28 Days Later

I found the discussion regarding the cinematography of 28 Days Later as interesting as the topic of zombies itself. I never thought to analyze, let alone recognize, the important aspects regarding film making and editing. We discussed the formal structure which consisted of 4 major points: how the camera moves and positions, the cuts, what is included in the frame, and what is heard. All of these elements come together to create and communicate information that helps tell the story of the film. In 28 Days Later, Danny Boyle combines multiple techniques. One technique was his use of both close and far shots, making the audience aware of the third point of the formal structure, mise-en-scene, or where the character Jim was in relation to his environment. For me, this definitely created anxiety while emphasizing the abandonment of London. This technique, along with the contrasting volume of background music in the beginning of the film, really helped in producing a reaction that Boyle was intentionally seeking.