Ashlea Hickin
Media Studies
Mise En Scene
The costume worn by R consists of a red hoodie, grey top and grey toned jeans. These items of clothing are all very relatable to the target audience as stereotypically, these are the sorts of things you would expect to see teenagers wearing. The redness of the hoodie is interesting as the colour red has connotations of danger, suggesting that he could be dangerous or threatening to others. Also, love or romance which suggests that he may be involved in a relationship in the film. It links to the vibrant red in the film poster which catches your eye and instantly interests you as well as the title as the two words ‘warm’ and ‘bodies’ which suggest a living person and therefore makes you think of blood which again links to the bright red colour that features throughout the film. The grey colour of R’s top and jeans represents death. It is a very washed out, dull colour which represents no life and no excitement.
The lighting is low key throughout which represents lack of life. Darkness is sometimes considered scary which adds to the eerie tone of the film. The night ends the day so the low key lighting suggests it is the end of their life. Daytime does however come around again so this could suggest that something good is going to happen to the zombies. The lighting is not as dark when the focus is on R. This could have been done to show that he is different to the others and is a good character at heart. The complete opposite happens when the focus is on the characters called ‘Boneys’. This would have been deliberately done to reflect their bad nature and to show that are the antagonists of the film.
The setting of the opening section is in an airport. This setting would have been chosen because it is relatable and familiar to majority of the teenage audience watching. The fact that it is abandoned adds to the chilling effect and the size of it puts into perspective how huge the effect of the plague is. The only people there are the zombies which are conventional for an apocalyptic film as the zombies and the people are usually separate for the beginning. It is interesting that R says “people wait at airports I guess but I’m not sure what we’re waiting for” as this could link to the later events in the film when Julie enters R’s life. It also shows how meaningless their lives are as it suggests that they are waiting to rot away.
The props used in the opening section are all recognisable everyday objects such as suitcases and floor mops. The use of such normal items help to highlight the fact that the zombies were once normal people and that they are still the same people even though they are dead. It also makes the character more interesting for the audience.
Warm Bodies is an apocalyptic film about a plague which left the whole world as either a zombie or a human. The main character (R) watches as another zombie attacks a woman (Julie) who is not affected by the plague and he jumps in to save her. They stick together and throughout the film we follow them as they form a strong yet unlikely relationship. The more time R spends with Julie, the more human he starts to feel. Could their relationship be enough to transform the dead planet?
R trudging through the airport
Extreme close up of R's eye
Mid-shot of R to reveal who he is
Establishing shot of the airport
Editing
There were many editing techniques used throughout the opening of this film. There were lots of slow cuts between the zombies – particularly when they were walking as this emphasises their slowness and lack of mobility. It also makes you feel more on edge as it makes you feel like you are stuck at the same pace as they are. I found this to be very effective and an idea that we would consider when we construct our own openings. In contrast, when it cuts to how the airport was at Christmas, lots of quick cuts are used between the people and R. This would have been done to show how busy and full of life it was. It would also show the difference between the zombies and the normal people. Superimposition and fades were used for example when R is talking about why the plague started and we see images in the background of his reasons. This helps to make the character more relatable and also shows that even though he is dead, he still remembers things and still thinks about things. It gives the audience an insight into R’s life and what he has been through. Shot reverse shot is used when R is interacting with his best friend. This suggests to the audience that there is a relationship between them and makes it seem as thought they are having a conversation even though they struggle to talk. It also shows the audience that everyone was affected by the plague in the same way but that they still have feelings despite it all.
Camerawork
The opening starts with an extreme close up shot of the character’s eye and a narration from that character saying things like ‘I should eat better’ ‘I should get out more’ which adds to the suspense of discovering who this character is. The shot then cuts to a shot behind the character that allows you to see some of the setting and some of the other zombies. We are only shown the whole face of the main character when it cuts to a mid-shot at the same time as the narration says ‘oh right because I’m dead’. This would be amusing to the audience and also offers them the chance to meet the main character of the film. During the opening, there is an establishing shot which allows the audience to get to know the setting and also see the number of zombies as a result of the plague. It makes it more real for the audience as they start to understand where the zombies are and what their surroundings are like. Tracking shots follow R as he trudges around the airport. This, combined with slow cuts between the zombies emphasises how slow moving they are. Long shots help the audience to establish just how many zombies there are for example, a long shot is used when we meet the janitor. This allows the audience to focus on him but still be aware of all of the other zombies in the background. Lots of mid-shots are used throughout the opening as they show emotions and facial expressions of the characters. It is however quite ironic that they are used here as the facial expressions of the zombies don’t tend to change. It does however allow the audience the chance to connect with R as although his emotions are not shown in his face, we can understand how he feels by the narration we hear. When R goes to talk to his friend, there is use of a two shot and an over the shoulder shot. This would have been used because it suggests to the audience that there is a relationship between them.
