Most of the films are pieces of art, which were created with specific subtexts and motifs, emphasizing specific messages of the directors. While some movies have obvious motifs, others have either hidden or mixed motifs, accentuating the duality of the piece and allowing the audience to determine the message on their own. The movie Shaun of the Dead is a classic horror comedy released in 2004, which illustrates the adventures of Shaun and his friends in the context of a zombie apocalypse. While watching the film, the audience can see that the overall motif lies within the reality of life, and in order to support this motif, specific camera techniques were employed.
In order to understand the motif better, it is essential to see that the movie is not similar to most of zombie motion pictures. While most movies emphasize fear and turmoil, Edgar Wright, the director of Shaun of the Dead, illuminates the light-hearted nature of the picture. Here, the movie deviates from the standard zombie plot by incorporating aspects from other categories (Booker). For instance, one can see the presence of a buddy comedy, slacker movie, and romantic comedy, any of which would have possibly grown into a profitable movie by itself, even without the zombie components (Booker). The overall motif of the film is, therefore, the reality of life and the true nature of people, emphasizing that even zombies are humans who, after their death, meander around the stores and keep following their routine.
The director used several approaches to support the motif of dreary reality, incorporating slow zoom and whip pan. When it comes to the first, slow zoom, allows the camera to catch the attention of the audience by concentrating the attention of the viewers on specific parts, allowing people to feel more present in the movie (Academy of Edits). For example, slow zoom can be observed when Shaun wants to apologize to his girlfriend standing at the doorstep. As he hears the words that the young woman has no desire to see him, the camera slowly moves toward Shaun’s face, illustrating every bit of his emotion. With this approach, the audience can see the human struggles and be a direct observer.
However, it is crucial to bring another example of camera movement, such as a whip pan. This technique is based on pointing the camera in one direction and then changing the scene in the same direction (Academy of Edits). For instance, when Shaun tried to combat the elderly zombie, the camera followed the direction of the baseball fixed on a string to the stick as Shaun was throwing the ball into the old man. As the ball was returning, the camera followed this movement. With this approach, the director wanted not only to bring more energy into the scene but allow the audience to observe the actions, seeing the emotions of others surrounding Shaun.
In sum, as they watch the movie, viewers will see that the general motif is based on life’s realities, and specific camera methods were used to reinforce this theme. The film’s overarching theme is the truth of life and the actual nature of people, highlighting the fact that even zombies are still individuals who, after dying, wander the streets and proceed with their daily routines. The filmmaker employed slow zoom and whip pan, among other techniques, to emphasize the theme of depressing realism. Regarding the first, the gradual zoom enabled the camera to capture the audience’s attention by focusing on select portions. Additionally, the filmmaker hoped that the whip pan would provide additional excitement to the scene and allow the audience to observe the scene and the character’s emotions.
Works Cited
Academy of Edits. “Breaking Down 3 Editing Techniques from Shaun of the Dead [Video].” YouTube, 2020. Web.
Booker, Keith M. “Shaun of the Dead (2004): Director Edgar Wright.” Booker Horror, 2019. Web.