Action Conventions

Action - Target audience

Action

Target audience

As most would expect action movies attract generally a male audience as it's stereotypical for men to be drawn to violence and guns and gore. Women don't tend to see as many action films and prefer a film with romance or drama that isn't so far fetched and they could imagine their lives being like. Men also don't worry too much about an intricate plot, as long as there's a hero and got girls with lots of explosions and guns then they're usually happy.

Most male teenagers love a good adrenaline burst so watching a good movie filled with action which is sure to get your heart pumping would appeal to those who have not yet reached adulthood. This interest in the action genre could continue into adulthood extending the age range to 40+ zone however sometimes adults prefer to slow down from then which means the films loses those aged 50+. Action films appeal to the younger generation making them the majority and the primary audience.

People who go see action films are usually interested in gunfights, catchy quips, escapism, adrenaline burst etc. People who watch this film wouldn't go just because the could go, there has to be something that appeals to their interests. Be it there love for comedy, action, huge idea of escapism or the concept of all the action making your body brim with adrenaline through the action scenes.

Overall the type of person who like action is a male teenager to young adult who has an interest in gore and violence and they like guns or chase scenes etc (both conventions of an action film).

Silver linings playbook - Opening two minutes analysis

Silver Linings Playbook

Opening two minutes analysis

The genre is hard to identify in the opening two minutes as although this is a romance film there's very few genre indicators, the boy doesn't meet the girl, we as the viewer haven't even met the girl yet. There is the stereotypical supportive friend and pushy mother but not on the subject of love, on the subject of mental health, also as we haven't even met the girl lead or heard anything about her we therefore know nothing about her. This means the film doesn't conform to the conventions of a romance film as the female lead hasnt't been introduced, most conventions apply to how opposites attract and how the male lead may hate the female lead but secretly loves her or how the male lead is a bit of a womanizer, bit rough around the edges but in this film's opening two minutes there's none of this. None. All because the female lead hasn't been introduced yet, we can draw ideas of what the male is like and attempt to tie him into conventions but even the environment isn't stereotypical of romance. A stereotypical setting would be deep in the heart of the city or in a romantic cottage in the countryside not in a mental health hopsital. The music is a genre indicator as it's slow and peaceful and there's no tension or suspense like in horror, or fast paced, high tempo like in action - there is also a conventional monologue at the beginning delivered by the main character to give us a deeper insight into their lives.

The sound conforms to romance conventions as non-diegetic, soft, peaceful music plays from the start leaving the viewer feeling relaxed  and excites viewers for the film to begin and for them to see what happens in this love story rather than high tempo, suspenseful music commonly used in horror films to create drama and tension. This is contrasted by the main characters quite sudden and direct monologue that cuts sharply into the tranquil music playing underneath it, the more he speaks the more questions that are raised about this character as we come to learn more about him and his family. A loud knock on the door interjects this monologue and annoys both the viewer and the character as we're both annoyed as he was interrupted and we want to know what he has to say, this is effective as it brings us into the film and makes us empathise with the character but at the same time teaches us more about the environment he is in as someone has come to get him, he is being told what to do and all the viewer has left to ask is why? As he ignores the persons call for him to come out the room and instead continues to read whatever he is reading it shows that he dislikes the place he is in and doesn't like being told what to do. He doesn't like the authority others have over him and want's to be independent, his un-aggressive tone shows he can't scream at this person, however much he dislikes them he has to respect them - this supports the theory that he is in a controlling environment with people telling him what to do, the viewer may start to suspect he is in an institute of some kind. There is silence as he talks to the person outside his door, the calm music has faded showing that when he is alone, thinking, he is happy and relaxed like the viewer was listening to that music but now this person has come and spoken to him he is annoyed and therefore the calm music is gone - it could show he doesn't like other peoples company, another convention of love stories that the main character doesn't like people until he meets 'her' who heals him and makes him better. Alternatively it could be that he doesn't like the place he is in so being made to do something makes him tense, the silence represents his tension and nervousness to the the viewer. The non-diegetic music then starts which sounds like a low-pitched piano, this suggests that tone or atmosphere is rather mellow. A guitar is added to the non-diegetic music which suggests that it's acting like a build up to something or it's acting as a reminder to the character to carry on and not be put down. The piano track  that starts of slow and sad builds in tempo and creates a more optimistic environment in which we see these characters, when he is alone the music is depressing whereas when he is with people the music is more upbeat and hopeful, this contradicts my earlier theory that he prefers to be alone. Alternatively it could be that he thinks he prefers being alone and is in denial about the fact the hospital is actually helping him and doing good for him as he feels he could cope fine on his own. The music picks up dramatically though when he is alone doing exercise, supporting the theory that he does prefer being alone or it could be that exercise is the one thing he thinks helps him the most and a constant in his life that helps him seeming that there is so much change and uncertainty in his life. This changes when a woman, who we presume to be his mother, stands over him and the music slowly fades out which suggests that his state of content has been taken away as this new character comes into the picture.

The opening shot is a mid shot of a man with his back to the camera and he is talking to someone or something that we can't see yet, this conforms to the conventions of a romance (opening monologue from main character) and lures the viewer in creating a sense of mystery. There is an eyeline match of what the character was looking at which suggests that me may be preparing for what he wants to say or that he has nobody to talk to and has to rely on the doctor. This is followed by a tracking shot into the word 'excelsior' which suggests that it is indirectly giving the character hope because it means 'ever upward' which connotes that there is a firm belief that he can step off the emotional rollercoaster he is on and put things right. There is a fast paced pan around the side of his face which ends with a close up of his face, this suggests that the character is almost being exposed to us because he isnt saying anything and when you look at someones face it's as if your're judging them. Also the close up suggests that we are emotionally closer to him. The camera then subtly tracks away from him which suggests that we are being emotionally detached from him and that it's like a warning not to develop a personal attachment with him. It could further suggest that the character is unable to create personal bonds with anyone because when someone looks at him, they judge him and don't want to get to know him. This would conform to romance conventions as the new girl can help him and show he is capable of forming personal bonds. The camera quickly turns away from him which connotes that there is a sense of disruption or something isn't right, also it suggests that he is a quick thinker because he doesn't stay stuck on the same thought. A mid shot shows the viewers that he is on medication and possibly has a mental or physical problems that needs to be treated, a close up shot of his pill spat on the floor shows the character can't be trusted to do as he is told and suggest, once again, that he doesn't like to be told what to do and has his own way of doing things. There is a tracking shot that is going inwards towards the group which suggests that the viewer is becoming emotionally attached to the situation. A mid shot of the male character, his doctor and his mother with them in the foreground and him following behind in the background suggests he is less important and is being treated like a child because the 'grown up's' are deciding what to do with him. The camera then pans to the mother which suggest the focus is being shifted onto her and it's up to her to decide what to do with her son, also she isn't placed in the centre of the frame and is towards the left which suggests the place they are in is overpowering. 