Flashbacks when R is wondering where the plague came from
Sound
The most noticeable element of the soundtrack in this opening is the voiceover of the main character, R throughout it. I think that it is very useful to the audience because they get to know the surrounding setting and some background information on R and what has happened in the world. It is also interesting to hear what R is thinking as his zombie character does not talk in the opening section. He doesn’t talk particularly fast during the voiceover, linking to the sluggishness of the zombies and a zombie’s attitude to life. I really liked this idea because I think it is interesting to see what he is like on the outside compared to what he is thinking on the inside. It helps to bring the character to life and also makes it different to other zombie movie as you don’t very often get this type of insight into their minds. There is calm music score in the background during parts. Majority of it is in major key which suggests to the audience that R is happy with his life. It also adds a sense on amusement as you wouldn’t expect music to sound like that in a zombie film. I find it to be quite ironic because zombies are usually seen as dangerous however the music makes R seem more friendly and approachable to the audience despite being the same as all the other zombies. There is a musical attack when the audience is introduced to the ‘Boneys’. This immediately gives the audience the sense that they are dangerous and could pose a threat to other characters in the film. It adds an element of suspense as we don’t know what they are going to do or when they are going to do it. By having no music at this moment, it means that the audience are forced to focus on the ‘Boneys’ which makes them all the more daunting and unsettling. The music changes to minor key when we see a zombie transforming into one of the ‘Boneys’. This connotes danger and suggests that something bad will happen. It also puts the audience on edge as well as intriguing them at the same time.
Shot reverse shot between R and his best friend ending with a two-shot
The musical attack happens when we meet the 'Boneys'
The score turns to minor key when we see a zombie transforming into a 'Boney'
Credits
The credits follow the institutional conventions as they appear in the order that you would expect. The first credits that appear are the production companies. The most well-known one, Summit Entertainment (a subsidiary of Lionsgate) is the first to appear. This is followed by Mandeville Films at which point the background music of the film starts to slowly crescendo. After this, it cuts to the film and a close up of the main character's eye.
All of the credits beyond this are presented in exactly the same way. The first to appear is the production companies again. They are written in a serif font that appears to be hand written and is extremely curly and old fashioned looking. it transitions onto the screen with a whirling motion which seems almost magical and contradicts the stereotype of a zombie. Each credit lasts for an average of three seconds before it whirls and splodges like blood off of the screen. The title however, is shown for five seconds and in its transition onto the screen, it also has the sound effect that would be associated with magic and sparkle, once again contradicting the stereotype of zombies. In doing this, it forces the audience to realise that the zombie in this film is different from the others which would make them intrigued to find out more. However on its transition out, it has the sound effect of blood splatting on the screen, therefore reminding the audience that they are still zombies and that some are more dangerous than others.
After the title has appeared, the music starts to change and doesn't sound quite so slow and innocent anymore, however the credits continue as normal. When it gets to the editor's name, the music starts to have a much higher tempo and the names are only shown for two seconds to match the time of the music. This contradicts the slowness of the zombies, especially as R has just commented on how slowly they move. This would make the audience laugh as the faster music is supposed to build the tension but when the zombies move so slowly, this isn't the case. When the director of photography appears, the music starts to crescendo and the credits return to being shown for three seconds.
There is quite a long wait between when the writer of the screenplay is credited to when the director is credited. This could have been a conscious decision so that the audience get engrossed into the film and are not distracted by the credits that keep appearing across the shots. the fact that the director's name is the last to appear also shows their importance.
The recognisable logo is shown and the background music starts to crescendo.
The credits are positioned so as not to overlap with the main focus of the shot.
The film title and other credits disappear with a smear of blood across the screen.
The credits speed up the contradict the slowness of the zombies.
The director's name is the last to appear and unlike the other credits, it is positioned quite central to the shot and overlaps the main focus of the shot.