Through the use of websites such as IMDb I have been able to research into the types of people that are specifically attracted by Post Apocalyptic films.
I began my research by looking at a popular Post Apocalyptic film; 2012.
Above I have shown the demographic user reports for 2012. It shows that there was no difference between the average number of males and females that enjoyed the film. However it does suggest that the age group of under 18s enjoyed the film more than any other age group.
This could suggest that Post Apocalyptic films are seen as being more attractive by the younger age groups such as under 18s, this could be due tot he nature of most post apocalyptic films storylines as they are unique and the storylines are mostly adventurous and action packed.
The clothing worn by characters within Post-Apocalyptic films, my research has shown, depends on different aspects of the film itself.
For example, in "The Road", the Protagonist is shown to be wearing large, thick, warm clothing due to the setting and the weather that is used within the storyline. Along with this, the sort of "Scruffy Look" that the Protagonist seems to adapt would suggest to the viewer that they have had a hard time trying to survive within this post apocalyptic world that they have been cast into.
However, more action packed post apocalyptic films, such as "I Am Legend" show the protagonist as wearing more "stylish" and "casual" clothing to show the nature and the type of storyline that the film has adapted.
This research has shown me that there are numerous aspects within my own film opening that I need to think about that will depict the clothing that the characters within the storyline will be wearing.
Typical post-apocalyptic soundtracks appear to share the same theme. These tracks all appear to attempt to put across a mood of emptiness, darkness and uncertainty to the listener or the viewer of the film that the soundtrack is being used in.
These moods fit the storylines of the majority of post apocalyptic films which consist of the same moods that the soundtracks are trying to put across.
I have posted a few of the soundtracks that I listened to during my research below.
"Godspeed you! Black Emperor - 9-15-00"
Researching through these soundtracks has given me an idea of the kinds of music that I need to find in order to add to my own piece.
Sound design within post apocalyptic films, my research has shown, contains a plethora of almost "empty" sounds that are created using different types of Foley techniques and pieces of apparatus that make specific sounds.
During my research, I came across numerous videos of Foley sound being used to create these almost "empty" sounds that could be used within Post-Apocalyptic films, I have posted below the best example of one of these that I have found.
My research has given me a knowledge of different methods of Foley techniques that I could use within my own post apocalyptic film opening in order to create this true sense of destruction and emptiness within the storyline.
I have chosen to analyse the opening scene of The Book of Eli as it fits my post apocalyptic brief and gives ideas that I could implement into my own work.
Shot List
Shot 1: A tracking shot that shows a turquoise-tinted forest that appears to be scarce of life. The shot continues to pan across whilst also slowly heading toward the ground of the forest; a revolver is then shown to be laying on the ground. The shot pans past the revolver and shows a person, who appears to be dead, lay on the ground. The shot pans past a tree and shows this unconscious or dead persons legs as a form of hairless cat strolls over and begins to smell the body. The shot pans behind another tree and shows more of the forest as leaves, along with what appears to be ash, fall from above. The shot then pans towards a figure which appears to be sat against a fallen tree; he appears to be wearing some form of "hazmat suit" and has set up some form of bow and is readying to fire an arrow towards a target.
Shot 2: The shot changes to a mid shot of the hairless cat as it is startled by something after smelling the body.
Shot 3: A close up of the character wearing the hazmat suit's gas mask-covered head which pans down to the tip of the arrow.
Shot 4: A close up of the cat's head as it looks around.
Shot 5: A eyeline match of the cat's view as it looks around.
Shot 6: Mid shot of the cat once again as it looks around for what startled it.
Shot 7: Close up of the person wearing the gas mask.
Shot 8: Close up of the cats face.
Shot 9: A split second, over-head shot of the mysterious character as they fire the bow.
Shot 10: A tracking shot of the arrow as it flies through the air. Slow motion is used to slow it down and is then sped back up as it travels toward its target; the cat.
Shot 11: A low angled shot of the forest as ash and leaves continue to fall as the hazmat suited person stands up.
Shot 12: A wide shot of the hazmat person as they walk towards the cat.
Shot 13: An over the shoulder shot of the hazmat person as they look at the target they have hit.
Shot 14: Close up of the hazmat persons gas masked face.
Shot 15: Close up of the hazmat person as they pull the arrow from the cats body which tracks up to the persons head.
Shot 16: Wide shot of the hazmat person as they lift the dead cat up and examine it.
Shot 17: a wider shot of the same scene as the hazmat person stands up and the scene fades to white.
How are character types established within this opening?
We, as the audience, have this character developed before us throughout the opening. He is shown to be hiding in the brush of this abandoned forested location on his own and is shown to have set up some form of bow and arrow in a hunting attempt. This suggests to the viewer that he is a "Lone Ranger" type character who is out in an attempt to survive on his own. He is also suggested as being some form of militant character through the intense and violent hunting methods that he uses; this could also link to the idea of him being a "Loner" type character.
How is location established?
The location within the opening is established within the initial shot and then throughout the rest of the opening. The abandoned forest that the opening is set within is shown to have some form of green tint to it which could suggest to the viewer some form of radioactive or chemical catastrophe could have occurred. Ash is shown to be continuously, slowly falling from the sky which emphasises this idea of a nuclear catastrophe or explosion.
How is the narrative constructed?
The narrative within this opening is in an attempt to direct the viewer into asking questions about the film and the opening does this very well. No dialogue is used within the opening in order to explain the story line, it remains silent. The narrative is achieved through the use of the actions that the character carries out.
How does the opening reflect the genre of the film?
The opening to the film immediately suggests to the viewer that the world, just like the forest shown, is abandoned and broken. This is suggested through the dark colours and silence of the opening, alongside the falling ash as if there has been an explosion etc. The opening also suggests that the world is sparse of human life that are all doing their best to survive; this is suggested through the use of the lone ranger type character that wears the hazmat suit and gas mask who appears to be fighting for survival himself by hiding in brush and setting up weapons to kill different kinds of prey.