Dear John - Opening two minutes

Dear John

Opening two minutes analysis

 

Dear John starts off how most would presume an action film would as we as the viewers are thrown right into the depths of it all, with action and gunshots all around us. The main character lies on the ground after being shot and we are instantly draw in and worried about the welfare of this character. There is a stereotypical flashback to his childhood and the happier memories he had, before we are thrown back into the midst of it with a dramatic shot from the wounded soldiers view point. Fast paced action scenes and a dramatic monologue all incorporated in the opening few minutes would lead the viewers to naively believe they have come to see an action movie, 95 odd seconds of pure action are contradicted by the idyllic beach scenes as the viewer’s become more aware this is more than a gritty action film and actually has a dominant romance side to it. This makes the film unique and more interesting as the action would appeal to the male side of the audience whereas the romance side would appeal to the female side of the audience (conventionally). It then cuts to this beautiful beach on a gloriously sunny day and leaves the viewer curious as to whether this is before or after him being shot, is it a flash-forward or a flashback? Is the male lead dead or alive? It creates a sense of suspension and draws the viewer in as they’re curious as to how he got to where he is now or how he ends up being shot. A muscular man – the main character – emerges from the water, arguably a convention of action not romance but things are soon back on track as he stands looking helpless and catches sight of his future romantic partner. Another clear convention is that she’s with Mr. wrong, a bit of an idiot and she clearly belongs with this new guy, he ends up a bit flustered when he meets her, subverting from the usual stereotype that the love interests have to find each other irritable and instead refers to the convention of a traditional love story where the guy meets the girl ad is in complete and utter awe of her and struggles to speak to her without looking a fool. Also within the opening few minutes she loses her bag and he conforms to the stereotype by being a strong and dominant male by returning it for her, shaming the other less impressive guy who isn’t nearly as good as him whilst she waits on the side – men have to do things for her. It conforms to the common stereotype that women are weak and need men to do things for them.

 During the opening credits there is silence to begin with that creates tension and a sense of eeriness that could usually be associated with the chilling silence before a shooting occurs, this fades into the non-diegetic sound of subtle, soft flowing music that brings with it a sense of warmth and calmness – this is largely contradicted by the images that appear on screen of a dirty battle field full of panic and disorder. There is also the effective monologue that we as the viewers hear that draws us in to the film and poses more questions then it answers. We are naively lured into thinking this will be a romantic speech full of love and hurt but instead it’s about his childhood and shows that another type of love will be dominant in this film – paternal love. The fact that we can hear all the coins being made (diegetic sound) whilst it appears on screen instead of just his monologue shows that the film wants us to imagine what he was thinking and hearing and helps us imagine being the character as we know little about him at this point. This links to the fact seconds later when we have a point of view shot we also hear gun shots and an echo of shouting, supporting my point that the film wants to put you in their shoes to be able to empathise more with this character and be drawn further into this film. There is never silence when he is delivering his monologue, there is an ongoing sound of shots being fired and general chaos hanging in the background (diegetic sound) but this is contrasted by the smooth, soft music (non-diegetic) that is also playing in the background.  The music (non diegetic) brings a sense of calmness and slows down the action packed scene so the viewers don’t become overwhelmed and switch off, although the scene is action packed and the viewer is being bombarded with a lot of information the music in the background is enough to bring a warm sense to the film and push it more towards a romance with only a side part of action. The background music could also remind the viewers of warm, calm evenings at home and make them empathise with this character living such a hectic life, the music may feel quite domestic and calming, like home would be for this character and get them thinking about what the character has left behind at home and what he has left to lose. The more upbeat, happy music kicks in as the romance side of the film does onscreen simultaneously, the calming sounds of the waves crashing on the beach contrasts with the dramatic gunshot sounds moments before and with no dialogue for the viewer to deal with they have time to process what they just viewed in the opening minute and a half before the romance side of the film begins. An array of voices reiterates the fact that the main character is now back in civilised life rather than away fighting. The music picks up in tempo slightly as some action appears on screen and the main character acts as a hero rescuing her bag, the other guys’ dialogue (diegetic) of referring to him as ‘dude’ backs up the theory that he is Mr. Wrong and just not right for this girl as he seems a bit of a fool.

We are only really introduced to one character in the opening two minutes – John, he is the first character we see, the one we hear the monologue from and the one who is the hero at the beach. He fits all the conventions of a male lead in a romance film, he's handsome, he's strong (dominant) but he has a deeper, more caring side to him that he hides slightly. We see his more caring, loving side through the opening monologue where he talks about his childhood and we get a glimpse of how he may have this soft side to him and the viewers grow to love him. Savannah is briefly introduced in the opening two minutes and we see how she conforms to the stereotypes of a female in a romance film (weak, vulnerable, needs a man to look after her). We want to know more about these characters and are intrigued to see how their relationship starts and develops and what obstacles they have to overcome.

