Post Apocalyptic Planning: Photographic documentation of actors

Characters

Name: Jake Brough
Character Name: Joey
Age: 16
Character Age: 18
Short character profile: Brave; survivor; world-wise; confused about his surroundings; memory is sparse.

Name: Sam Claxton
Character Name: Mysterious Man
Age: 16
Character Age: 18
Short character profile: Part of survival group, appears to be the figure head (or some form of important member) for this group; concerned for the survivor he appears to have captured; wishes to utilise the protagonist and the skills that he has within his own group of survivors.

Post Apocalyptic Planning: Moodboard of our Opening

I have put together a moodboard that showcases different elements of our film. This is shown below:

I have shown on the moodboard a selection of words that relate to the piece we are hoping to produce.

- Confusion: Our main protagonist is going to be a survivor of the apocalypse that has awoken in a new, mysterious location and is going to be confused by his surroundings and the injury that he has.

- Survival: Shots of the protagonist surviving across the devastated land will be shown throughout our piece and it will be made clear to the audience that this protagonist is good at the surviving that he does.

- Loneliness: We are going to make it clear to the audience that this protagonist is lonely in this world and has lost all family and friends.

- Bravery: This loss of family and friends and the will to carry on surviving will show to the audience that there is a huge sense of bravery within this character.

- Distress: The loss of the protagonists family as well as waking up in this mysterious location will cause the protagonist distress.

- Natural Disaster: It is going to be made clear that the apocalypse has occurred due to natural disaster.

I have also used different photographs within my moodboard in order to show different elements of the opening.

- Barren fields: Barren fields and abandoned areas are some of the locations in which we are going to be utilising within the piece.

- Volcanoes, floods etc.: These are the spontaneous forms of Natural Disaster that were repeatedly occurring that managed to wipe out the population.

- Lightweight Parka - This is what the "Mysterious Character", who will enter the room and question the protagonists memory, will be wearing, to show that he has also been surviving but is attempting to dress lightly so that he is able to escape any danger if needs be.

- Forested area: This is the final location of the piece, the protagonist will be setting up a fire to settle down for the night when he will be captured.

- Rucksack: As he is surviving, the protagonist will be carrying a rucksack that contains his essentials for survival.

- Campfire: The protagonist will be setting up a fire at the pivotal point within the film when he is captured by this mysterious group.

- Heavy duty boots: These will be worn by characters in order to emphasise the idea of hard-wearing clothing that is required to keep surviving throughout any condition.

- Walking staff: The protagonist will be shown to have one of these in order to help him walk through any terrain and to be used as a weapon when needs be.

Post Apocalyptic Research: Title Sequence Analysis #2 - Iron Man Three

Title Sequence Analysis

Iron Man 3

I have decided to analyse the title sequence for the film "Iron Man Three". The title sequence gives the viewer a sense of the genre of the film from the outset.



The use of numerous scenes that involve violence and action suggests to the viewer immediately that the films genre is action and adventure. The use of the main character from the film itself gives the audience a slight amount of background information into the film and suggests to them that this character is going to be some form of hero fighting off any enemies etc.

The first title shows the directors name, this has been a consistent factor throughout the title sequences I have looked at. This shows to me that the Director, being one of the most important people within the creation of the film, is placed first within most title sequences in order to show their importance; I will have to take this into consideration when creating my own opening if title sequences are used. Also, the transition between scenes from the film being placed into this red, comic-like tone is used in order to suggest to the audience that the origin of this films storyline comes from comic books and that the main character is a comic book hero.





The text used within the title sequences is made up of simple, bold, yellow text which links directly to the comic-book origins of the storyline and gives the viewers a sense of the genre of the film from the outset.

Post Apocalyptic Research: The Conventions of the Post Apocalyptic Genre

The Post Apocalyptic genre offers an unimaginable variety of ideas that directors, producers and writers can twist and control in their own ways in order to develop a storyline from the incredible amounts of diversity that the idea of living after the end of the world can give.

 

Consistently, producers are distributing films that suggest the idea of living alone after the end of the world and fighting for survival. At some point within these types of films, the main protagonist is also met with another survivor and is often shown to be surprised at the understanding that they are not the sole survivor of the apocalypse. This type of storyline has been shown in films such as I Am Legend.

 



 

Another convention of Post Apocalyptic films is the idea of Zombies roaming the earth for eternity and slowly destroying any form of humanity. This form of post apocalyptic film has been used in collaboration with the comedy genre; this is shown through films such as Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland.

 

 

 

Although it is commonly used in collaboration with the genre of Comedy, the zombie invasion idea is used in more serious matters as an idea or a possibility of what could potentially take place if a "Zombie Apocalypse" were to happen and follows characters as they search for cures or reasons as to why the outbreak has happened. Films that use this more serious interpretation of the idea include World War Z and the aforementioned I Am Legend.

 

 

 

Along with all of these ideas used through the genre of Post Apocalyptic films, there are more original and diverse ideas that don't involve the outbreak of a virus or sole survival. Films such as Children of Men showcase a more unique idea of apocalypse in the way that the film depicts the human race as slowly dying out and no children being born to replace the older generations.

