Warm Bodies: Cinematography Analysis

[IMPORTANT NOTE: Despite this homework already being given in, I am posting it here to look back upon just in case I am in need of help starting another analysis or want to know any common mistakes I make and conquer them!]

This video contains the scene that is being analysed.

I have chosen to look at the cinematography of the beginning scene of Warm Bodies. In this scene we are being introduced to the main character, R, and he explains to us his feeling about his position and how thing came to be this way. We are also introduced to another main character near the end of the scene, The scene is about 3 - 4 minutes long.

The first shot is a extreme close up of the right side of R's face, more around his eye and moves to get both his eyes. This shot emphasizes his dead icy blue eyes, pale skin, and veins telling us that he is either rather unhealthy or dead. The position of the camera is at eye level which tells us that he is relatable and neither intimidating or vulnerable. (Good analysis and use of terminology. What does the colour tell us about his personality etc)

The next shot is a close up, in which we see more of R. Like his pale blue-ish tinted lips, his scruffy appearance and veins running up his neck which emphasizes more that he is dead. The position of the camera is unchanged, meaning despite him being in this state he is still a relatable character. (good anlaysis) We are also quite close to R in this show which tells us that he is the good guy in the story as being closer to the good guy gets us more attached to him while with villains we are further from them to know them less.

The next shot is a wide shot/long shot of R walking through the airport, with other zombies/corpses heading the opposite direction. As the shot progresses the camera position changes slowly as it becomes a high-angle shot. This tells us that despite being zombies/corpses with no emotions or feelings, they feel vulnerable in this situation (so is R in that moment). (Good) We are quite close to R in this shot, which emphasizes him being singled out. He is different than the rest of them, shown by his narration of the story and hopes of 'connecting' with people.

The next important shot after that is a wide shot of a zombie janitor as R wonders what he would have been like alive. The position of the camera is eye level however we are not as close to him as we are to R. Meaning that despite not being intimidating, he is dangerous for us, as people to go near. The scene then gains a sepia palette as we are shown the janitor as a human being, the camera moves to a mid shot as he was not a danger in the past. The is done for a few other zombies and the camera gets closer and closer as we see who they used to be. However the final one we look at jumps at the camera while it is in Medium Close Up and backs away to its original position. (Good anlaysis of camera and light)

The next shot is a wide shot/long shot of R coming up an escalator as he thinks about what caused the apocalypse, the position of the camera is eye level. R is isolated in the shot, showing his importance and independence from the rest of the zombies while the position and shot type tell us the same things as before.

The next shot is, once again, R walking through the airport with a bunch of other zombies/corpses with an eye level position and a wide shot/long shot that zooms into a Medium Close Up. The camera then moves around R and the scene of zombies becomes a scene of people, him being the odd one out as the shot zooms away to show the past. This shows us that the past was important to R, he wants to return to it and gain back his humanity as he remembers it so vividly. However, after browsing through the scene at random civilians, the scene returns to its zombie state and R walks on.

The next shot is a very wide shot at a slightly high angle position of all the zombies/corpses, including R, walking around a airport waiting area. This shot shows that a lot of people where effected by the apocalypse and that despite being in groups, they feel vulnerable about their predicament. (Good - but consider the framing and positioning of the character within the scene - does he seem isolated and alone?)

In the next shot, we are introduced to the villains called 'Bonies'. The camera is at a wide shot/long shot in an eye level position. Once again this tell us that these creatures are dangerous however if we are with R, we are safe from them. We are also show a random zombie in the process of becoming a 'Bonie', he looks to be trapped in this position by the way he is so squashed in the wide shot, he has gave up on trying to escape like R references.

Quite a few shots after this hold the same points as the last; isolation, danger, closeness to the hero 'R' and so forth. However in the final shot I'm analyzing, we are introduced to another main character called 'M'. M and R are in a two shot with eye level position, this informs us that they have a close relationship (despite being unable to talk) and also singles them out from the other zombies, they both want their humanity back however we are only told that R wants his humanity back at this time, the shot is foreshadowing of M's self discovery later on in the movie. (Good) 

Through the beginning scene, we are shown the situation through both words and camera work. The zombies and 'Bonies' are all neutral towards each other however they are still dangerous, shown by the distance between them and the camera. R is the only one at this point who hopes for something better than this as we are shown to be close to him from the position of the camera, as well as the fact that he is singled out in a lot of shots to show his growing independence and morality.