Shaun of the Dead

• SOTD Opening Sequence: How cinematography is used (2) - close ups between shaun and liz with wide shots to include ed, David and dianne, symbolising how they stand in the way of shaun and liz relationship - opening close up of shaun immediately introduces main character to the audience
• SOTD Opening Sequence: How mise en scene is used (3) - Shauns scruffy down to earth costume implies he is disorganised, while ed, in his t shirt gives a childish impression, as if he is a burden to shaun - the apartment that shaun lives in is untidy presenting them both as childish, and as ed has no job, further suggests he is a childish burden to shaun - mundane set is reflecting shauns mundane life
• SOTD Opening Sequence: How editing is used (1) - whip pans, crash zooms and fast paced editing used, speeds up the mundane processes of getting ready for the day
• SOTD Opening Sequence: How sound is used (1) - zombie yawn as shaun gets out of bed mimics that of the undead, foreshadowing what's to come in the film from the very start
• SOTD Opening Sequence: How performance is used (2) - shuffling zombies at the beginning parodies slacker generation, presenting them as zombies, playing video games and digitally communicating with one another - work in jobs they are overqualified to do, presenting them as lazy, like in the trolley park scene in the opening
• SOTD Suburban zombie sequence: How cinematography is used (1) - Mid shots display the similarities between the two surviving groups (the people in them)
• SOTD Suburban zombie sequence: How mise en scene is used (1) - costumes of the separate groups mimic that of one another, however shaun and his group have less weaponry, and more inappropriate clothing, symbolising how his group are far more underprepared than Yvonne's
• SOTD Suburban zombie sequence: How editing is used (1) - whip pans exaggerate intensity of the scene, induced by the editing
• SOTD Suburban zombie sequence: How is sound used (1) - whoosh stings creates a jumpscare effect throughout the scene, on things that generally wouldn't be considered scary and is used to elevate tension in the scene
• SOTD Suburban zombie sequence: How performance is used (1) - awkward interaction between shaun and Yvonne emphasises how strange the situation is
• SOTD Forming the Plan Sequence: How is mise-en-scene used (1) - Tea and beer props to emphasise the end goal being the pup, demonstrates that even in times of crisis Shaun craves the welcoming setting of the winchester (childish)
• SOTD Forming the Plan Sequence: How editing is used in the scene (2) - Faced paced, aggressive editing in the scene - gets progressively quicker each time whilst it is trying to retain audience attention - provides comic effect - Use of whip pans parodies a typical action sequence
• SOTD Forming the Plan Sequence: How sound is used (1) - Non-diagetic action music which bridges over the cuts parodies action films as the protagonist typically develops a plan against the antagonist
• SOTD Forming the Plan Sequence: How performance is used (1) - Shaun changes into the man liz desires him to be, adventurous and eager - perhaps suggesting that he really does want to change for liz
• SOTD Oblivious to the zombies outside sequence: How cinematography is used (1) - Tracking shot, forces audience to follow his movements, emphasises stupidy when he doesnt notice the zombies
• SOTD Oblivious to the zombies outside sequence: How mise en scene is used - Blood on the fridge door, lack of newspapers presents a contrast to the stock of the shop when he last entered (early signs of the apocalypse) - presents shauns immaturity for not noticing these details
• SOTD Oblivious to the zombies outside sequence: How editing is used (1) - One shot sequence from when the gate opens until he closes it - presents shauns control over the film, contrasts to how he is not in control of the apocalypse around him
• SOTD Oblivious to the zombies outside sequence: How sound is used (1) - Ominous sounds are interrupted by sound of radio in the shop - suggests the shopkeeper has been zombified
• SOTD Oblivious to the zombies outside sequence: How performance is used - Shaun is hungover from the previous night, he doesnt notice the zombies, a comment on how a consumerist society runs, 'zombies' are so common they are unnoticeable
• SOTD End Sequence: How cinematography is used (2) - Camera pans around the pub as they are fighting zombies - emphasises the closed atmosphere of the pub and hence their vulnerability - Pans outside the pub, showing the hoards of zombies, emphasises the danger they are in
• SOTD End Sequence: How mise en scene is used (1) - Blood now covers shauns t shirt and he no longer has his name badge on, hence he is less of a consumerist zombie, and could symbolise how he has moved on from his previous identity (for liz?)
• SOTD End Sequence: How editing is used (1) - Slow Paced - matches the movement of the characters - indicating the narrative resolution and the new equilibrium as calmer and more peaceful
• SOTD End Sequence: How sound is used (1) - The 'Ed No' yelp in unison adds to the saddening atmosphere created by the scene where Ed is lost to the zombies in the final sequence
• SOTD End Sequence: How performance is used (1) - Ed being a zombie in the shed, still tries to attack shaun, presents him as still having zombie traits, but is able to be taught how to act correctly - metaphor for consumerist society, it can be contained, even if it traits are retained
• What could you talk about when asked about narrative in shaun of the dead (2) - Linear Narrative - Binary Oppositions
• Explain shaun of the deads linear narrative (3) -Shaun starts with a salesjob with a dissolving relationship - By the end of the film he is in a stable relationship reflecting how shaun has matured throughout - Final scene playing video games with ed presents how shaun has formed an equilibrium between immaturity and maturity
• Binary oppositions in shaun of the dead (3) - Human vs Zombie - Masculinism vs Feminism - Mature vs Immature
• How is the slacker generation presented (3) - A human acting zombified is presented as nothing abnormal in the film - Women are more in control throughout the film - Shaun and Ed more so are represented as man-child
• What are some representations in shaun of the dead (5) - Dawn of the dead film is parodied - When David is torn apart - Representation of age - Representation of gender - Slacker generation - Suburban england with the film shot on location in finsbury park
• How is wright considered an auteur - his kinetic filmmaking including numerous crash zooms, whip pans and hectic pacing
• Shaun of the dead budget and box office result - 6 million USD budget - 40 million USD box office
• Ideology in Shaun of the dead (2) - Post modernism - Intertextual references with day of the dead and dawn of the dead - Revisionist - Final scenes show tv shows and news footage from 6 months on, with zombies being cast in game shows and service industry jobs, presenting how the zombies could be us now!
• Describe narrative in shaun of the dead - Structuralism (levi strauss' binary oppositions) - Formalism (Chronology and time, voice and perspective)
• What are the key messages and values in shaun of the dead in terms of ideology in SOTD (3) - The idea of growing up - The idea of developing a long lasting connection with the ones you love (Like liz who he ends up living with and Ed who he keeps in his zombified form in the shed) - The idea of taking responsibility for your life