 

 



 

 

 

This research has shown to me that the conventions of Post Apocalyptic films mainly follow a specific idea of survival but the way in which this can be done allows for limitless scenarios within the storylines of films and film writers can play around with these ideas and create completely unique storylines. It has also shown to me that these conventions can allow this genre to be used in collaboration with other genres due to the vast plethora of diverse ideas that can be given from the genre itself.

Post Apocalyptic Research: Attracting the Target Audience

Films and other kinds of media all use different methods collectively in order to attract their target audiences into purchasing and viewing their product.

 

 

There are numerous ways in which this is done and these include:

 

 

The use of storyline

 

 

The way that the storylines are used within films and television are iconic tools in the way that producers attract their target audience. For example, if the target audience of a certain type of media is for younger viewers, the storyline will often be based around people of similar ages to the target audiences in question. If the target audience is for a more older age range, the storyline will sometimes be based around older people.

 

 

The target audience of the product would also change the way the storyline is used and played out in order to attract them. For example, a film for a younger target audience could include more colourful aspects; a hero to save the day and a happy ending. Whereas a film for an older target audience will include more violence, action and detail within storyline.

 

A scene from the film Django Unchained, a film for an older target audience, that shows a man having his arm savagely ripped from him by a dog.

 

The advertisement for the Disney film UP which shows connotations of happiness and colour with the target audience of children in mind.

 

Trailers

 

Film trailers are one of the main ways in which producers and the production and distribution companies attract their target audiences.

 

Trailers are short, often 2 - 3 minute, breakdowns of the films storyline that are shown on television during advertisement breaks and at the beginning of films in the cinemas. They are used in order to build suspense and hype around the full release of the film; show briefly what the film itself is about and to introduce any characters that are important to the storyline itself. This allows the target audiences to get a sort of "sneak peek" of the film in order to determine whether they are interested in viewing it or not.

 



 

 

This is the trailer for the film Shrek 2. It introduces the characters and gives an idea of the storyline that the film will offer. It also suggests to the viewer that it is a film that is aimed for family viewing.

 

 

 

The trailer for the 2014 film Ouija however, shows a completely different storyline. It shows a horror storyline that could be aimed at most viewers above the age of 18. It does this through the use of almost "Spooky" music and the dark scenes shown.

 

Characters

 



The way the characters are shown to the audience through the different aspects of themselves is a way in which the target audience can be attracted to a film. The way in which the characters are clothed can attract the target audience in the way that, if the characters are dressed in any way that is noticeable or relatable to the target audience, it may influence them to view the film more. For example, if the character is dressed stylishly and is in line with any current trends, it may influence a younger, more teenage, audience to view the film.

The way that the characters are presented from the outset is a factor that will attract the target audience. The way a character is portrayed within the opening of a film will cause the audience to lay judgement on that character throughout the film itself. For example, if a character is shown to be a type of hero or good person, this will attract most audiences as they will wish to view any future endeavours he or she may face.


This research has suggested to me ways in which I can attract my target audience and ways in which I would be able to attract them if I was to produce a full length film.

 

 



Post Apocalyptic Research: Classification Categories

Classification Categories are the suggested ages of people that should be watching specific films. These are usually shown in coloured shapes in the bottom corners of disc cases for films or are shown separately on the trailers and advertisements for films themselves.

 

 

In the UK, the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) have set several Categories that include the following:

 

 

 

 



 

Films rated "U" are classed as being "Suitable for all ages"

 

 

 

Films rated "PG" are classed as requiring "Parental Guidance" when viewing.

 

 

 

Films that are rated as "12A" are classed as being "Cinema releases that are suitable for 12 years and over".

 

 

 

General media content that is rated as "12" is classed as being "Suitable for 12 years and over"

 

 

 

Films that are rated "15" are classed as being "Suitable only for ages 15 and over"

 

 

Films that are rated "18" are classed as being "Suitable only for ages 18 and over"

 

 

Post Apocalyptic Research: Production and Distribution Companies

Production and Distribution companies for Post Apocalyptic films

I have researched into particular companies that could be interested in distributing my product and have come up with the following companies.

Warner Brothers Studios



Warner Brothers studios are undoubtedly one of the largest film distribution companies on the planet and I believe that they would be one of the best companies to distribute my product as they would have the funding to produce it on a large scale and take an idea like the one I will be developing and take it to another level of originality and ingenuity.

 

 

2929 Entertainment

 

2929 Entertainment are an American film distribution company that was founded in 2000. They own and work with Magnolia pictures who are able to place companies films in theatres. They have, in the past, produced popular post apocalyptic films such as The Road which shows they have had experience within producing the genre of film that I am producing.

 

 

Village Roadshow Pictures

 

 





 

I believe that Village Roadshow Pictures would also be a good company that would be interested in distributing a film of my selected genre due to their experience with films of the same genre such as the widely popular I Am Legend that they, as a company, were able to produce on a large scale with the large budget they had.

 

Strike Entertainment

 

 

 

Strike Entertainment are also a good company that could produce and distribute my film due to their previous experience with post apocalyptic films, such as Children of Men, as well as the fact that they would be able to produce and distribute my film on a large scale.