Blog Post #2: Editing Analysis.

For this assignment, I chose the opening scene for the Fox Atomic Film "28 days Later". The movie is a sequel to the movie 28 days later in which the "rage virus", which is not too far from a mutated for of rabies, infects a large portion of the English population. The opening scene shows various people living in a boarded up safe house, keeping quiet, and using candles to; one try to not attract the horde; and two to deal with fact that all utilities are non operational.Seeing how the majority of the film is spent with the protagonists fleeing the horde, the editing here gives a sense of balance and control that is present in few places else.
The short controlled shots set up each character, and gives a quick glimpse into both their former lives, and also how they brought element of that into the safe house. The use of MCU and CU shots add a feeling of tension and oppression in the otherwise almost sentimental scene. The tight framings of the shots magnify the facial expressions of each character, highlighting how every action must be planned to avoid attracting attention and almost guaranteed death from the infected.
The cuts are drastic but add to the feeling of uneasiness in the scene. While they subjects may be totally different the shots all have a gloomy feel to them, and none stray to far each other. In each cut, another aspect of a person is revealed. When there's a knock on the door, the reaction in the faces of the characters show there motivations, and whether they are willing to risk themselves to save a little kid.
From the moment he knocks forward the shots change rapidly as the situation in the dining area becomes hostile, and the choice whether or not to save the boy is made. Once he is inside and begins eating, the shots get longer and closer mirroring the anxiety the survivors are feeling after saving someone who was being chased by infected. At the end of the scene the anxiety was proven to be for a reason, as the horde the boy was feeling finally caught up to him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHf6Th-E3kE