Opening sequence of "Dawn of the Dead"

 We have been asked by our teacher Mr Earl if we can analyse a film opening and write about the representation that the opening gives off "Dawn of the Dead" is the film that I have been allocated.

http://vimeo.com/32365995  - this is a link to the opening of the opening of the film.

The opening of the film is designed to keep the audience (us) interested in the film. the opening sequence is very effective as it is trying to be horrifying and horrific imagery, the reason for this is to shock the audience and make them feel scared and interested in watching on at the same time. The technical areas that the film uses is Mise-en-scene, editing, camera work and sound theses are used very effectively throughout the opening I will explain now:

When you see the first 2 seconds you can see that it starts will a high angle that is looking at the trees and the birds that are flying by, this would represent a nice peaceful and relaxing place. the noise of the birds created a soft, relaxing feel. The effect this has on the audience is that its a nice happy place and a nice, relaxing film, however the lighting starts to go very dark and dull this creates a feel to the audience that the film is not what the first thought and that it may be a horror.

The next few seconds after this shows a black screen with some credits that are written in red, the use of red symbolism bold, death and danger, it can also represent love and piece. It shows a clear picture of the credits and then it moves to the writing sweeping out and moving into lines that look like blood this again represent death.

You the  see a number of shots that flicker through in a matter of seconds ranging from people bowing down to seeing someone with blood all over there face, this can show that people are under supervision and that they will do what they are told or they may face the frighting thought of being hurt with the blood. throughout the opening there are a number of graphic clips that cross cut with the credits reminding the audience that this is a horror and that danger is always lurking around, the camera is showing a number of shots of the zombies that have blood all over there face that suggests that they have been killed.

the editing is also used very effectively as we know you can see a number of very fast edits that flicker from one shot to another this would represent that danger is always there and someone or something could happen at any time. Throughout the narrative voice you keep hearing the saying "WE DONT KNOW" this would suggest that there is more that one person that is trying to help fight of the zombies but they are just getting over powered. There is also non diegetic sound that is being plaid when the man is talking by the sound of his voice it sounds as though he is not comfortable with speaking and that he is being pressured into doing so. They are playing an instrument during this which sounds like a guitar this is very unusual and is maybe trying to hint at the fact that everything that is happening is for a reason.

The Mise-en-scene in the clip shows a variety of different representations as you see people that are in a big crowd and they do not have many pieces of clothes on, this would suggest that they are poor and are in a lower class range where as when the man is talking you see that he has got a brown suit on this would suggest that he is posh and that he is working class. The use of the lighting in the opening would also suggest that the film could be a horror as it is very dark lighting and is very mystic.

The setting of the area again is very horrific with the fire and the flames this suggested that it is a deserted place, that there has been lots of fights and dangerous things that have been happening. This would maybe link with the fact the that zombies have been and have destroyed the place where people have been living.