micro elements in film opening

How Camera shots are used in opening sequences to create meaning

Vincent Yau

Extreme close up

This shot shows a close up of the zombie girl’s eyes, it’s effective because it creates a sense of scariness through her eyes with blood around it, it also shows her expression that she's desperate to eat humans

Close up

This close up shows the action of the zombie in a POV style, its showing it like the zombie is about to eat you. The close up also show the scariness of the zombie as it able to show the scars , blood and his expression on his face.

Medium Shot

The medium shot is showing the man running away from the zombie clearly, as audience are able to see his arm movement, his pace, the zombie behind him and the part of the setting.

Long Shot

This long shot is showing the location clearly of where the zombies are attacking and the explosion from the car. We can also see that the man is running away from 2 zombies.

Extreme Long Shot

This extreme long shot is showing where the part of the scene is set, we can see that it is set in a living area where it gives an idea of zombies will attack humans in here during the scene.

Track

The tracking shot shows the man running away from the zombie, the shot helps to show the follow movement, direction and the pace which also makes the audience feel like they are running as well.

Pan

The pan shot in here is similar to tracking shot but instead, the camera is not following his pace exactly but it is moving the camera angle from right to left which also show a bit more detail of the setting.

Tilt

The camera tilt down to the gun to show the importance of it, we know that humans are being killed by zombies because they are unable to use their weapon.

Zoom

The zoom in is to emphasis something important in the scene, in this case, the camera zooms into the American flag to tell the audience that the setting of the film is set somewhere in America.

Pace

The pace of this opening sequence is fast, so that it matches the action appropriately as the pace of human running away from the zombies are really fast.

Low angle shot

The low angle shot shows the power of the zombies, this is effective because humans are being killed by zombies and that they are taking over places.