 The first shot is a high angle close up and not much of the setting can be seen to create suspense as you wonder where this character is and why they’re lying on the floor, the shot zooms out to medium shot as the suspense is lifted as you can now see the setting this character is in – a muddy, murky trench like surrounding which, along with the uniform, suggest this scene is set at war, the camera is shaking like John (the main character lying on the ground) who is being shook to try and keep him awake as he seems to be passing out – this supports personal view point theory as the viewer is being treated like John and getting an idea of what this scene is like from his point of view, a hand held shot is used to create this shot perfectly and realistically without looking fake. The shot zooms out to medium shot to show the setting, this cuts to a close up of kid (John as a child) and shows we’re getting up close to him and getting to know him as the close up shot creates a sense of intimacy, close up shots of coins show they’re something dear to him and important, they are a small thing that makes up a large thing, he basis of who he is. An extreme close up of John shows we, as the viewers, are up close to him, it shows we were inside his head and saw things from his point of view, a low angle point of view shot shows him to be vulnerable and supports the point of view theory. The shot zooms out from extreme close up to close up to show he's coming back to normal life he's not stuck in his head anymore, we’ve seen part of the surrounding he's in, we don’t need to be in his head to imagine the scenario he's in, we can zoom out a bit. Another point of view shot looking up into nothingness highlights how his mind is going back as he is passing out, another high angle shot of him lying on the ground, shows how vulnerable he is even though he's the main part of this story, it zooms in as we know more about him, getting to know him better, getting closer to him. This cuts to an establishing shot of the new settings (change), there's a medium shot of him surfing, we know less about him now as this is a different time (before/after) we don’t know him as well therefore we’re not as close to him and so a medium shot is used instead of a close up. A medium shot of him riding the wave could be showing he got over being shot and is now better, this is followed by a long shot showing setting and the pier that will become crucial in next scene, he is almost unnoticeable and this shot presents him to be tiny and almost insignificant which is a large contrast to the previous scene where he had a monologue and was the most important part. It could also be because now he’s back home and doesn’t have a gun and an important army uniform he is nothing more extraordinary than any of the other people in that town, maybe less important because he may have killed people and is therefore seen as insignificant. An over the shoulder shot shows his point of view again, a close up shot of him on pier - faded out from everyday life until he hears her voice, another close up shot of his facial expressions as he sees the guy she’s with, not impressed, also to show we’re getting to know John better again through the use of camera angles and therefore more close up shots are used, a high angle shot of her bag falling in the sea could be her and the guy’s (the guy she is with – Mr. Wrong) relationship metaphorically as because of it she meets John and so nothing happens between her and the previous guy. Another over the shoulder shot shows how calm he is amongst their panic, a long shot of the guy running to grab it looking pathetic causes John to act and jump in. A low angle shot of him jumping in to look strong and dominant is contradicted by a high angle shot that shows how he cant get this girl unless he gets her bag and is therefore almost insignificant to her until he gets this bag, a low angle shot shows girl to be important as its her he's trying to impress and her bag that’s the centre of this scene. A two shot of John and the guy with John looking masculine and strong whilst the other guy is looking pathetic and feeble highlights to the viewers that John is the right guy for Savannah (the girl).

The Vow - Opening two minutes analysis

The Vow

Opening two minutes analysis

 

The genre can be identified quite early on as pink lighting refers to the feminine side of the viewers, the cold settings relate to the warm cosy evenings in, a common convention of romance films. This romance film doesn’t fit other conventions though as it begins where most other romance films would end – with the couple together, happy and married, this therefore leads to a slightly different sort or love story. Rather than one where the two people are meeting, its showing their lives together and how happy they were, this is then contradicted by the sudden event which causes her to forget their lives together and we are effectively back to an original love story – but this time with a twist, one character has already played out this love story. There is also an interesting dynamic we’re introduced to where some of the time we are portrayed the story through her eyes (as in we don’t know what's going on and cant remember past events) whereas the rest of the time we’re portrayed the story through his eye (as in we know what's going on and become annoyed and frustrated when she doesn’t remember). In the opening two minutes the story is told through both of their points of view as she has not lost her memory and shows union before they are effectively separated by this dramatic event, it also links to the end of the movie when the film completes a full circle as they’re back out in the cold, snowy, dark setting and despite their troubles are once again united. Arguably it could be said the opening two minutes are seen through his eyes as she can’t remember the crash throughout the story, and shows how, although she is the one directly affected by the crash, he will play a very important in the story, almost if not more important the her. The car crash is the tragedy that serves as the focus point of the film, it is unusual though to have it right at the beginning; usually it’s later on in the film to throw an extra bit of drama into the film.  On the other hand though it could be a clever tactic to get the viewers to relate to the characters early on as it’s a common fact that tragedies bring people together and could make the viewers empathise with the characters and draw them into the film. Also it usually brings the lovers together whereas in this scenario it rips the lovers apart and threatens to destroy the love they had for one another.  It conforms to romance conventions and highlights the genre through use of sound, shots, plot and characters.

 

 

The sound conforms to romance conventions as non diegetic music plays whilst the opening credits are on which is soft, happy and peaceful that simply excites viewers for the film to begin and for them to see what happens in this love story rather than high tempo, suspenseful music commonly used in horror films to create drama and tension. This music fades out as they out the radio on in the car and you hear diegetic sound of a flicker of a news report, this could lead the viewer to think about the tragedy that is going to happen (the car crash) as news is often related to tragedies and death, this could lead the viewer to think that the crash will be really bad and possibly news worthy and makes them worried for the safety of these characters we’ve only just met therefore drawing them into the film and curious to see if they do crash, what happens to them afterwards. The romance song that comes onto the radio serves as another pointer to how madly in love they truly are and how much heartache he is going to go through when the car crashes and she loses her memory. This makes the viewer again, empathise with the characters particularly him who is going to effectively lose the love of his life when she comes to no longer remember him. As he sings along to it you feel brought into their little world where simply having each other is enough and you feel even sorrier for him, and her, as you as the viewer know that tragedy will strike at any moment – this is effective as it draws you into the film and makes you want to watch it to find out what happens to them and if their love survives.

 

 

The narrative of them both giggling is enough to show how much they love each other and highlights again how sad it s for this to happen to them as they were so happy together, it makes the viewer empathise with the characters. This is contrasted by the loud screeching of tyres seconds later right before a truck comes barging into them and throws them forward with some force, the laughter is happy and innocent whereas the tyres screeching and the truck smashing into them is violent and brutal. The diegetic sound of the glass shattering is frightening and scary as it’s usually associated to robberies, danger or anger as glass doesn’t smash for a good reason. It is used to heighten the viewers’ senses and grab their attention back if they were fading from the film due to the lovey dovey cute scenes beforehand, it could also represent their relationship as it smashes and is destroyed forever. It would take a lot of time and effort to put that glass back together, it would hurt picking up all the pieces and putting them back together and would be much easier to move on and get a new piece of glass. This is the same as their relationship which is metaphorically being smashed – it would be much easier to move on and find a new love but instead they goes through the pain of trying to piece their relationship back together and Leo especially gets hurt a lot in the process. As Paige smashes through the front windscreen it could represent her love for Leo being smashed as she goes on to forget who he is and what a massive part of her life he was, Leo though who has his seatbelt on is saved from this but instead subjected to heart ache which Paige is effectively saved from as she can’t remember her love for Leo. The music by this point (non diegetic) has turned quite eerie and suspenseful as the viewers are left wondering what is going to happen next and how the film will follow up to such a dramatic scene. Sirens can also be heard which is a sign for the viewers that the danger is not over, the crash may have already happened but now the after effects come into play as the characters fight for their lives, and their memories. Leos narrative for part of this scene is also effective as I removes us from the crash just before it happens so we our guided through the next bit in 3^rd person, this is so we are not left completely unsure of what's going on, it also links us to the hospital scene and is a sound bridge that links us from the crash, to the ambulance, to the hospital so we are not lost along the way.

