taken is filmed to
correspond with other shots to create a sense of continuity.
There are many advantages of using the single camera technique; the first is that the
director will have more control over the shots that are taken, this is good as the shots that
will be taken will look better as they would have been taken from a variety of angles to get
the best look. Another advantage of single camera techniques is that the shots don’t need
to be shot in sequence, this is a great advantage to the director as they can shoot things in
order of how they like. Another advantage is the shots appear more realistic to the audience
this is very good as it may allow them to connect them to what they are watching.
On the other hand there are some disadvantages, one major disadvantage is that you only
get one angle at a time. When you shoot with multiple cameras you're able to capture
several things happening at once. This means that with single-camera production you have
to attempt to get everything you want to happen in the right setting at the right time.
Another disadvantage of using single-camera production is that you'll be spending a lot
more time in the editing room. Because all of the filmwill be from one camera, all of your
outtakes and mistakes will be have to be sorted out over time, as opposed to a multi-
camera approach, where you can edit certain sequences, angles and scenes based on the
camera that was shooting, this in turn will increase costs as you will need to be using the
editing suite and software more.
One major disadvantage is that if you’re filming a scene in a movie that has an explosion
then you would have to do the explosion a few times to be able to capture it from different
angle, this is bad as it will cost more money as if you were using multi camera you would
only need to film it once.
There are many examples of single camera productions for example the TV show Friends. A
lot of the scenes within the apartments are filmed using single camera, this is because there
is not a lot of room to manoeuvre on set. If multi camera was used then there would more
chance of another camera being caught in shot and more chance of mistakes being made.
Another example of a single camera production is the Soap Opera – Hollyoaks. A lot of the
scenes within Hollyoaks are filmed on open streets, if multi camera was used in Hollyoaks it
would increase the chance of another camera accidentally being caught in shot and this
would take away from the verisimilitude.

2. Quarantine (2008)
The filmis about a television reporter and her cameraman who are assigned to spend the
night shift with a Los Angeles Fire Station. After a routine 911 call takes them to a small
apartment building, they find police officers already on the scene in response to blood
curdling screams coming from one of the apartment units. They soon learn that a woman
living in the building has been infected by something unknown which turns humans into
bloodthirsty killers. After a few of the residents are viciously attacked, they try to escape
with the news crew in tow, only to find that the CDC has quarantined the building. Phones,
internet, televisions and cell phone access have been cut-off, and officials are not relaying
information to those locked inside.
The genre for Quarantine is a horror and the sub-genre is zombie. The way that we can tell
this is through the use of conventions. For example one of the conventions that is used is
the fact that slowly the virus is being spread throughout the residents, this is conventional
as there are many other films that follow a story like this, for example World War Z (2013).
Another convention is that people get infected by the virus by either getting bitten or by the
blood of someone who is already infected getting into their bloodstream. This is very
common among zombie films or films that have infections being spread.
One way in which it is unconventional is the fact that the zombies have no need to feed. The
way we can tell this is typically zombies need to eat the flesh of humans whereas in
quarantine the zombies are aggressive and act as if they just want to injure and harm
people.
Another way in which the zombies are unconventional is the fact that the zombies run, it is
not typical for zombies to run, and they usually are walking very slowly as if they are
dragging their corpse forward toward its prey.
Narrative
Quarantine is a linear movie as all the events happen in chronological order. This is because
all of the film is found footage so it would not work if the movie was non-linear as it would
just confuse the audience.
It is also a closed movie as it has a clear beginning and end. The reason it is closed is as we
assume that Angela died. Some people may argue that it is open as we don’t find out how
the footage is found and we don’t find out what happens to the people infected.
Quarantine is a single strand movie, this means that there is only one main storyline.
Although it is a single strand movie there are other people intertwined in the story. For
example you have the main story about the virus but you also have all the people in the
apartments.
Editing

