CINEMATOGRAPHY AND EDITING

Jonathan Yeates

CINEMATOGRAPHY• Cinematography in post apocalyptic films is generally used to focus in on

a threat that is going to trouble the characters or some other unusual phenomenon. They do this by using shallow focuses and long shots to show how threatening the situation is for the main characters. As well as using shallow focuses to pinpoint the viewers attention to a certain object they can slowly pan the camera to move your attention to something else that may be coming over the horizon like a certain outbreak of infected humans in 28 days later. An example of a long shot in a post apocalyptic film would be in 28 days later where the main character Jim and the other survivors are about to head into a dark tunnel in their car. This long shot is used as it shows how threatening the situation is by entering a dark, secluded area in a post apocalyptic environment.

EDITING• Editing in post apocalyptic films is very effective as it creates tension for

the viewer. This is a good atmosphere for a post apocalyptic film as the aim is to leave the viewer in suspense, wondering what will happen next. In editing, they use fast pace editing to create this tension as its hard for the viewer to keep up with what's going on in that frantic environment so they have no idea what’s going to happen and if anyone is going to die. An example of fast pace editing in a post apocalyptic film would be in a scenario where the character is fighting off a creature (such as I Am Legend), to show how dangerous the situation as the attention is being switched constantly back and forth and to further build tension from that apocalyptic atmosphere.