We are introduced to the two love interests together at the beginning of the movie which is an unusual dynamic as usually the love interests start apart before being drawn together, this creates a different sort of feel to the romance film and leaves the viewer curious to where their love story will go from here as they’ve already achieved arguably the hardest part - finding each other and getting together. Their composition on screen is an immediate indicator to the fact they are a close couple as they’re interlocking arms show a sense of union and subtle love in everyday life. Her red coat is another subtle indicator to love as red connotes romance, alternatively it could connote blood as later on in the film she is in a car crash which blows apart their love as she can no longer remember him. Also the car is a deep red blood like colour which supports the theory that the film is sending subliminal message about death and tragedy. A uniform laugh and gentle kiss on her head again highlights the strong bond between these characters and shows the love they share, this only makes the viewer empathise more with them as they know a tragedy is coming that will almost destroy their relationship. The fact they are stood alone before being joined by a mass of people shows how all they need is each other and no-one else to be happy and enjoy life, they are in their own little bubble which the viewers crave to be in as they wish to have a love just like theirs. As the main title ‘The Vow’ appears on screen the background image of them fades slightly as they walk of screen – this could link to the convention that love fades when you get married but is contradicted by the following scene when they are so close and intimate and shows marriage has not faded their love at all. Their endless smiles and general joy whilst around one another is similar to one when in a new found relationship and so is sweet to consider that even though they’re married they are still just as in love with each other as the day they met – this makes the viewer empathise with them even more and draws them into this beautiful love story that the viewers crave to have. It links to Maslow’s need to find friendship and meaning in life – for some people to get married and be as in love as these two characters are is all they want in their lives. It also links to users and gratifications theory to escape from their lives and imagine being these characters and having the love they do in their lives. Paige fits the stereotype of the female lead in a romance story as she is fairly dependent on Leo and comes across as quite weak whereas Leo (the stereotypical male lead) is protective and strong. Leo also subverts from the stereotypical male lead as he’s quite feminine as he sings love songs in the car to his wife and seems quite enveloped by Paige as it comes across that she actually wears the trousers in the relationship and is a free standing woman. This fits the convention of a modern romance story but not a traditional one as it used to be that men were always the assertive ones, not woman. (this also links to the titles where the actors names come up on screen, usually the main character – the male – is the first name to appear but not in this film, Rachel Mcadams, the female lead, is the first name to appear and subverts from romance stereotypes that men have the leading role. Alternatively it could be because she is the one who loses her memory, she is the main character that her name should appear first) There is equal focus on both characters showing that neither of them is more important and both will play an equally substantial part, Leo will tell the story from the point of view of someone who has seen the love of his life look at him like a stranger whereas Paige will tell the story from the point of view of someone who has lost her memory and forgotten crucial bits of information that shaped who she was as a person. As I said earlier we, as the viewer, alternate between these views to create a more unique insight into a story of memory loss as most films choose to tell the story from the  victims families point of view (by establishing characters and settings first then having the crash). We can relate to the characters quite easily as we all aspire to have a loving relationship and find the one person we want to spend the rest of our lives with and this therefore makes us as the viewers empathise more with these characters when they crash and draws us into the film even more.

 

The scene starts of with a high angle shot panning down to a long shot of a couple walking out of a movie theatre, the high angle shot could represent how vulnerable they are and unaware they are of the tragedy that is about to happen, alternatively it could show how insignificant they are at this point as to the viewers they are just another loved up couple like thousands of others all over the world. This cuts to a low angle shot of them which makes the viewer empathise with the characters as they seem happy and joyful about being together in this romantic setting (cold, snowing), it makes the viewers look up to this couple and start to gain an insight into how strong their love is and relate to the situation from their own lives. The next shot is a long shot of the setting and shows the romantic setting of snow (a genre indicator), it also shows the events from the characters point of view and again makes the viewer imagine life from their point of view and fantasise about having that perfect relationship – this is perfect and one of the main drawing points of any romance film, to see people succeed in love and achieve happiness. This is especially key in this film as it was released on valentines day, a perfect alternative for people who don’t have a date but wish they did, a good old love story, or for people who want to take their date to a cinema as the film sends subliminal messages that your life could be this nice, you could be this loved up and is a key selling point of the film rather than taking them to see a scary horror film which may make them scared to go out with a near stranger or an action with blood and guts which isn’t going to make a perfect romantic evening. It then returns to a low angle shot of the characters as they huddle close showing the intimacy and love of their relationship, they are also the main focus of the shot as they are centre of the screen – this captivates the viewers attention to focus on their love and relate to the couple. All the people that follow them out the cinema are female to highlight the fact Leo and Paige are such a strong couple. The camera then cuts to a medium shot of Paige’s face from the side and shows the steam coming from her breath and her shivering shows her vulnerable side and conforms to the stereotype that she is weak. This then cuts to a low angle shot of Leo as he takes charge and cleans the snow of the windscreen, this shot suggest he is dominant and strong as he suffers the cold whilst Paige warms up inside the car and again conforms to the stereotype that men and strong whilst females are weak and need protecting and caring for by the men as they rely on men. The next shot is a close up two shot of them in the car in close proximity suggesting they have a close bond, as they drive of the camera changes to over the shoulder shots of each character alternatively, this supports my theory that both characters are equally as important so get equal amounts of screen time rather than one being dominant, this is a love story containing two people rather than a film with one character taking prevolence and the others following behind. This shot also shows their facial expressions and chemistry between them, this makes the audience want to have this relationship as everything seems so perfect in this moment. Lots of two shots are used to show the characters together, this shows they are a unit rather than two individuals and makes the reader empathise more when they crash as they want them to survive together. This is followed by a medium shot of them sharing an intimate moment oblivious to the danger that is fast approaching them, a two shot of them sharing a passionate kiss is contrasted by the blinding lights approaching behind them which engages the viewers and grabs their attention. As a narration overtakes we are removed from the intimate moment and are now bystanders to the tragedy that occurs next as the truck smashes into the car, a long shot is used to the viewers can have a clear view of the setting, see the vehicles in comparison (size) and the prepare the viewers of the danger that is seconds away from occurring (the truck struggling to break in time). This then switches to a medium shot of the crash in slow motion and emphasises how in this moment both characters lose so much. Paige then smashes through the front windscreen in slow motion showing the detail of the impact, before falling onto the bonnet in real time, highlighting the fact the damage is done and although this scene is movie like it will have devastating consequences that affect their real lives. The camera then zooms out into a high angle shot of her lying there and shows her vulnerability as now her husband, who is also injured, can’t just rush over and make everything okay. As she is the sole focus of the shot it suggest that she will be the most injured.

