Post Apocalyptic Research: Opening Sequence #2 - The Book Of Eli

Opening Sequence #2

The Book of Eli:

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.