3. In Quarantine there is hardly any editing, this is due to the fact that it is all found footage.
The only time where editing is used is when Scott has to put the camera down and then it
comes back to a few minutes later on. This is called an ellipsis, an ellipsis is a short gap from
something that makes the audience wonder what has gone in that time.
The acting skill of the actors would have been tested massively during this filmas they
would need to act scenes for long periods of time, this would mean that no mistakes could
be made otherwise the whole scene would have to be taken from the beginning again.
There is no pace in the filmas it is all raw footage, which means that nothing has been done
to the footage.
If there had been a lot of editing to the movie then there would be no sense of
verisimilitude. This would not have been good as it means the filmwould have not have
captivated the audience as much as it could.
Camerawork
In Quarantine there are a variety of different shots used. For example when we first see
inside Ms. Espinoza’s apartment we see her from a long shot. This type of shot is used
not only to show the whole apartment but also to show the whole body of Ms. Espinoza.
Another example of a long shot is when they are at the fire station and we see George and
Jake talking to each other about Angela.

4. Another shot type that is used in Quarantine is a low angle shot, this is used when they are
in the basement and a hatch opens from the roof, the reason a low angle shot is used here
is to show the audience that they are going up into something that is unknown and
something that could pose as a threat.
Another kind of shot that is used is a close up. Close ups are used a lot in the movie as
Angela is reporting so she is speaking to the camera, so she is usually up close to the
camera. Another reason why close ups are used is so that we can clearly see the emotions
and reactions of people.
In Quarantine they also use a high angle shot, this is used when Scott needs to climb on top
of something so that he can see through a window. In this scene they are trying to
neutralize someone who has been infected so that they don’t injure themselves by walking
on their broken leg.

5. Sound
There is no non diegetic sound in Quarantine. Non diegetic sound is sound that cannot be
heard by the characters. It would be added by the producers or editors afterwards. The
reason why there is no non diegetic sound is again because it would take away from the
verisimilitude of the movie.
This means that all the sound in Quarantine is diegetic. Diegetic sound is sound that
emanates from a source within the actual scene.
Some of the sounds within the movie are asynchronous, this means that it is sound that is
suitable to the context but may not be used in time with the actions. An example of this is
when we first enter the building we can hear some of the residents talking in the
background. Other examples include chatter from a radio in the back ground and the noise
of a helicopter circling the building.
Another type of sound that is used is synchronous sound, these are sounds that match an
action within the scene. An example of this is near the end of the movie when Scott and
Angela are in the basement. When the hatch open we hear Angela shout and at the same
time we see her do so. Most synchronous sounds used in Quarantine are either shouting or
screaming.
In the film different people speak in different ways. For example the policeman speaks in a
very authoritative manner but the firemen speak in a very calming and reassuring way so
they don’t make anyone worry.
Mise En Scène
There are two settings in Quarantine. The first is the fire station, it is bright, happy and has a
relaxed feel. We can tell this is all the firemen are joking and all get along. Its main colours
are white which is very bright which gives of a calm atmosphere.
The second location is the apartment building. It is dark, grey, and sinister and has a
claustrophobic feel about it as if everyone is cramped in, this is personified in the lift scene
as they are cramped in. The films main colours are black and dark grey.
These two locations juxtapose each other as they are the complete opposite on one hand
you have the large and calm fire station and then you have the dark and cramped
apartment building.
The lighting in the filmstarts off really bright but as the movie progresses it gradually
darkens. When we get to the end of the film the characters are plunged into darkness so
much that they have to use night vision to be able to see. The reason that all the lighting
goes at the end is because it would be scarier to be facing zombies if you couldn’t see
anything.

6. One prop that is really important is the gun, it is important as the gun is a symbol of power.
The policeman tries to control people with it and starts pointing at people, when he starts to
do this it is just showing that the policeman has lost control and is truly scared and
frightened.
Another prop that is used is the set of keys. Keys are important as they are a symbol of hope
as they provide a possible exit. They also give a sense of possible freedom. The keys play a
big part as they are the thing that get Angela and Scott away from a lot of the zombies.
One more prop that is used are the newspaper clippings in the basement, this clippings
show that the attack was planned and that someone wanted to start the spread of the virus.
The clippings are important as they give the story a little bit more context.