Romance Conventions

Romance - Target audience

Romance

Target audience

Romantic films are most commonly watched by girls instead of boys as girls as more interested in the idea of love and eternal happiness. Even if guys did like this it may be hard to announce that in this world, especially in front of friends who would probably laugh at you for it. A romance film has all the bits girls love, the idyllic settings, the cute guy and the loving relationship that defies all odds and manages to survive and provide them both with love and security - this is what girls aspire to have in their lives. Guys whereas are more likely to want to be the hero (like in action films) or the brave person (like in horror films) instead of being all soppy and romantic (like in romance films).

Romance films tend to attract more teen/young adult audience who aspire to have love in their life - older audiences either have love in their life and so don't need to see films about it anymore and would much prefer to see comedies or action or they realise life isn't like a movie and they will never find this love of their life and so find these movies a sham and refuse to watch anymore. 

Romantic films are generally watched by groups of teenage girls or couples, the genre is popular with couples as it creates a nice atmosphere for the couple to enjoy each other's company and to relate to what they see on screen. Traditionally less serious film fans go to romantic films due to the less artsy and more relaxed nature so the amount that win Oscars and such are very low. Rom-coms traditionally don't tackle as harsh subjects as dramas or even other romantic films as they incorporate the comedy aspects to it but still do combat subjects such as heart break or infidelity. 

Overall romance films tend to be watched by teenage girls aged 13-18 who are looking for love and a happy ending in life or couples who relate to what's on screen.

Saving Private Ryan - Opening two minutes analysis

Saving Private Ryan

Opening two minutes analysis

For a bloody, action-packed, gritty war film, Saving Private Ryan starts of fairly slow and domestic. The opening shot is an american flag blowing in the breeze, a powerful image to convey to the viewer the idea that this film may have a lot to do with patriotism and war, as flags were traditionally carried into battle to represent pride of their homeland and nowadays still posses a great power over some people. A simple piece of cloth can represent so much to so many, it can unite thousands of usually segregated crowds and can provoke such emotions within that 'dares the coward to relent'. It's also a fairly close up shot of the flag and doesn't show all of it which could represent the idea that somethings hiding, patriotism will play a part in this film but wont overwhelm it or be as dominant as first thought.

 This then cuts to a high angle shot of a character walking along, the camera pans up to reveal an older man walking slowly along a path in a park area, although his pace isn't that fast we, as the viewer, feel a sense of urgency and determination by his walk as if he is rushing to get somewhere and nothing will stop him, this creates suspension as we want to know where he's going. There are a crowd of people following him who we can assume are his family, this posses more questions as we begin to wonder why they're following and adds greater suspense and eagerness to find out where he's going. There is a close up shot of a man, the son maybe, as he walks along - this could suggest that a son or man is going to be a greater significance as the film progresses, he takes a photo of the old man walking along which signifies this is an important event as it would be unusual to take a photo of a man walking along. People often take photos to remember a certain time or event, this leads the viewer to believe that something significant is going to happen and are pulled deeper in as they want to know where the old man is going.

Another close up shot but this time of an older lady with a concerned expression on her face makes the viewer sypathise with her as she looks worried and sad. The film uses the stereotype of old people being alone and frail to cause the viewer to feel sorry for her and begin to relate to the characters and the story, in turn drawing them in and making it so they have to keep watching. As the man comes round the tree and a long shot zooms in to a medium shot of him the zoom represents the viewers being brought in and becoming closer to the character as they hopefully will find out where he is walking to as he comes to a stand. His facial expressions are enough to leave the viewer concerned about what he is leading them to and cautious about whats going to happen next, a medium shot is used instead of a close up shot so the viewers are able to see the characters family behind him gather round cautiously, not getting too close as they don't want to distract him from where he's heading. Curiously the family behind him are all looking attentively at him rather than whatever he has stopped to marvel at and shows how worried they are about him as they wont look away from him.

The camera turns so we can finally see what he is looking at - an american flag, presumably the one seen at the beginning of the scene, and a french flag both blowing in the breeze. A medium shot of him again, shows him put all his effort into walking even further even though he looks tired and withered. As before the family continue to look at him rather than the flags or anything else as he walks on wards, his eyes look full of tears and emotion as he stumbles slowly forward with his mouth opening slightly and him using whats left of his strength to hold back tears. He is subverting from the stereotype of old people being frail and weak by continuing to stumble forwards and hold in his emotions which requires real power.

A long shot of him as he cuts across the greens shows him to be a man on a mission, he knows exactly where he wants to go and nothing is going to stop him, the crowd following him keep their distance as not to off put him but keep relatively close as their faces show they are worried about him. This leads the viewers to believe they are his family as they are staying close, as they care about him, but aren't trying to stop him from whatever he is doing as they know him too well and know this wont work. A single cross tombstone cuts across the scene as the viewers now become aware they in a graveyard (conforms to the convention that old people have death all around them), this possess more questions than it answers as the viewer now begins to wonder what the characters are doing there and why he's so determined to get there. The camera pans round slightly so the family are out of shot to show it is all about him and his journey to the graveyard and his mission, presumably, to find someone. As the camera zooms out slightly rows upon rows of crosses appear and the viewer is lead to feel sympathy not just for the main character, who is probably visiting a dead relative, but for all the people who are buried there and how they lost their lives fighting for their country. 

This fits in with the genre of action movie as there is likely to be some form of flashback to the war as he's visiting a dead friend/relative and this will incorporate loads of action sequences, bloody battles and provide all the gores that everyone loves in an action movie. As the main character gets closer to the cross he is looking for his emotions start to overwhelm him and he starts to stumble more as he walks, the viewer is brought right into the film as they, like the family, feel worried and sorry for him as he stands in the graveyard, they are dying to rush over and hug him but know they must leave him to do what he has to do. A low angle shot of him looking relatively assertive and powerful as he walked through the graveyard is contradicted by a high angle shot as he collapses by the cross, distraught by emotion, showing how much this death has weakened him. His family rush over to check he's okay and the viewer is now even more drawn into the story as they have emotional connections with the characters and even more curious whose death could rock this persons world so much.