Is the opening appropriate for a film of this genre?
I believe that this opening is very effective for the genre of film that it has been made for. It opens up a plethora of questions that the viewers will begin asking due to what they are watching. However, at the same time, it suggests so many different things to the viewer about the films storyline that could later on develop.
How have titles been used?
There are no titles used within the opening for The Book of Eli.
In your view, is this an effective opening?
I feel as if this is a very effective opening as it opens so many questions to the viewer and has given numerous ideas that I could use as inspiration to implement into my own film opening.
I have decided to analyse the title sequence for the film "The Avengers". The title sequence of this film gives the viewer a sense of the genre of the film from the outset.
The title sequence uses numerous extreme close up tracking shots of the suits and specific armour of the superheroes involved within the film. This aids the sequence in introducing the concept of war, heroes and villains and power.
The use of chrome fonts throughout the titles emphasises the ideas of technology and gives more of a futuristic feel to the title sequence itself. This futuristic, technological feel links directly to the genre and the storyline of the film.
The colours Red, white and blue are shown when there is an extreme close up of Captain America's shield. This assortment of colours suggests a theme of freedom and power such as that of the American stereotype. These themes also link in to the themes of the film; heroes, freedom and power.
Throughout the title sequence, music is used in a way to provoke a sense of power within the viewers. This sense of power and dominance also links to the heroic themes within the film.
The first film opening I decided to analyse was Children of Men. This film opening inspired me due to the original nature of its post apocalyptic storyline.
Shot List
Shot 1: Universal Pictures and Strike GFX Openings
Shot 2: Universal Pictures, Strike Entertainment and Hit and Run titles
Shot 3: High angle, wide shot of members of the public who appear to be all staring to one specific object (A televised news report); a character who appears to be the Protagonist enters the room from the door at the back and pushes his way through the crowd to order a coffee; he then joins the crowd in watching.
Shot 4: The scene cuts to an eyeline matched, mid shot of a TV screen showing a news report explaining that the youngest person on the planet has died.
Shot 5: The scene then cuts back to the high angle view of the Protagonist and the crowd; the Protagonist takes his coffee and the shot follows him as he pushes back through the crowd and out of the door; the camera then focuses on the streets outside as motorised TukTuk-like vehicles drive through them, leaving trails of smoke as they go. "London, 16th November 2027" is displayed in the bottom left corner of the screen in order to denote the date that the story is taking place. The scene begins to follow the Protagonist once more as he walks down the street. This shot continues as the Protagonist stops at an electricity box in order to put alcohol into his coffee; the shot pans around him as he does so and shows the path he has just walked. He places the alcohol bottle in his jacket and is about to place the lid on his coffee as the coffee shop that he had just left explodes in the background; the Protagonist jumps back whilst looking at the explosion that has just taken place and the camera begins moving towards it in a way that looks as if it is a POV shot of somebody running towards the explosion. A woman appears to emerge from the building holding what appears to be her severed left arm as screams and the sounds of broken glass play in the back ground.
Shot 6: The scene then cuts to a black title screen, on which the white, block titles read 'Children Of Men'
How are character types established within this opening?
The opening establishes the Protagonist almost immediately through the actions he carries out. The way in which the Protagonist is shown to enter the room and immediately become the central piece of the shot as he pushes his way through, gives the viewer the impression of his dominance within the scene and suggests the type of character that he is to the viewer.
The opening also establishes a character that is used to have the storyline moulded around him. The character "Baby Diego" who is being spoken about on the news is shown to have been murdered, this cases the viewers to feel sympathy towards this character but also causes them to question the opening itself as he is explained as being "The youngest person in the world".
How is location established?
The opening establishes the location after the first few seconds of the opening scenes duration. It begins with a group of members of the public all grouped together in the foreground, this would denote to the reader that it is some form of public place and people will link this with places to eat and shops. The location is properly established when the Protagonist enters the room and orders a coffee, this establishes the location as a Coffee shop or Café.
How is the narrative constructed?
The narrative in the opening is rather sparse, it is mainly made up of a news story that plays in the background of the opening explaining about the death of the youngest person on the planet. This narrative mainly attempts to make the viewer ask as many questions as possible from the outset and throughout. Other than this, there is a tiny amount of narrative from the Protagonist when he says "Coffee, black".
How does the opening reflect the genre of the film?
The opening of the film appears to be a complete opposite from the general genre of the film. When people think of post-apocalyptic, they generally think of the planet being broken, abandoned and unpopulated. This opening shows technology as being fairly advanced but within the exact same shot is shown to be regressing; these two points are both shown when the Protagonist leaves the coffee shop and into the streets. Large television screens on buildings are shown to be abundant throughout whereas the vehicles being driven around are smoking and making amounts of noise that are opposite to the ideas of today in which we are searching for quieter motor vehicles.
Is the opening appropriate for a film of this genre?
I believe that this is an incredibly powerful opening for a film of this genre. From the beginning of the opening and throughout, the viewer is led into being hooked on the opening due to the numerous questions that the opening causes them to ask themselves. The opening leaves all of these questions open to interpretation and leaves the film open to the different branches of storyline that it could go down.
How have titles been used?
The only titles used within the opening are used when the Protagonist leaves the coffee shop and goes into the streets. The words "London, 16th November 2027" are displayed in the bottom left of the screen in order to set the scene for the viewer and to show the comparison between London now and in this future that has been crafted for the storyline.
In your view, is this an effective opening?
I believe that this opening is extremely effective due to all the elements I have analysed above. I believe that I will take direct inspiration within my opening from this particular film opening.
