2. Responsibilities
Tayla (Person 1)
Chelsea (Person 2)
Purpose and
conventions + some
sound + 1 narrative
theory
CAM SAMC + some
sound + 1 Narrative
theory
Kelly (Person 3)
Gelsomina (Person4)
Editing + 1
Narrative theory
Narrative
(structure/enigma/typ
e) + MES + 1 Narrative
theory
3. ‘Dawn of the Dead’
Film Details
Genre
Action/Horror/Sci -Fi
Year
2004
Director
Zack Snyder
Main Actors
Sarah Polley, Ving
Rhames, Mekhi Phifer
4. Film : Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Genre : Action/Horror/ Sci-fi
Source: Art of the Title
6. Purpose (Genre)
Action
-‘Edge of our seats’
-Suspense
Horror
- Fear
- Panic
Sci-Fi
- Educate
- Intrigue
-
- Alarm
- Dread for the audience.
Futuristic prospects
7. Purpose (Opening Sequence)
The purpose, like most predominantly Horror films its aim is to:
• Fear
• Alarm
• Panic Audiences
Through the opening sequence the use of montage editing, fast pace
and high pitch score music it is clear to see that this opening
sequence is intended to fright the audience. It is further emphasised
through the convention of blood.
8. Convention Table
General Conventions of Genre
Conventions in Dawn of the Dead Similar Films
(Challenged or Reinforced?)
1. Blood
Reinforced
Saw
2.Weapons to harm
Reinforced
28 Weeks Later
3.Possessed child
Reinforced
Mama
4.Blonde victim
Challenged- she is not a victim
Gone
9. Camera Shots
Close ups
Someone’s
hand reaching
out to grab
something
Mid shot
Extreme
close ups
Extreme close
up of zombies
mouth full of
blood
Establishing
shot
Establishing
shot of white
house and
armed guards
Insert Shot
Showing the
development of
the spreading
virus
Aerial Shot
10. Camera Angles
High
Low
Oblique
This shot shows the soldiers as superior as they
are armed, it is also canted as the angle shows
different head space between the soldiers
These show the zombies as
inadequate compared to normal
people
11. Camera Movement
•The camera movement is very shaky, Fast pace
• It is very unclear, similar to cctv footage
•Jumpy
12. Mise-en-scene : Setting
• At 00:36 the setting seems to be set in
a conference. It seems as if the female
is asking the male a question.
• Furthermore this can be gathered due
to the multiple microphones at the
bottom.
•At 00:41 the setting moves to outside
in the streets.
• It seems as if there is a riot going on
due to the mass numbers of people
and the man raising his arm which
seems to be protesting.
• This sense of rioting continues
throughout the whole opening
sequence.
13. Mise-en-scene : Setting
• At 00:47 the setting seems to be at a
local news station.
• He mentions how he has lost
transmission connection.
• The setting at 01:59 seems to be at
the white house.
• High key lighting. During the day
and outside.
•The main colours are black and
white.
14. Mise-en-scene : Lighting
• Seems to be mostly low key lighting and available lighting
which fits into the conventions of a horror genre.
15. Mise-en-scene : Character
Terms
Annotations :
•They seem to be running
• Wearing black
• Protective clothing
• Guns
• Helmets
• Fighting or protecting
Representation
They seem to be represented as powerful as they have weapons.
Also by them having weapons it gives them a sense of authority.
As we don't know what they are shouting it is not clear if they are
good or bad.
Body Language
They seem to be defensive as they are holding their weapons up
pointing at someone or something. They also seem to be running
forwards.
Costume
Black protective gear and a helmet. They seem like they are some
form of police men.
Props
A guns.
16. Mise-en-scene : Character
Terms
Annotations :
• Blood
• Wearing black shirt
• Showing teeth -> Predatory
• Makeup -> Pale -> Zombie?
Representation
This character is represented as evil as he has blood all over his mouth.
Furthermore, he is wearing black which is a connotation for either death
or darkness.
Body Language
He seems to be screaming. His mouth is covered in blood and as are his
teeth. This shows a sense of predatory behaviour which links to how
zombies tend to act
Costume
He seems to be wearing an open black shirt. Make up seems pale which
can imply that he is a zombie. Zombies tend to wear casual clothing as
they were human before they turned.
Props
None.
17. Editing
Dawn of the dead is a montage editing
It's pace is fast to create tension of what is happening and how
fast the virus Is spreading
The Diegesis of ‘dawn of the dead’ the MES
makes the characters experience the internal
world of the story line
Is also contains jump cuts of
different scenes to show what is
happening all around the world
18. Title and transition
A red bold tittle is being used
to reinforce the significant of
blood also a bloody effect is
used in the tittles it also
establishes the horror genre
The transition being used is
fade to black and tap record
effect to make it more realistic
19. Special effects
The special effects being used is black and white, sepia and a variety of
different color effect to shown the different characters in different a
perspective. There is also use of a tap recording effect making it more
seem dramatic and realistic.
20. Other
Use of micrographic effect is being used to show the virus from a
closer view representing how dangerous the virus is.
21. Sound
At 0:52 the score music reaches a climax in terms
of becoming higher in volume control at a faster
pace where it becomes high pitch. It is where the
disequilibrium happens that tension is heightened
amongst audience.
22. Narrative
Structure
Type
Enigma
• Implicit – It is unclear
what is happening in the
opening sequence.
• It is unclear whether it is
linear or non linear.
Restricted- does not give
away to much in terms of
what caused this to
happen primairily.
• What is happening?
• Who are those people?
• Why is there so much
distress?
• Why are there so many
destructions?
• Why is there so much
violence between people?
23. Todorov
• This opening sequence shows no evidence of the equilibrium
although it does make references throughout via insert shots
• The opening sequence consists of the disequilibrium
throughout
• There is no new equilibrium shown in the final scenes of the
dawn of the dead opening sequence
24. Barthes
Enigma Code
Action Code
Semantic Code
Symbolic Code
Cultural Code
•What is
happening?
• Who are those
people?
• Why is there so
much distress?
• Why are there so
many destructions?
• Why is there so
much violence
between people?
•Rioting leads to
mass destruction
and buildings
catching fire and
loads of
causalities.
• The majority of
the characters are
covered in blood
and eating people
which makes the
audience conclude
that the movie
maybe about
zombies.
• There is lots of
burning and
fighting between
people. Loads of
people are
running away so it
could symbolise
the ending of the
world they know.
• There seems to
be loads of guns,
explosions, rioting.
25. Propp
Generally, Propp’s theory in the opening sequence is
not applicable.
Although, there is some similarities in terms of a helper
being the main characters associates and the villains
being the Zombies.
26. Cameron
Cameron's theory of Anachronic there is no clear
chronological order. There is flashbacks to the news
reporters of what is happening. We know these are
flashbacks by the fuzziness effect on the screen.