The first piece of dialogue in the entire film cements the viewers previous theory that these people are his family, as the man who previously photographed the old man calls out "dad" with a worried tone to his voice. Two women (wife and daughter?) also crowd around him to check he's okay with the old lady who previously look frail now leaning over him, higher than him in the shot to show maybe she is the stronger one as she has to hold everything together as the man is so emotionally vulnerable after the death of this person. The scene then cuts to a harrowing shot of rows of crosses from a low angle, this could show how their deaths tower over them and have such a large impact on their lives. It also hits home with the viewer and is a subtle reminder them that although this is a film that's supposed to entertain them and be enjoyed, that its based on real event where hundreds of thousands of people died so that we can have the freedom that we all take for granted today. The fact that in the shot after that you can see names on the crosses shows that this film also wants to remind you it wasn't hundreds of thousands of random men who died, it was thousands of husbands, thousands of sons, thousands of brothers who all left to fight for their country and never came home, they made the ultimate sacrifice and this should never be forgotten even amid a great Hollywood film.

A low angle shot contradicts the previous scene as it shows him to be powerful and dominant even though his family are leaning over him. His emotions can still clearly be seen in his eyes as the camera zooms in to focus solely on him, his lips are trembling almost with fear as well as sadness as he thinks back to the war. An extreme close up of his eyes draws the viewer in even more as they begin to empathise more and more with the main character, the overlapping noise of waves crashing links the graveyard scene to the beach scene (sound bridging) as the shot now shows waves lapping up against crooked steel shapes in the water. This leaves the viewer curious again, this time to where on earth we as the viewer are, a date then pops up on the screen to confirm our earlier thoughts of a flashback to the war, it reads "6 June 1944".

The music is not as important in this scene as it is in other opening two minute of films, as all the characters are shown at once at the beginning and then no new ones are added after that there is no need for sound motif really, also there is mainly one setting (the graveyard) so not much change there either. This subverts to the convention that action movies have to be jam-packed and fast paced as this is fairly slow and domestic. The lack of dialogue (diegetic sound as a whole) apart from the wind blowing is important as it adds to the sense of tension and suspense. The music |(non diegetic) is the same throughout the whole scene and only fades away at the end when the crashing waves can be heard, this could show the main character fading out of normal life as he's not quite with it, the waves signal the beginning of a new part of the story, a new scene (sound motif).

Children of men - Opening two minutes analysis

Children of men

Opening two minutes analysis

This is a very effective opening to a film as it draws the viewer in as it gives away minimal information enticing the audience to pay attention. Although we can sense that the genre is thriller/sci fi/drama through the sound (narrative) and use of camera.

As in any opening two minutes sound is key to drag the reader in and create different emotions not possible to be provoked by the images on the screen. Whilst the opening titles are on screen there is no music playing and no sound at all which is uncommon for opening titles as we are all aware of 20^th century fox’s opening sound, as well as universals – iconic sounds that advertise the company to the viewers. Yet in this film, there is none. This is interesting as it builds tension and suspense; it seems different to other films and excites the reader for what’s to come. This silence is then cut sharply, against a plain black screen, by a man stating a headline for a news report (diegetic sound) and leaves the viewer curious as to what’s going on, before they get a chance to think about what they’ve heard another news report is heard, then another and another. Different new stations talking about the same topic suggesting it’s important. This opening narrative is effective as it draws the viewer in and the overlap of news reports could represent the chaos in this world the viewer has just entered; it provides information for the viewer yet still leaves a lot to find out. A detailed news report on the TV gives the viewer a greater insight into this new environment and leaves them wanting to know more – a perfect way to drag the viewer straight into the film and make it so they can’t stop watching. As the camera tracks one character the news reports fade away as he leaves the coffee shop to show even though this is a major news story he doesn’t care at all, the traffic noises overwhelming the news reports could represent how his mind is overwhelmed by other things and draws the viewer in, wanting to know more about this character. The traffic noises fade as he puts what we can assume is alcohol into his drink, this suggests that the alcohol allows him to tune himself out of the world and therefore suggests that he has things in his past he wishes to forget about or that he hates the world he lives in and doesn’t have much hope for the future. A massive explosion contradicts the earlier silence and adds a splash of action into this drama film, also screams being heard add tension and fear to the scene. A siren sounding alerts the viewer that something is going to happen, it continues to be heard whilst the opening titles appear on screen to show that it is important and will affect the whole film. During the scene every sound used is a diegetic sound and has no non diegetic, this is because by only using diegetic sounds it gives an effect of realism and makes the audience feel like they are.

The genre is shown subtly in the opening two minutes as although it’s a drama not that much happens as it wouldn’t fit with the film if you were thrown straight into the drama without learning the backstory of the new environment you’re in or the characters. The thriller part of the genre is only clear right before it cuts to the opening titles as I woman emerges from the explosion holding her arm which has been blown off, this is a signal for what’s to come. Also thrillers normally have a plot focused on a disaster such as in this case the youngest man dying at age 18, also the whole realism aspect of the film gives the effect of a thriller as the audience feel involved and the plot becomes more literal and they become more involved within the film. Arguably the most predominant part of the genre shown in the opening two minutes is the sci fi part as we learn we are in London, November 2027 – the futuristic part signals to sci fi and is a convention of the genre. Also the fact that the youngest person is 18 years old provokes a lot of questions from the viewer as they want to know how this is possible and what has happened to the world.

