Film opening analysis

The opening I will be analysing is; The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead is a TVseries (Horror/Drama) made by an American company, it is also vastly popular worldwide, and for me there is some inspiration of the opening sequence. As we are doing an opening on an unconventional teen skater who isn't quite like the rest, we wish to use scenic establishing shots which are quiet and empty to resemble our characters feelings.

In the first shot obviously there is minimum to see but a broken window with overgrowth to emphasise the lack of life or emptiness of the scene, the ident for AMC is well placed in order to take some attention of the shot but also not make it dull.

Our first shot of a character, in a bloodied up newspaper, where the words 'Atlanta' read to give you sense the film is American. Not much going on in this hsot to keep the film a mystery.

A lonely teddy bear lies in an empty shot placed on the rule of third line well. The shadow emphasises the light to create a contrast between light and dark to create happiness through the bear as you associate it with children, but the murky atmosphere of the film darkens the frame.

A cracking establishing shot with subtle titles stacked in the middle of the screen simply as there is nothing going on. The empty roads and litter flying about like hay bails suggest silence and emptiness - the exact feeling we are going for when we create ours. The fact that its also set in Atlanta (A busy city) is unconventional given that cities are busy where as this one is not giving it the creepier atmosphere enhanced by the mise-en-scene of the litter and empty roads.

The dark hallway shot with low key lighting gives better contrast as to what the film is about, being framed in a hospital the frame creates a more powerful effect to suggest something bad has happened.

The broken police station resembled by an establishing shot creates the atmosphere of emptiness reinforcing the films aims of a post zombie apocalypse, well placed titles look good due to the positioning and timing of the frame.

Mise-en-scene again still strong, littered roads and crashed vehicles on a long shot give better emphasis on how bad the situation really is.

The contrast of the frame gives it an essense of age which suggests time has come far from the picture we are seeing. Smart use of an establishing shot to show both highways and the ghost cars of which the audience can connote have been absent for a while. Giving stronger emphasis on what the film really may be about.

Nothing fancy 3 words down in quick succession gives away what the film is about, working really well due to the contrast being so low and dull. Really gives an old horror feel.