The only character we are introduced to in the opening two minutes is the man the camera seems to be focused on, we can tell he is a bit disaffected from society and not phased by the news in which the youngest person has died, this makes the audience question who he is and what is his back story. The camera tracks him throughout the opening scene showing he must be key and somehow connected to the news report and what’s happening in this world. The opening high angle shot of the extras looking at what we can assume is the news report on the TV shows how insignificant they are as the world around them is dying and the point of their existence is ceased – they have no reason to create a better world as no one else is going to live in it and soon they will all be dead.  As the characters look ahead in absolute concentration we see a man pushing his way through the crowd, he comes into the foreground of the shot, right into the centre, he is also unaffected by the news story that seems to have possessed everyone else and therefore shows he must be an important character in this film and someone who we instantly want to know more about. He briefly looks at the news report so the camera flips so we as the viewers can see it, this is key as everyone in this world knows what’s going on as they are living there but we are new and although suspense and not knowing is good the viewers will get bored of that and so some information needs to be provided – introducing a new character is an excellent way to do this as then the viewers are effectively represented by the new character who needs everything explaining to them. It brings the viewers a step closer into the film. The camera follows the main character out of the coffee shop leaving the news report behind and flows to a long shot of a futuristic London which the viewers can relate to and can be taken out of the film for a second to imagine and wonder. Long shots are a convention of action and sci fi as new worlds, environments are introduced and therefore the audience needs to see it all, unlike in horror films where mystery is needed and so long shots would destroy this and reveal too much. There are several things for the viewer to think about, transport, police, buildings, people and get an idea for what the film makers think the world could be like in 13 years times. This is followed by a shot of the camera panning across the street and starts to follow the main character again,  reasserting the viewer’s theory that he is the main character, he then pauses before the camera pans around him into a long shot in which the explosion happens in the background (the first sci-fi genre indicator). One of the final shots before the titles appear on screen is a quite natural shot as if the camera man is running which gives the shot a realistic effect. This then turns into a long shot where, after the explosion has happened, we see a girl holding her own arm walking out of the remains of the building alarming the viewer as to what caused this explosion but also to how calm everyone seems to be about it and the fact there's a girl in the street holding her arm that's just been blown of.

The Mechanic Opening two minutes

The Mechanic

Opening two minutes

We can guess the genre of the film by watching the opening two minutes, wealth usually arouses competition and death (fits in with the action thriller genre). Aircraft/air hanger associated with wealth and usually is a stereotypical place for a shootout or confrontation between the good and bad side. Action movie is established by a death early on, a man of substantial wealth is killed – you begin to wonder what sort of business he had got himself into.

Sound plays an important part in the opening two minutes and is a key part in getting the viewer hooked, large steel doors begin opening whilst the titles are on screen, this creates suspense as the viewers want to know what's going on. Interesting, South African, foreign music accompanies the wealthy character whilst exiting a plane, which presumably he owns, birds tweeting whilst the sun is shinning could represent happy times (pathetic fallacy) but as they are very short they could show naivety or that the happiness will be short lived. There is silence as he enters the swimming pool; this alerts the audience that something is going to happen, anticipation builds with the lack of music as viewers begin to wonder what on earth is going to happen. Suspenseful music is quietly heard briefly before the action packed murder scene overtakes with fast paced low pitch music to match the action packed scene. The music stops as soon as the character dies and returns to the eerie silence of before; whilst the good guy gets away the music picks up and builds slightly in tempo before chaos breaks out as the dead body is found.

Characters are the main focus of the film as it’s their stories that are being told therefore introducing them well especially right at the beginning of the film when the viewers are finding their footing is key – two main characters are introduced in the first two minutes, the good guy and presumably one of the bad guys (the dead one). The first one is a wealthy business man with a comrade of men who work solely for him and must obey him completely. He shows his wealth through his mode of transport and his house. The ‘good guy’ is introduced although he could be perceived as a bad guy as he just murdered someone but we are lead to believe that mans death was just. He fits the stereotype of an action man as he is muscular and tough and fits the stereotype of a hit man as he is ruthless with the murder, showed no emotion and knew exactly what he was doing.

 

Use of camera is key, especially in the opening two minutes as settings and characters have to be established, the film starts with a wide shot of doors being opened to establish the setting, then there's a low angle shot of a plane pulling up to show the characters dominance, another wide shot of the plane in its surroundings gives the viewer a better idea of the characters lifestyle. A long shot of the character exiting the plane, we don’t get up close to him, we still don’t know that much about him (building suspense) another low angle shot this time of the character himself as he enters a car to show his dominance and power. A shot of expensive cars driving past but the shot focuses on his car to show there will be other stuff but he is an important part of this film. Close up shot of him in the car as we start to find out more about him, sunny, happy town with laughter and chatter is halted by his arrival that brings violence and beatings – shows that he is not a good person and has probably earned his wealth unlawfully. Another close up shot of the character as they want the focus to solely be on his motionless face as these atrocities happen, this confirms the viewers theory that he is a ‘bad guy’. Long shot of his house but high walls hide it from being fully seen, could she a metaphor for him and how that we cant see all his personality and there are parts that are hidden. Low angle shot of the men he is with shows that even they have power over others and shows how powerful he must be, a high angle shot of him walking into his house shows he is not as important, this could be because in a large house he seems to fade, especially with all the people alternatively it could be that at home he isn’t feared as much as when he's outside. Close up shot of some of his possessions, specifically the fact he has 3-4 gold watches all beautifully made and very expensive again highlights his wealth. Low angle shot as he enters the swimming pool could show how powerful he thinks he is, smoke could suggest he is hiding behind something or that there is an element of mystery to him. A high angle shot of him swimming shows him to be very vulnerable and could be attacked at any point, the low angle shot of him swimming leads us to believe he thinks he is fine  and high in power when in actual fact he could be attacked at any moment. Low angle shot of him looking up to the world as he is drowned shows how vulnerable he has become and how now he's at the bottom and his wrong doings have finally caught up with him. You see the world from his point of view and the viewer is supposed to feel empathy for him. Another high angle shot of him shows him to be dead; all the shots after his death are high angle to show he has lost all his power and statues now.



The Purge - Opening two minutes

The Purge

Opening two minutes analysis

The opening shots subvert to the horror stereotype as there is low key lighting and brutal attacks and murders can be seen on screen. A man with a gun viciously shoots down what we believe to be an innocent man before moving on without showing any remorse or care, this helps the viewer identify the fact that this film is a horror/thriller. There's no flowery, pretty, lovely opening it cuts straight to a man being murdered which is common in a horror movie (death). This cuts to a group on men attacking someone, kicking them repeatedly and shows the film to be quite aggressive and brutal in the first opening two shots. Guns and fighting are a recurring theme in the opening shots usually alternating between each other, guns are usually used singularly to show their power as a single object and their authority over people who cower away from them whereas fighting is more commonly a group activity as there are no weapons other then the attackers fists and feet so power in numbers is needed. People left for dead and burning buildings are a common sight in the opening two minutes showing destruction and chaos roam in this environment, this draws the viewers in and leaves them wondering why such chaos exists and the long term effects of it. The stereotype of young males and hoodies are featured in the opening two minutes of this film highlighting the prejudice views that young hooded men are most likely to commit crimes. Inhumane beatings are seen over and over in the opening two minutes, likely to stir up feelings within the viewer as this is not a common sight in their world and leaves them intrigued as to why this is occurring and why it's the feature of the film. Quiet abandoned streets are contradicted by the chaos seen in shops and on streets of brutal attacks and general mayhem, people savaged like animals, crawling across empty streets left for dead are all powerful images that are likely to provoke a reaction from the viewer who is already developing opinions on what is going on even though it's not 'real'. That is a key way to get viewers involved and hooked in a film, provide a topic that draws them in and provokes reactions so they become desperate and dependent on finding out the outcome of the film. All of the above proves quite clearly that this is not some lovey dovey romance with a fairy tale ending - its a brutal, hard hitting horror/thriller shown through its use of low key lighting, isolated settings and general gore.

All the shots are seen through the perspective of CCTV which is an interesting way to present the opening two minutes and gives an insight into this new environment we're entering. It could represent the fact that this environment is so dangerous that you couldn't go out with a camera and therefore need to use footage from CCTV cameras. Alternatively it could be used to show a wide variety of cases as its hard to believe that someone could get around the whole world but you could use CCTV from around the world as it's easier to get hold off and is a unique interesting way to show this chaos happening worldwide although that isn't shown explicitly. The words 'purge feed' are visible on all the CCTV footage which show that this content may be visible online for people to view and see the atrocities of the outside world. Nearly all the shots are high angle which could be to show the victims looking vulnerable, alternatively it could be to show how that because this is happening globally each individual murder or beating won't get the attention it needs and is effectively insignificant not just because it's happening all over the world but because crime is now legal - this could stir up more emotions in viewers as they develop their opinions further and get drawn further into the film. Alternatively still it could be just to make it believable as CCTV cameras are usually up high and so if there was low angle shots etc then the viewer may not believe this is actual CCTV footage and would draw their attention away from the important part - the content. One scene in particular hits home hard as amongst the chaos and fast, action packed shots there is one slow, haunting shot of a man crawling along the deserted street. His face is not seen so we can't see his emotion but we can imagine fear and pain are dominant, his desperate crawl as blood soaks down his back is a powerful image as it makes the viewer empathise with him and desperately want to help him, again drawing the viewer in and making them more a part of this film. As his arms seem to collapse and his body slowly crumbles to the floor the viewer can't help but feel sorry for him and begin to imagine what life must be like in this brutal environment.

Tranquil, calming music is played during the opening two minutes which vastly contradicts the brutal scenes on screen, this sort of music would usually be associated with a period drama or calm, peaceful environment - definitely not a horror movie! This plays whilst the opening titles are on before any action is seen and lures the viewers into a false sense of security as they feel calm and relaxed before the titles fade away and they see murders and brutal attacks on screen. It grips the viewer and leaves them wondering what is going to happen next. The music could represent the authorities behind this or in fact all the people sat at home whilst this is happening, instead of standing up and risking their own lives they pretend they don't know what's going on outside and fail to notice how wrong this is, this is similar to the music as it doesn't relate to whats going on and is simply oblivious to the horror going on in the world. 

28 Weeks later - Opening two minutes

28 weeks later

Opening two minutes analysis

The opening of the film identifies the genre to be horror as there are several genre indicators, for example there is low key lighting which creates a sense of eerie ness and suspense as not everything can clearly be seen in the shots. A sense of fear and depression is shown through the characters and there is tension between all of them even though they are family, this could have come about due to the intense, claustrophobic living situation and the horrors of the outside world they live in. Candles are their only source of light which is another genre indicator as a comedy usually doesn’t involve candle light, this would be more common in medieval times not modern earth so suggests they are hiding from something or someone or due to a zombie apocalypse there is no power. An old wooden rickety house is another genre indicator as it adds to the eerie rural setting they are in, it subverts to the stereotypical convention that an old house in the middle of nowhere is destined to be attacked by some form of zombie or alien – it doesn’t leave the viewer with a great sense of hope for these characters. There is also a sense of community within the film that is usually only brought about by some sort of disaster or tragedy, common in horror/action movies – by only watching the opening two minutes the viewer already has a clear view of the genre of the film and expectations of what’s to come.

There is no music, almost no sound at all in the characters house which supports the theory of tension and fear, they are all too afraid to talk and don’t want to as they are tired of being trapped in the same house with the same people all day long. As they gather round the table there is an exchange of comments about the food being brought before them, the viewer can assume it is not the finest of foods and most likely they have the same most evenings, due to the rural setting they're in nice food has become a treat rather than a necessity. Continuing speech between the characters (diegetic) shows spirits are surprisingly high considering the circumstances and a feeling of community is again felt by the viewer. A deathly knocking on the door (diegetic) startles the viewer just like the characters but maybe not as much as a convention of horror movies is to have something strange knocking at the door, it’s expected by the viewer. Silence is heard for a moment before eerie music fades in (non-diegetic) to add to the suspense in the scene and inject fear into the viewer, there's a sense of excitement and tension – what's knocking on the door? Should they open it? A child's cry shoots straight to the heart of the viewer; it grabs them and throws them into the mist of the film as they start to wonder what they would do, this subverts to the horror stereotype that although everything may seem fine to begin with that won’t last long. The music fades as the dad relocks the just opened door to show that they are safe now as the child is inside, the child's voice telling the family where he has come from is key in finding more put about this character but soon fades away as focus is put onto one of the female characters as she heads towards a window – this alerts the viewer that something is going to happen as conventions of horror suggest that if a female or any character goes off on their own then it’s not going to end well. A loud scream and crash alerts the viewer the ‘enemy’ have made an arrival and is a great contradiction to the quiet, domestic scene beforehand with the child and mother - this suggests that although their domestic life was fine before things are set to become louder and scarier as the film progresses.

The characters seem fairly simple and there is not one person shining through above the rest, they show nearly all the reactions to an apocalypse (optimistic, pessimistic, quiet, realist) and therefore provide characters that almost everyone can relate to and draw the viewer’s in. The boy represents hope as he has managed to survive but also represents the calm before the storm as conventions show it’s normally the innocent characters that bring death with them.

The use of camera is not as important in a horror movie as it would be in an action film for example as there is not likely to be as many big, broad shots as they want to keep the lighting low and the mystery alive. Extensive close up shots create tension and suspense which is key for a horror movie, 28 weeks later has a large number of medium shots to establish the setting and characters without revealing too much about anything. There are very few close up shots considering it’s a horror movie, there are one or two to get up close to the characters and draw the viewer back in and keep a sense of tension and mystery alive.